The ToolShed Podcast

The shift from working in your business to working on your business. If you're a builder who's felt like the day-to-day grind has you stuck, you're going to want to listen in. We're talking about the mindset shift, the strategies, and the systems that can completely transform the way you run your building business. No more constantly feeling behind or putting out fires. Instead, you'll hear about how to get on top of your projects, manage budgets, and handle the chaos that often comes with running a building company. This is going to be a deep dive into what it takes to start getting real results without the burnout.

Today's guest, Anthony Tarquinio. Anthony is not just a builder; he's a director of Evve Group and someone who's built his business from the ground up in both residential and commercial construction. From managing tier 1 civil projects across the country to overseeing multi-million-dollar high-end residential builds, Anthony's experience is unmatched. Since starting his own construction company in 2019, he's taken it to eight-figure annual revenue, running multiple projects at once. He's a guy who understands both the technical and business sides of construction, and today, he's going to share how he's grown his company, the lessons learned, and what's made all the difference.

Coming up in this episode:

• Why shifting your mindset is key to growing a successful building business.
• How implementing effective systems can save you time and boost profits.
• The importance of being open to learning and letting go of "knowing it all."
• How Profit First principles can give you better control over your finances.
• Why building a strong team is critical for scaling and managing projects.
• Understanding that client experience is your real product, not just the builds.
• The power of surrounding yourself with the right support and community.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

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Today, we will explore the significant advantages of collective buying power for builders, focusing on how joining a trade alliance can drastically improve your business's efficiency and profitability. We'll delve into the benefits of aligning with a group like the Trade Alliance Group, which offers builders access to competitive pricing, reliable suppliers, and valuable support, enabling them to remain competitive in a demanding industry.

Our guest today is Brett Crowther, a seasoned building industry professional and key figure at the Trade Alliance Group. Having grown up on job sites with his builder father, Brett deeply understands the challenges small builders face. At TAG, he is dedicated to helping builders and tradies elevate their businesses by connecting them with trusted suppliers offering competitive prices and services. His insights are invaluable for anyone looking to strengthen their business operations.

In this episode you will:

• Collective buying power helps small builders access better pricing and quality supplies, making them more competitive with larger companies.
• TAG offers more than just cost savings, connecting builders with reliable, peer-reviewed suppliers.
• By acting as an extension of suppliers' sales teams, TAG provides a cost-effective way for suppliers to reach a broader customer base.
• Builders can gradually incorporate TAG suppliers, minimizing risk while assessing quality and service.
• Expanding a business, as seen with TAG's growth across states, requires strategic planning and patience.
• Choosing quality personnel over the cheapest options can lead to better outcomes and reduced stress in managing a business.
• TAG provides a low-risk opportunity for builders to improve operations and profitability, backed by a money-back guarantee.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about TOPIC>. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

• Trade Alliance Group Website: tradealliance.com.au
• Trade Alliance Group Hotline: 1800 957 154
• Trade Alliance Group email address: [email protected]

In this episode, we're diving deep into one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful construction business—marketing. Now, marketing might sound like a bit of a buzzword, but when it comes down to it, knowing who you're trying to attract and having the right strategies in place can make or break your business. We're talking about avoiding time-wasters, attracting the right clients, and ultimately, boosting your profitability by refining how you market your services. Whether you're a seasoned builder or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights that could profoundly change the way you approach your marketing.

I sit down with Cameron Upton from Contractor Scale, a man who's worn many hats throughout his career. Starting off as a teenager selling car audio online, Cameron quickly embraced the digital age, mastering web building and Google Ads. His journey from building superyachts and race cars to coaching home builders for five years has given him a unique perspective on the construction industry. Now, with Contractor Scale, Cameron's on a mission to help builders like you navigate the marketing maze and achieve their business goals.

Coming up this episode…

• Narrow down your target audience if you want to attract the right clients.
• Getting your marketing right can massively boost both your business's profitability and how much you enjoy running it.
• Excluding unqualified leads early on will save you heaps of time and let you focus on quality clients.
• Your marketing approach needs to be tailored to your business size and goals for real success.
• A solid marketing budget and a clear runway are must-haves for sustainable growth.
• Combining direct response marketing with helpful content is a winning formula for converting leads into clients.
• Understanding and tracking key marketing metrics is essential to make sure your strategies are hitting the mark.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

To connect with Cameron, check the links below. Enjoy the episode!

Website: https://contractorscale.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contractor.scale

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contractor-scale

Want more resources to help build your building or trades-based business? Join us in the ToolShed - https://bit.ly/JoinTheToolshed

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about TOPIC>. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

In this episode of The ToolShed podcast, I host three inspiring young women from Future Lady Tradies (FLT): Aleah, Taleah, and Kayla. We dive into their journey of creating a charity to support and encourage female apprentices in male-dominated trades. We cover the origin of FLT, their mission to attract, connect, and retain women in the trades, and their innovative programs designed to make the industry more inclusive.

Future Lady Tradies (FLT) is an established charity that provides much needed support to female apprentices in the blue-collar industry. FLT has 3 main objectives being attracting, connecting and retaining. One of FLT's missions for 2024 is to gain and expose female apprentices with Future Lady Tradies and what we can offer to them.

• Learn how to attract and retain more women in the trades through supportive programs.
• Understand the challenges and solutions for increasing female participation in male-dominated industries.
• Learn to implement effective strategies for creating an inclusive workplace.
• Take a deeper look at the importance of mental health support for apprentices.
• We answer a question about how FLT started and the mission behind their charity.
• Rethink your approach to workplace diversity by seeing the benefits of a balanced team.
• Understand the value of mentorship and community for young women entering the trades.
• Hear us talk about the innovative programs FLT has launched to support female apprentices.
• Learn how the foundations of FLT's mission can be applied to other industries.
• Think differently about the role of women in the trades and the positive impact they can make.
• We talk in-depth about the vision for FLT's future and how they plan to expand nationally.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-lady-tradies/?originalSubdomain=au
• https://www.facebook.com/p/Future-Lady-Tradies-100090517242555/
• https://www.instagram.com/futureladytradies/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@futureladytradies

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about mastering builder marketing. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

High-Performance Leadership

In this episode , we discuss the essential mindset shifts and strategies needed to build and lead high-performing teams in the building industry. I sit down with Jerome Lemarque, a mindset management coach. He shares his expertise on mental fitness, overcoming repetitive challenges, and fostering trust and consistency within your team. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you elevate your leadership game.

Jerome Lemarque is a mind management expert with nearly two decades of experience helping business owners achieve high-performance leadership. Starting as a confidence coach in 2005, Jerome developed the Get Performing Program to align clients' life purposes with their business goals. From humble beginnings in North London, he now leads workshops for top organizations like Unilever in Australia.

In this episode you will:

Building a high-performing team is crucial for business success and can't be achieved by the owner alone. Mental fitness and consistent routines are essential for effective leadership. Leaders should maintain clarity and confidence, viewing problems from a strategic perspective rather than getting bogged down in technical tasks. Trust is the most important element in any relationship, especially within a high-performance team. Effective leadership requires emotional and spiritual engagement with the team. Addressing repeated mistakes can be more impactful than setting new goals. Developing leadership skills involves understanding one's natural and nurtured gifts, and consistently practicing them. Personal responsibility and proactive habits are key to building trust and achieving success.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

Links:

Website: https://www.jeromelamarque.com/

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about the Future Lady Tradies with Taleah Henderson and Kayla and Aleah Hill . So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

Imagine a world where you can manage your entire supply chain with just a few clicks, automating those tedious tasks that eat away at your time and profits. BuiltGrid is not just a tool, but a revolution in how builders interact with their suppliers, from trades to materials and services. We're talking about how this revolutionary system is connecting builders with their supply chains, automating processes, and driving efficiencies to save time and money. If you're a builder looking to streamline your operations and boost your profitability, this episode is a must-listen!

Joining us is Toby Loft, co-founder of BuiltGrid, who, along with his partner John Murphy, has leveraged their extensive supply chain experience to tackle the challenges of housing affordability head-on. Toby will share how BuiltGrid connects builders with trades, materials, and services, driving significant productivity gains. With their innovative procurement methodology, builders are seeing over 9% savings per project and completing jobs up to four weeks ahead of schedule. Toby's insights and experiences are sure to inspire and inform, so stick around for an enlightening conversation.

In this episode you will:

• Discover how BuiltGrid can revolutionize your building projects by connecting you directly with your supply chain.
• Learn about the automation processes that BuiltGrid offers to save you valuable time and reduce manual tasks.
• Understand the cost-saving benefits, including how builders are saving over 9% per project by using BuiltGrid.
• Hear real-world examples of how BuiltGrid has helped builders complete projects up to four weeks ahead of schedule.
• Explore the journey and insights of Toby Loft and his co-founder John Murphy in creating BuiltGrid.
• Get inspired by practical tips on implementing BuiltGrid in your own building projects to enhance efficiency and profitability.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

BuiltGrid.com

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about TOPIC>. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

If you're a builder looking to streamline your projects, keep track of schedules, quoting, costs, invoicing, and profits, then this episode is a must-listen. NextMinute is designed specifically for residential construction, offering seamless two-way integration with popular cloud accounting platforms like Xero, MYOB, and QBO, and it's all accessible through a robust mobile app for both Android and iOS. We'll discuss how this tool can save you time by eliminating double data entry and providing real-time access to critical project information.

Joining us today is Emily Ossington, an expert with over a decade in the cloud accounting industry. Since starting with NextMinute in 2021, Emily has leveraged her extensive experience to address the unique needs of residential construction businesses. Drawn to NextMinute for its strong integrations and comprehensive features, Emily will share how this platform can transform your operations and simplify your daily tasks. So, let's get into it!

In this episode you will:

• Learn how NextMinute can streamline your project management from start to finish.
• Benefits of seamless two-way integration with Xero, MYOB, and QBO.
• Understand how the mobile app for Android and iOS keeps everyone in the loop, from the job site to the office.
• The unique needs of residential construction businesses and how NextMinute addresses them.
• How to eliminate double data entry and save valuable time with NextMinute's features.
• Get tips on maximizing efficiency and profitability in your building business using NextMinute.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

• NextMinute Website: nextminute.com

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about cutting your build time & costs with BuiltGrid. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

With so many software options for builders, it can be a real head-scratcher figuring out which one suits your business best. We're talking tools that save you time, money, and a heap of frustration. Whether you're jotting down specs on a beer coaster or wrestling with outdated spreadsheets, there's a better way, and we're here to show you how to find it. BuildXact a revolutionary software transforming the building industry. Integrating technology into construction businesses can streamline operations, save time, and boost profitability.

Joining us today is a true heavyweight in construction tech, Steve Yates, the CEO of BuildXact. With a rock-solid background in global supply chains and enterprise sales, Steve excels in strategic planning and development. Before BuildXact, he was the CEO of Cliftonvale in California, mastering sourcing and logistics. Steve's mission is all about making builders' lives easier and more productive. Get ready for top-notch insights and practical advice from someone who's been there and done that.

Coming up this episode:

• Integrate builder software into your business operations to streamline processes and improve profitability.
• The common challenges builders face and how technology can help overcome them.
• BuildXact's features for better project management and efficiency.
• The importance of community and collaboration in the building industry and how BuildXact facilitates this.
• Real-life benefits and success stories from builders who have transformed their operations with BuildXact.
• Think differently about your current methods and explore new, more efficient ways to manage your building projects.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

• BuildXact.com

Join the toolshed - thetoolshedpodcast.com

Stay tuned next week when we talk about another awesome tool called Next Minute. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

The way you make your clients feel is just as important as the structure you build for them. From the initial planning stages to the final handover, it's all about creating a positive and memorable experience. We discuss how to align design visions with budget realities and foster strong collaborative relationships between builders, designers, and clients to ensure project success.

Joining us for this chat is Adrian Ramsay, an acclaimed designer from New Zealand. Adrian started in fashion, making waves with his innovative swimwear and sportswear designs for high-profile clients like America's Cup teams and Sir Edmund Hillary. His passion for design led him to architecture and interiors, where he's now a celebrated figure with over a hundred projects. Adrian also hosts the "TALK design" podcast and is the Queensland host for Channel 9's "Dream Homes Revealed." His dedication to quality design makes him the perfect guest to explore the emotional impact of our work.

Key takeaways:

• Learn how to create designs that align with budget constraints without compromising quality.
• Understand the importance of collaboration between builders, designers, and clients.
• Learn to manage client expectations effectively throughout the project.
• Understand how to communicate effectively with clients to meet their needs.
• Hear us talk about the challenges and rewards of working in the design industry.

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

https://ardesignhouse.com/

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Stay tuned next week when we talk about an awesome tool called Buildxact. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

We spend so much time worrying about our diets, exercise routines, and overall wellness, but how often do we consider the very environment we live in? From mold to building materials and electromagnetic fields, these unseen factors can have a profound impact on our health and well-being. It's high time we shone a light on these hidden hazards and understood how our homes might be undermining our health. Today, we'll explore practical steps to ensure our living spaces support our overall well-being and create a healthier environment for ourselves and our families. So, if you're keen to learn how to create a living space that supports your health rather than harms it.

Joining us today is Zara D'Cotta, a powerhouse in building biology and founder of The Healthy Home. After battling cancer and environmental illness, Zara turned her experience into a mission to promote healthier building practices. Her expertise in healthy home design and building materials empowers builders across Australia to create sustainable and safe homes. Featured on Domain and ABC Radio Hobart, and speaking for top organisations like the Australian Institute of Architects, Zara's dedication to healthier living environments is truly commendable.

Key takeaways:

• Our living environments have a huge impact on our health, often more than we realise.
• Mold, building materials, and electromagnetic fields are critical factors in creating a healthy home.
• Zara D'Cotta's journey from battling cancer and environmental illness has driven her to promote healthier building practices.
• Healthy homes should prioritise clean air, clean water, proper lighting, and reducing exposure to manmade electromagnetic fields.
• Investing in air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and keeping an eye on indoor humidity levels can make a big difference to your home's health.
• Builders can create healthier homes without necessarily increasing costs by making smarter choices with materials.
• The Healthy Home's courses are fantastic for educating builders on enhancing client health and sustainability while cutting down on liability risks.

• The Healthy Home
• Contact Zara at [email protected]
• Follow Zara on Instagram: @zaradcotta_thehealthyhome

All this and more, on this week's episode of THE TOOLSHED.

Join the toolshed - thetoolshedpodcast.com

Stay tuned for new episode next week as we talk about how to create a successful construction project. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.