What is the true cost of building a successful trade business from scratch? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Reed from Reed Brothers Electrical to unpack the raw, unfiltered reality of scaling a massive operation.

We dive into the unique dynamics of running a family business with your brother, the discipline required to balance a 50-hour work week, and the devastating reality facing many tradies today: surviving when major builders go bust and owe you money. If you are in the trades, run a family business, or want to know what it really takes to scale, this episode is a must-listen.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Welcome Chris Reed: Sacrifices in Business

02:06 - From Solo Tradie to Reed Brothers Electrical

04:10 - Working with Family: Brotherly Business Challenges

05:55 - Sharing Success and Surviving Builder Bankruptcies

07:54 - Lessons Learned from Builders Going Bust

10:01 - The Business Education Gap for Tradespeople

13:43 - The Hard Truth of 50-Hour Work Weeks

15:39 - Serving Three Masters: Work, Family, Health

18:19 - Business Growth and Wealth Through Property

21:43 - Trial and Error vs. Business Coaching

23:48 - Essential Tips for Starting Your Own Trade Business

26:01 - Lavish Rewards and Podcast Conclusion

If this episode shifted your perspective or helped you in any way, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It is the number one way to help us reach more people who need to hear these stories.

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When you are fighting for your child's life, the value of time changes forever. Heath opens up about the harrowing reality of his 18-month-old daughter Poppy’s three-year chemotherapy marathon.

We discuss what it actually takes to survive life in the hospital ward, the brutal reality of "scanxiety," and the immense collateral damage it causes—including navigating a marriage breakdown and having to completely restructure a business just to stay afloat. How do you keep moving forward when your world is falling apart?

If you've had to navigate a family crisis while keeping a business alive, let us know how you managed it over on our socials.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - The Gut-Wrenching Diagnosis and Immediate Hospital Return

5:07 - Navigating the Three-Year Chemotherapy Marathon and Emotional Toll

14:19 - Life in the Hospital Ward and Poppy's Toughest Moments

20:29 - The Immense Sacrifices: Family, Business, and Marriage Breakdown

26:56 - Living with Scanxiety and Redefining the Value of Time

31:41 - The Anti-Climactic 'All Clear' and Enduring Life Lessons

If this episode shifted your perspective or helped you in any way, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It is the number one way to help us reach more people who need to hear these stories.

Like, Follow & Subscribe

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ABrothersMind⁠⁠⁠⁠
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• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@abrothersmind⁠

How do you balance the weight of a family medical emergency when you’re at the peak of running a business? In this episode, Heath takes the hot seat to track his journey from leaving school early to becoming a tiling apprentice and eventually scaling Bathrooms By Design.

Just as the business and property investments were hitting their stride, everything stopped. Heath opens up about the exact moment his family’s life changed forever with a childhood cancer diagnosis, and how facing the darkest moments of fatherhood shifts your entire perspective.

How have you navigated keeping a career or business afloat during a major family crisis? Let us know over on our socials.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Setting the Stage for Heath's Personal Journey

03:34- From School Dropout to Tiling Apprentice

09:44 - Subcontracting, Hiring Staff, and Property Investment

20:51 - Expanding the Business and Navigating Personal Setbacks

25:20 - Receiving the News No Parent Wants

Please rate and review the podcast on Apple, Spotify or your favourite podcast app. It helps us reach more people!

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• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ABrothersMind⁠⁠⁠
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What does it actually take to rebuild your life from rock bottom? In our debut episode, Luke opens up about the brutal reality of undergoing major back surgery, the massive financial debt it left him in, and the daily grind of climbing out of it.

We also dive into the chaotic and rewarding reality of partnering with your brother—first in the trades with Bathrooms by Design, and now behind the mics. If you’ve ever had to rebuild from scratch or navigate a family business, this conversation is for you.

Have you ever gone into business with a sibling? Let us know over on our socials.

Like, Follow & Subscribe

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ABrothersMind⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ABrothersMind⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/abrothersmind⁠⁠
• TikTok: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@abrothersmind⁠

Our first full episode is getting closer but here is a little of what you can expect. We’re planning to talk about a lot of different topics as we go so if you have any questions or suggestions, or want to be on the pod, email us at [email protected] or message us on the socials:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABrothersMind
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abrothersmind
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abrothersmind

Full episodes coming to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABrothersMind

We're just two brother's giving podcasting a crack and talking about our lives, challenges, business, investing, property, mindset, mental health and the ups and downs of life. First episode drops 28 January!