The Painters Circle

You're working harder than ever... so why aren't the results improving?

Most painting business owners aren't failing because they aren't working hard enough. They're failing because they're measuring the wrong things.

In this episode of The Painter Circle, Tas breaks down the small handful of numbers that actually drive business growth and explains why collecting data isn't the goal. The goal is making better decisions.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by reports, KPIs, dashboards, or endless spreadsheets, this episode will help you simplify your business and focus on the metrics that genuinely move the needle.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why being busy doesn't always equal growth

The difference between critical and non-critical metrics

The "Oxygen, Water & Food" framework for business numbers

Leading vs lagging indicators

Why sales aren't the same as revenue

How to stop drowning in reports and start making better decisions

No fluff. No theory. Just practical business advice for painting business owners.

Do you want predictable revenue and more profitable jobs?

Learn more about PainterOS Accelerator below.

🌐 https://accelerator.painteroperatingsystem.com/

🎙️ New episodes every Thursday at 5PM (AEST)

Follow Painter Coach for more business advice for painting contractors.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Why reporting isn't the goal

00:32 Welcome to The Painter Circle

00:53 Busy but getting nowhere?

01:21 Real client case study

02:25 Why effort wasn't matching results

02:42 Not all business numbers are equal

03:18 The Oxygen, Water & Food framework

04:31 The hierarchy of business metrics

04:49 Why definitions matter (Sales vs Estimates)

06:03 The leading indicators every owner should track

06:29 Sales are NOT revenue

07:28 Which numbers actually drive profit?

08:25 Scheduling is the oxygen of your business

10:14 Why working harder won't fix your business

10:48 PainterOS Accelerator

11:59 Capacity, scheduling & growth

13:13 Production metrics

14:12 The missing part of every business meeting

15:37 The real purpose of business data

16:38 Simplifying your business numbers

17:01 Outro

What happens if your business doubles overnight?

Most business owners think they'd celebrate.

But would your business actually survive it?

In this episode of The Painters Circle, Tas challenges painting business owners with a simple question:

If your leads, sales and workload doubled tomorrow... would your business be ready?

The truth is, most businesses aren't held back by a lack of opportunities. They're held back by systems that can't support growth.

Tas shares why trying to stay the same is actually moving backwards, how to identify where your business will break under pressure, and why simplifying your operations is the key to sustainable growth.

If your goal this financial year is to grow without working more hours, this episode is for you.

🎯 Ready to build a painting business that scales?

Discover PainterOS™ Accelerator, the execution ecosystem designed specifically for painting business owners who want more predictable revenue, better systems, and complete clarity on what to do next.

👉 https://accelerator.painteroperatingsystem.com/

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why staying the same actually means falling behind

✅ The "Magic Wand" question every business owner should ask

✅ How to identify the bottlenecks stopping your business from scaling

✅ Why most businesses become a Frankenstein of systems over time

✅ How simplifying your processes creates better growth

✅ Why AI and automation should support your business, not complicate it

✅ How to prepare your business for the next level before growth arrives

One of the biggest lessons from this episode is simple:

Simple scales. Complex fails.

The businesses that grow sustainably aren't the ones adding more software, more people, and more complexity.

They're the ones removing friction, building better systems, and making growth easier.

Whether you're running a painting business, trade business, or service business, this episode will help you prepare your business for sustainable growth.

🚀 PainterOS™ Accelerator is available now.

Learn more:

https://accelerator.painteroperatingsystem.com/

🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts

📺 YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@paintercoach

🎧 Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2MxPkThmbxNfsd9FtoIq2D

🍎 Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-painters-circle/id1821598579

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 - Three Choices for the New Financial Year

01:02 - Why Standing Still Means Going Backwards

01:26 - The Magic Wand Growth Exercise

02:17 - Can Your Business Handle Double the Work?

03:12 - Where Businesses Break When They Scale

04:03 - The "Frankenstein Business" Problem

04:57 - Why Every Business Needs a Blueprint

05:18 - PainterOS™ Accelerator

07:04 - Mapping Every Step of the Customer Journey

08:03 - Eliminating Duplication & Manual Work

08:40 - Simple Scales. Complex Fails.

09:22 - Is Your Business Ready for Growth?

10:00 - Remove Friction Before You Scale

10:27 - Your Goal for the Next 12 Months

If you lost everything today... could you build your business again?

It's a question every business owner should ask themselves.

In this episode, Tas reveals exactly what he'd do if he had to start from zero, from finding his first clients to generating income as quickly as possible.

Whether you're just starting out or already running a business, these are the principles that matter when everything else is stripped away.

🎯 Struggling to scale your painting business?

Join the circle of experts at The Painters Circle and get the guidance you need to grow your business.

👉 https://pages.paintercoach.com/the-painters-circle

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ The first thing Tas would do if he had to start from zero

✅ Why your biggest asset isn't money, it's your skills

✅ The difference between busy work and income-generating activities

✅ How communication can become your greatest business advantage

✅ Why becoming more findable leads to more opportunities

✅ The fastest way to generate revenue when starting over

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is simple:

Don't focus on looking busy. Focus on producing income.

When you prioritise communication, sales, marketing, and making offers, everything else becomes easier to build around.

Whether you're running a painting business, trade business, or service business, the principles in this episode will help you generate more revenue, improve your marketing, and focus on the activities that actually grow your business.

For those who don't know, we upload a new Business Podcast Episode every Thursday at 5pm.

Tas shares practical lessons from the real world of running and growing a painting business.

No fluff.

No theory.

Just honest conversations around sales, marketing, systems, leadership, profit, and the challenges business owners face every day.

If you're looking to build a better painting business, we'd love to have you join us.

🚀 PainterOS™ Accelerator available now!

Learn more:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WnEr4plroOKUJHHdPw0u-sXOmy_w4oKJzUGzlxw9LoI/edit?tab=t.0

🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paintercoach

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MxPkThmbxNfsd9FtoIq2D?si=a8ffb79eaa2f4d75

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-painters-circle/id1821598579?l=en-GB

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 - If I Lost Everything Today...

00:47 - Your Greatest Asset Isn't Money

01:05 - Starting a Business Before Social Media

01:41 - Communication Is Your Superpower

02:17 - Why I'd Go Back to Basics

02:31 - Present Your Proposals Live

03:18 - Make More Offers

04:10 - How I'd Find My First Clients Again

04:53 - Why You Need to Become More Findable

05:18 - PainterOS Accelerator

07:04 - The Two Things I'd Focus On First

07:29 - Income-Generating Activities vs Busy Work

08:44 - Build the Business With Your Revenue

09:20 - Marketing vs Sales Explained

09:48 - Final Advice: Start From Zero the Right Way

What if working harder is actually making your business worse?

That's exactly what happened to Tas...

Working 80 hours a week nearly destroyed my business.

In this episode, Tas shares the biggest mistakes he made while building a painting business, including burnout, micromanagement, pricing mistakes, and why systems changed everything.

In this episode, Tas shares the lessons that transformed not only his business, but his life.

One message stands out above all:

If you don't make a decision... you're making the decision to stay exactly where you are.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, trapped in the day-to-day, or struggling to let go, this episode is one you don't want to miss.

For those who don't know, we upload a new Business Podcast Episode every Thursday at 5pm.

Tas shares practical lessons from the real world of running and growing a painting business.

No fluff.

No theory.

Just honest conversations around sales, systems, leadership, profit, and the challenges business owners face every day.

If you're looking to build a better painting business, we'd love to have you join us.

PainterOS™ Accelerator available now!

Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WnEr4plroOKUJHHdPw0u-sXOmy_w4oKJzUGzlxw9LoI/edit?tab=t.0

🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paintercoach

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MxPkThmbxNfsd9FtoIq2D?si=a8ffb79eaa2f4d75

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-painters-circle/id1821598579?l=en-GB

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Cost Of Not Making A Decision

00:30 - Learning The Trade

01:05 - Business Before Social Media

01:46 - My First Burnout

02:29 - Why Working Harder Wasn't Working

03:13 - The Metrics That Actually Matter

03:54 - Discovering Business Coaching

04:18 - Why Sales & Marketing Changed Everything

04:38 - Building A Process-Driven Business

06:45 - Taking Ownership

07:09 - The Day My Thinking Changed Forever

10:26 - Building A Business That Serves Your Family

12:01 - It's Never The Right Time

12:35 - Final Thoughts

PainterOS™ Accelerator available now!

https://accelerator.painteroperatingsystem.com/

What if the biggest thing holding your painting business back isn't your skill...

It's what you're choosing to focus on.

In this episode, Tas shares the business lesson that completely changed the way he looked at running a painting business after hearing one simple sentence at a marketing seminar:

**"There's no money in the thing that you do."**

It challenged everything he believed about working harder, winning more work, and becoming a better painter.

In this episode you'll learn:

✅ Why working harder doesn't always make you more money

✅ The 3 core functions every business owner must understand

✅ The mistake that led to burnout and underpricing

✅ Why marketing and sales matter just as much as delivery

✅ The real reason most people start a business

✅ How to build a business that gives you more money, more time, and more freedom

If you're spending all your time on the tools and wondering why the business isn't moving forward...

This episode is for you.

For those who don't know, we upload a new Business Podcast Episode every Thursday at 5pm.

Tas shares practical lessons from the real world of running and growing a painting business.

No fluff.

No theory.

Just honest conversations around sales, systems, leadership, profit, and the challenges business owners face every day.

If you're looking to build a better painting business, we'd love to have you join us.

🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paintercoach

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MxPkThmbxNfsd9FtoIq2D?si=a8ffb79eaa2f4d75

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-painters-circle/id1821598579?l=en-GB

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Business Lesson That Changed Everything

00:01 - Introduction

01:16 - "There's No Money In The Thing That You Do"

01:52 - Working 80-Hour Weeks

02:16 - The 3 Core Functions Of Business

03:12 - Why Becoming A Better Painter Isn't Enough

04:14 - The Mistakes That Led To Burnout

04:57 - Painter OS Accelerator

06:43 - The Second Massive Mistake I Made

07:50 - Marketing, Sales & Business Growth

08:25 - Why People Really Start A Business

09:14 - Do You Own A Business... Or A Job?

09:45 - The Skills Business Owners Must Learn

10:19 - Where Money Is Really Made

10:49 - Leading Yourself First

11:04 - Calling Your Shot

11:39 - Final Thoughts

🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paintercoach

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MxPkThmbxNfsd9FtoIq2D?si=a8ffb79eaa2f4d75

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-painters-circle/id1821598579?l=en-GB

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your business...

It's that you've never clearly decided what you actually want?

In this episode, Tas reflects on one of the biggest lessons he took away from the Dulux Accredited National Conference and years of building businesses, raising a family, and chasing growth.

Many business owners spend years pursuing goals they think they should want, only to realise they're building a life that doesn't align with what matters most to them.

Tas shares his thoughts on:

✅ Why defining success is the first step to growth

✅ The difference between balance and integration

✅ Why copying other people's version of success can be dangerous

✅ Calling your shot and taking ownership of your future

✅ Building a business that supports the life you actually want

Before you focus on revenue, systems, staff, or scaling...

Ask yourself:

👉 What is it that you really want?

For those who don't know, we upload a new Business Podcast Episode every Thursday at 5pm.

Tas shares practical lessons from the real world of running and growing a painting business.

No fluff.

No theory.

Just honest conversations around sales, systems, leadership, profit, and the challenges business owners face every day.

If you're looking to build a better painting business, we'd love to have you join us.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:42 - What Business Owners Really Want

01:14 - Biggest Lesson From The Dulux Accredited Conference

01:23 - The First Question Every Business Owner Must Answer

01:47 - Balancing Business, Family & Life

02:10 - Why Work-Life Balance Doesn't Work

03:10 - Integration vs Balance

04:37 - The Secret To Building A Better Business

04:50 - Why Defining Success Matters

06:02 - Do You Actually Want A Business?

06:50 - Leadership Starts With You

07:14 - Stop Following Other People's Definition Of Success

07:26 - Final Reflections From The Dulux Conference

07:58 - Outro

Struggling to scale your painting business? Join the circle of experts at Painters Circle and get the guidance you need to grow your business.

Start today:

https://pages.paintercoach.com/the-painters-circle

FREE GAME PLAN BUILDER:

https://pages.paintercoach.com/Game_Plan_Builder

🎙️ Available now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

In this episode, Tas reflects on an unforgettable experience at the Dulux Accredited National Conference.

What started 15 years ago as a painter sitting in the audience learning from others came full circle when Tas was invited back to present and run a workshop for painting business owners from around the country.

From reconnecting with industry peers and sharing lessons learned through decades in business, to discussing why collaboration is one of the most powerful tools for growth, this episode is a reminder that no business owner has to figure it all out alone.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your painting business, you'll discover why the challenges we face are often more common than we think.

Follow us:

https://www.paintercoach.com/

https://www.instagram.com/paintercoach/

https://www.facebook.com/paintercoach

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Why Industry Events Matter

00:00:53 - Attending the Dulux Accredited National Conference

00:01:13 - Celebrating 15 Years in the Dulux Accredited Program

00:01:58 - Why Every Painting Business Faces Similar Challenges

00:03:05 - From Attendee to Guest Speaker

00:03:30 - A Family Milestone 56 Years in the Making

00:04:12 - Presenting to Industry Peers

00:05:12 - Helping Painters Avoid Common Business Mistakes

00:05:35 - Catching Up with Theo and Nick Slavik

00:06:03 - The Unexpected Gym Story

00:07:24 - The Importance of Daily Rituals and Intentional Living

00:08:27 - Conversations with Industry Leaders

00:08:55 - Final Reflections

FREE GAME PLAN BUILDER: https://pages.paintercoach.com/Game_Plan_Builder

🎙️ Available now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Struggling to scale your painting business? Join the circle of experts at Painters Circle and get the guidance you need to grow your business. Start today: https://pages.paintercoach.com/the-painters-circle

Three painting business owners.

Three different journeys.

One common goal.

Building better businesses.

In this episode of the Business Course Podcast, Tas sits down with Theo and Nick to talk about what they're seeing in the painting industry, the lessons they've learned along the way, and what separates businesses that grow from those that stay stuck.

No scripts.

No filters.

Just real conversations between people who have spent years in the industry.

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from hearing a different perspective.

Follow us:

https://www.paintercoach.com/

https://www.instagram.com/paintercoach/

https://www.facebook.com/paintercoach/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction & Welcoming Nick Slavik to Australia

01:55 Why painters around the world have the same challenges

03:03 The value of industry events and networking

04:58 Morning routines, discipline & setting yourself up to win

10:04 Why more non-painters are entering the painting industry

13:13 How social media transformed painting businesses

15:13 Breaking the "secret keeping" mentality in the industry

17:15 Why innovation attracts the next generation of business owners

20:33 The future of the Australian painting industry

22:17 AI in painting businesses: Opportunity or threat?

24:07 The shocking pricing mistakes painters make

28:44 Why most painters struggle with pricing

31:29 How the PCA became a global force in the industry

34:52 Marketing vs Labour: The changing business landscape

38:30 Why small businesses shouldn't blame the economy

42:22 Growing market share during difficult times

46:14 Employees vs Subcontractors: The big debate

51:28 Why subcontracting can create better business outcomes

58:30 How employee expectations have changed over generations

01:00:21 Building a culture people actually want to be part of

01:01:53 Final thoughts & wrap up

Struggling to scale your painting business? Join the circle of experts at Painters Circle and get the guidance you need to grow your business. Start today: https://pages.paintercoach.com/the-painters-circle

FREE GAME PLAN BUILDER: https://pages.paintercoach.com/Game_Plan_Builder

Most painting businesses think they have a performance problem. In reality, they have a pricing problem they’re avoiding.

In this episode, Tas breaks down one of the most common frustrations across painting businesses: not hitting revenue, profit, or income targets despite staying busy.

After working with hundreds of painters, Tas explains that these issues almost always come down to three core areas: pricing, performance, and pipeline. While many business owners focus on improving team performance or generating more work, the real issue often sits in pricing.

Tas challenges the common belief that increasing prices will lead to losing work. Instead, he explains that if a small price increase causes you to lose jobs, the real issue is usually in your sales process, your ability to communicate value, or attracting the wrong type of clients.

The episode dives into how inflation, rising costs, and stagnant pricing quietly erode profit over time. If you haven’t adjusted your pricing in years, you are already behind, whether you realise it or not.

Tas walks through a simple and practical strategy: incremental pricing increases. Rather than making large, risky jumps, small consistent adjustments over time can realign your business with its true costs and restore profitability.

He also explains why working harder won’t fix a pricing problem. No matter how efficient your team becomes, you cannot outwork a business model that is fundamentally underpriced.

This episode ties everything together around a simple truth: if your pricing doesn’t match the reality of your business, you will always feel pressure, no matter how busy you are.

Follow us:

https://www.paintercoach.com/

https://www.instagram.com/paintercoach/

https://www.facebook.com/paintercoach/

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction: Why You’re Not Hitting Targets

00:00:34 - The 3 Core Problems: Pricing, Performance, Pipeline

00:01:17 - Why Pricing Is Usually the Issue

00:01:48 - Fear of Raising Prices

00:02:17 - Pricing vs Sales Problem

00:02:49 - Thinking Long-Term in Business

00:03:22 - The Hidden Cost of Not Raising Prices

00:04:09 - Incremental Price Increases Explained

00:05:05 - Why You’re Losing Jobs

00:05:43 - Small Changes Over Time

00:06:10 - The Real Risk of Staying Underpriced

00:07:04 - Why You Can’t Outwork Pricing

00:08:01 - The Profit Squeeze Explained

00:09:15 - Identifying If You Have a Pricing Problem

00:10:00 - Reviewing Your Numbers

00:10:46 - Final Thoughts: Fix Pricing First

Struggling to scale your painting business? Join the circle of experts at Painters Circle and get the guidance you need to grow your business. Start today: https://pages.paintercoach.com/the-painters-circle

FREE GAME PLAN BUILDER: https://pages.paintercoach.com/Game_Plan_Builder

Most painting businesses don’t have a strategy problem. They have an environment problem.

In this episode, Tas breaks down a simple but powerful principle: Your Network = Your Net Worth, and how your environment is quietly shaping the results you’re getting in your business right now.

Tas explains how the people you surround yourself with directly influence your thinking, decisions, and ultimately your outcomes. If you’re constantly around business owners who complain, blame, or operate at a lower level, you will naturally drift toward that same standard without even realizing it.

He shows why this isn’t about cutting people off, but about becoming intentional with where you spend your time, who you learn from, and the environments you place yourself in. Whether it’s business groups, mentors, or networking rooms, being around people who are operating at a higher level will accelerate your growth by default.

The episode dives into how high-level operators don’t necessarily work harder, they think differently, make decisions differently, and operate with a completely different standard. Tas explains how getting exposure to that level of thinking can unlock new ways of operating in your own business.

He also connects this to a broader principle: what you input into your business and your mind determines what you output. If your environment isn’t aligned with your goals, your progress will always feel harder than it needs to be.

This episode ties everything together around a simple truth: if you want to grow faster, change your environment and start surrounding yourself with people who are already where you want to be.

Follow us:

https://www.paintercoach.com/

https://www.instagram.com/paintercoach/

https://www.facebook.com/paintercoach/

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction: Frameworks for Growth

00:00:00:36 - Why Frameworks Solve Problems Faster

00:01:23 - Turning Knowledge Into Tools

00:02:14 - Introducing “Network = Net Worth”

00:03:03 - What This Principle Really Means

00:03:48 - The Influence of Your Environment

00:04:52 - Real-Life Example: Health & Fitness

00:05:18 - Business Environments Explained

00:06:11 - The Impact of Negative Circles

00:06:38 - Moving Into Better Environments

00:07:07 - Inputs vs Outputs in Business

00:07:50 - Following People Closer to Your Goal

00:08:24 - Learning From High-Level Operators

00:09:17 - How Successful People Think Differently

00:10:07 - Why Environment Drives Results

00:10:32 - Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

00:10:48 - Final Thoughts on Growth