For Tradies & Contractors

The Site Shed is a fully dedicated educational platform, created specifically for tradies and contractors around the globe.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 265 - The True Cost of Not Systemising

With the internet changing people’s ideas about entrepreneurship over the years, millions saw opportunities in starting their own business—most notably in the small business sector. How many of them pulled through? And in between the height of their business and the brink of closing down, do they ever get to measure the ‘shoulda-woulda-couldas’ towards becoming better businessmen? Starting a business is one thing. Managing it is another. 

But management doesn’t mean you look after every part of the business yourself. We have process-organising and systemisation for that. Most business owners know that not systemising is costly but just haven’t given it the importance it so deserved. So what's the true cost of the failure or point-blank refusal to systemise? That’s what we’ll talk about in our first episode of the SYSTEMology - Create Time, Reduce Errors And Scale Your Profits series, with our guest, the author himself, David Jenyns.

Learn more about the consequences of saying “No” to systemising your business by tuning in to this podcast!

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

The importance of building a business that works and grows without you [07:08]

You are the business, that is, until you change something [08:17]

Recognizing opportunities and changes [11:02]

Conquer challenging situations through standing by your system

Snakes and Ladders: Playing business by the steps or ten in advance [12:44]

Take the opportunity to grow (the business) without being too “involved” [13:49]

Business is about systems [15:25]

Focus on what you do best as a businessman [15:46]

Don’t try to quantify the cost of not systemising—you can’t [16:19]

Instead, quantify opportunities for improvement [17:02]

Systemise by chunks [18:32]

Business giants can systemise—so can you [19:50]

You don’t have to be McDonald’s to apply a system that works [20:44]

Complicating is far from organising [20:52]

Simplify [21:31]

About the Guest:

In 2016, David successfully systemised himself out of his business, one of Australia’s   most trusted digital agencies, melbourneSEOservices.com. Through this process he became a systems devotee–founding systemHUB & SYSTEMology. Today, his mission is to free all business owners worldwide from the daily operations of running their business.

With two books to his name and the SYSTEMology movement, David offers mission-centered systemising to scale up businesses and take away much of the pressure that comes with being an entrepreneur.

Resources:

Come visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Follow our Facebook community ‘The Site Shed’ for announcements on how you can avail our book getaway of David Jenyns’ book SYSTEMology: Create time, reduce errors and scale your profits with proven business systems

Get the book at Amazon - https://amzn.to/34kxRMT

Check out SYSTEMology (https://www.systemology.com/)

Business Process Simplified with Dave Jenyns (https://www.systemhub.com/podcast/)

Follow Dave Jenyns on Twitter (@davidjenyns)

Reach out to Dave through his email ([email protected])

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

Will Virtual Reality Eventually Replace Technical College?

What if there is a way for you to train your tradies on how to fix electrical wiring without running the risk of electrical shock? What if you get to learn how to install a solar panel without having to be on site? As sci-fi as they may sound, with the digital transformation taking place all around us, it’s no longer hard to imagine these changes occurring in the workspace. Virtual reality is slowly creeping its way towards vocational education and training, and it’s making life for us tradies so much better!

This week, we’ll have another incredible and informative episode as we chat with Doug Donovan, CEO and Founder at Interplay Learning, about how VR and AR technology is slowly paving its way towards a better way of skills learning and training. Here, we’ll get to hear more about how this technology can make learning faster and safer as well as give us a sneak peek into what the future of the trades industry may look like.

Hop on to this episode as we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of virtual reality.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

Why schools should slowly tap into VR technology [05:37]

A brief background on Doug and Interplay [08:42]

Most European countries are way ahead in terms of R&D and VocEd [14:15]

The effect of the decreasing number of tradies in the US and AU [15:55]

VocEd requirements in some states in the US have slowly disappeared [10:37]

The advantages of  VR and AR training for tradies [18:50]

Most skills required in running a business are not taught at schools [22:16]

Most companies prioritise attitude over aptitude [25:01]

Simulation training condenses learning time [17:41]

Startups are starting to adapt sim training to improve business processes [28:11]

VR and AR make it possible to conduct community learning [36:58]

Book knowledge has yet to creep its way into VR learning [39:52]

Interplay’s secret way of handling new technology [41:19]

Most of their training are based on current market demands [42:56]

What makes virtual reality the best and safest technology as a tool for learning [31:44]

The adaptability of tech-based programs are what makes them great to use [46:32]

Virtual reality vs augmented reality [51:58]

The value of experiential learning [53:45]

How VR tech can make construction work faster and more efficient [54:32]

The possibility of VR and AR making quoting easier [56:57]

The future of VR and AR technology in the workspace [49:31]

About the Guest:

Doug Donovan has been in the VR space for more than a decade. He is the Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning which is based in Austin, Texas. Realising the lack of hands-on experience of some tradies, it has lead him to build a more efficient way of conducting trainings. A global leader in online and VR training, he has assisted several company trainings ranging from HVAC, Electrical, Auditing, to name a few.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 263 - Accountability - Using Your Numbers to Hold Your Team Accountable in Your Journey Together

Isn’t it just hard to motivate yourself when you’re not even sure what kind of metrics you have to meet to achieve a certain goal? We all want our businesses to achieve greater heights. But without setting clear steps that you and your team can commit to, the journey might take you forever, if not never! So what can you do to make sure everyone plays their part in the journey towards achieving that goal?

We’ll know the answer as we reach the 3rd and final part of our “Measuring What You Manage: The Only Way to Run a Profitable Business at Scale” series with Danny Kerr. Today, we’ll talk about how you can keep you and your team accountable to ensure the growth of your business. We’ll be looking at the organisational chart and how that ties in with accountability.

If you want to accurately measure your company’s financial results, then you’ll find a lot of value and insight by listening to this episode now.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

Why is accountability important? [04:22]

We all need someone to keep us accountable [07:02]

Holding yourself and your team accountable [08:13]

How to ask for a raise [09:39]

By presenting career opportunities, you can retain your best talents [10:09]

To give your team numerical goals, give them a bigger goal [13:52]

The link between the organisational structure and accountability [11:46]

The benefits of having an organisational structure [15:06]

How to identify what key metrics to include [22:01]

The key is to have measurable goals that have bonuses on them [24:33]

Why you need to bake your key metrics into the employee agreement [18:37]

Using tools to effectively communicate with your team [25:04]

No big idea can be created until it’s project-managed to existence [27:14]

The project management checklist is an ongoing work-in-progress [29:51]

Competency models for standard operating procedures [31:13]

Companies should link their budget, org chart, and job description with each other [34:11]

Budgeting, forecasting, and accountability all need to work together [33:31]

To remove yourself from the business, you need to have an org chart [35:23]

The three faces of leadership [38:44]

About the Guest:

Danny Kerr created his own success in life by starting his own trades business and used the profits to buy his first home. By age 20, he had taken a leadership position with a franchise company and grew sales by 225% in one year. He then spent the next 6 years scaling businesses before co-founding Breakthrough Academy as a way to open horizons for other trades entrepreneurs. 

Breakthrough Academy now works with over 300 contractors across the continent, managing over $900 million worth of revenue, and was rated Canada’s 16th fastest start-up by MacLean’s magazine in 2018.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit The Top 3 Mistakes Growing Trade Businesses Make series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/attracting-talent/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/gross-profit-margin/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/wrong-prioritisation-of-time/)

Check out the Scaling Your Business from $500k to $5 Mill series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-1/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-2/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-3/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-4/)

Watch the previous episode in the Measure What You Manage series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/danny-kerr-1/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/danny-kerr-2/)

Visit the Breakthrough Academy website (https://www.btacademy.com/)

Get your free strategy sessions and resources at Breakthrough Academy using code “SITE” (https://www.btacademy.com/strategysession/)

Reach out to Danny through his email ([email protected])

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 262 - Forecasting: How to Use and Adjust Your Data Based Numbers in the Field Daily

One thing that tradies like us fear is the unpredictability of our business’ future. It’s like trying to cross the road with blindfolds on hoping you don’t get hit by a bus along the way. However, what if you have the ability to foretell your business’ financial future beforehand?

That’s what we’re here to discuss in Part 2 of our “Measuring What You Manage: The Only Way to Run a Profitable Business at Scale” series with Danny Kerr. Today, we’ll learn more about forecasting, what steps you need to take to make a sales plan, and what makes it so key in ensuring the survival of your business in drastic situations.

Take charge of the future by tuning in to this episode today!

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

What is forecasting? [03:19]

Data is the building-block of forecasting [04:11]

Start with your financials [05:17]

The difference between goal-setting and working on it is having a sales plan [08:05]

Stages in forecasting [06:01]

A sales plan is the contractor’s holy grail for tracking their business [10:48]

It’s alright to take a risk, just not a blind risk [11:59]

About the Guest:

Danny Kerr created his own success in life by starting his own trades business and used the profits to buy his first home. By age 20, he had taken a leadership position with a franchise company and grew sales by 225% in one year. He then spent the next 6 years scaling businesses before co-founding Breakthrough Academy as a way to open horizons for other trades entrepreneurs. 

Breakthrough Academy now works with over 300 contractors across the continent, managing over $900 million worth of revenue, and was rated Canada’s 16th fastest start-up by MacLean’s magazine in 2018.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit The Top 3 Mistakes Growing Trade Businesses Make series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/attracting-talent/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/gross-profit-margin/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/wrong-prioritisation-of-time/)

Check out the Scaling Your Business from $500k to $5 Mill series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-1/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-2/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-3/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-4/)

Watch the previous episode in the Measure What You Manage series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/danny-kerr-1/)

Visit the Breakthrough Academy website (https://www.btacademy.com/)

Get your free strategy sessions and resources at Breakthrough Academy using code “SITE” (https://www.btacademy.com/strategysession/)

Reach out to Danny through his email ([email protected])

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 261 - Budgeting - Knowing Your Numbers & Establishing a Great Sales and Financial Plan

One of the main reasons most tradies get into business is to earn more money. Yet ironically, financial education is one of the things we were never taught at school. So when we dive into the profit and loss statement, we end up staring at it with a puzzled look, not really knowing whether business is good or bad. Well, there’s no need to get dizzy just by looking at those numbers anymore.

In this week’s podcast episode, Danny Kerr—co-founder of Breakthrough Academy and a repeat guest—joins us once more in the first episode of the “Measuring What You Manage: The Only Way to Run a Profitable Trades Business at Scale” series. Today, we talk about budgeting and how it is essential to be able to interpret and break down your financial data effectively.

In this new fiscal year, nothing could be more important than knowing your numbers. Get into grips with your financials by tuning in to this episode now!

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

What’s new with Danny Kerr? [02:20]

The value of sharing learning experiences with other tradies [05:55]

A brief overview of today’s topic [07:23]

If your personal financials are a mess, so are your business financials [10:39]

Learning how to budget should be a tradie’s priority [08:22]

How Danny learned how to save [11:48]

The little changes you make in your trade can make a big difference [16:05]

Good budgeting can protect your from unforeseen circumstances [17:43]

The importance of percentages [14:22]

There’s a difference between what’s your account and what you’ve made [18:48]

Do a proper job costing [20:01]

More, less, or the same? Why? [22:58]

Once you see a pattern, job costing becomes fun [24:42]

How to do budgeting the right way [21:03]

Turning the budget into bite-sized chunks [26:00]

You should invest more in your accounting department [29:50]

It’s essential to also get into grips with your financials [27:57]

Gross profit is more important that net profit [31:48]

Most people make between 10% to 20% net profit [33:26]

KPIs to track when measuring results [30:16]

If you know your average job size, you can project your budget [34:35]

About the Guest:

Danny Kerr created his own success in life by starting his own trades business and used the profits to buy his first home. By age 20, he had taken a leadership position with a franchise company and grew sales by 225% in one year. He then spent the next 6 years scaling businesses before co-founding Breakthrough Academy as a way to open horizons for other trades entrepreneurs. 

Breakthrough Academy now works with over 300 contractors across the continent, managing over $900 million worth of revenue, and was rated Canada’s 16th fastest start-up by MacLean’s magazine in 2018.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit The Top 3 Mistakes Growing Trade Businesses Make series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/attracting-talent/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/gross-profit-margin/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/wrong-prioritisation-of-time/)

Check out the Scaling Your Business from $500k to $5 Mill series with Danny Kerr

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-1/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-2/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-3/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/scaling-your-business-4/)

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz (https://amzn.to/37HjoKs)

Get in touch with Bookkeeping for Painters (https://www.bookkeepingforpainters.com/)

Visit the Breakthrough Academy website (https://www.btacademy.com/)

Reach out to Danny through his email ([email protected])

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

Should We Get Back On Track OR Get Onto a New Track

Most of us believe that once you hit the ceiling with your skills, abilities, or even the service that you give for your business, there is no way you can get any further than that. But what if there is a way for you to push beyond your limitations? What if there is a way for you to make your business even better than what it was yesterday? 

In this week’s podcast episode, Paul Dunn, a world-renowned entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, joins us to share his incredible business insights and the value of doing great little things for you and your business that eventually builds up to bigger, more significant results. He also shares with us his philosophy called “towards awesome service,” and how that can make a great impact on your business.

Work your way towards a better self and tune in to this episode now!

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

Paul’s brief backstory [03:36]

How you do one thing is how you do everything [09:32]

Why you should show up on odd times [10:40]

The essence of using odd times [12:52]

The concept behind ‘towards awesome service’ [07:10]

The role of technology in punctuality [16:05]

Using odd times for your meetings [13:41]

Why you need someone else to answer your phone for you [21:57]

The person who answers the phone for you will do a better job than you do [17:36]

The essence of creating organisational structures in building client trust [29:33]

No trust equals no sale [31:51]

The little things add up to significant victories [25:26]

You can always get people to do a job you don’t have skills to [36:36]

People know how to do the business but not run the business [34:42]

The simple things can make great impacts on the world [37:57]

B1G1’s latest initiative [39:36]

About the Guest:

Paul Dunn is an award-winning entrepreneur, a four-time TEDx speaker, and a world-class keynote speaker. He is the co-founder and chairman of B1G1, a global initiative that helps 2,300 businesses around the world make global impacts through little, daily activities. B1G1 has helped businesses make 150 million global impacts to date.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan (https://amzn.to/3axWiHC)

E-Myth by Michael Gerber (https://amzn.to/3awaX6g)

Visit the B1G1 Website (https://www.b1g1.com/businessforgood/)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 259 - How to Stop Competitors From Stealing Your Clients

Do you sometimes wonder why no matter how good a name you’ve made for yourself, you end up either plateauing or losing clients? As frustrating as getting your customers stolen sounds, it is a reality that happens to most of us. But what if I tell you there is something else you can do other than scratch your head in dismay?

In Part 5 of our ‘Protecting Your Trade Business From Legal Risk’ mini-series, Helen Kay joins us once again to discuss with us the clauses you can include in your contracts to restrain your sub-contractors from running off with your clients, why you need to do due diligence when starting your trade business, and the process of amending your existing contracts.

Don’t wait for your competitors to get their hands on your customers by tuning in to this show now!

Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains information that resonates specifically with the Australian legal system. If you are offshore and have inquiries about your market, please seek legal advice from qualified attorneys in your country or state.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

How your leads can get stolen [04:55]

Do your research before committing to a business name [06:06]

The effect of having the same social media handles as another business [07:44]

What makes social media prone to client-theft [07:16]

The essence of having a trademark [09:22]

Include restraints of trade [13:01]

You can’t restrain your clients but you can restrain your sub-contractors [14:32]

Establish an agreement with everyone in a business sense to protect your IP [12:08]

Preparing clauses for restraints of trade [16:15]

The frequency in revisiting a contract [19:11]

Signing contracts digitally [22:28]

Telltale signs of an unwilling client [23:44]

How to amend a contract [18:03]

Will Helen deal with tradies without terms and conditions? [25:52]

The essence of having an NDA [27:03]

Protecting yourself from losing clients due to slanderous remarks [29:49]

Contracts are your friends [31:58]

About the Guest:

Helen Kay is a business lawyer. In fact, she is The Contracts Lawyer. Helen Kay is the owner and managing director of Rise Legal. She is a highly accomplished commercial and property lawyer with extensive legal experience working within top tier firms in Australia as well as running her own legal practice and heading up various commercial practices over the years. 

Helen has assisted many businesses across different industry sectors with their commercial legal agreements, including commercial leases, buying and selling businesses, and providing general contractual advice.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Join our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSiteShed)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Check other episodes in this series Protecting Your Trade from Legal Risks with Helen Kay

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-1/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-2/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-3/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-4/

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 258 - What To Consider When Hiring Contractors

With the emergence of technology, millions and millions of talent are now accessible at your fingertips. However, just when we thought things were getting easier, they actually got trickier. With a lot of contractors to choose from, it gets more and more challenging to find the perfect fit! But when you do find the right candidate and are now ready to start inking that legally-binding contract, you might want to consider a few things first before it starts becoming your nightmare.

Today, Helen Kay—a contracts lawyer and a repeat guest—is back by popular demand in Part 4 of our mini-series ‘Protecting Your Trade Business From Legal Risk’ to discuss with us the difference between a contractor and an employee, some of the risks that you need to weigh before getting into a contract with someone, and the practicalities when hiring a contractor.

Make wise onboarding decisions and start forging contracts with the right people by tuning in to this episode!

Disclaimer: This podcast episode contains information that resonates specifically with the Australian legal system. If you are offshore and have inquiries about your market, please seek legal advice from qualified attorneys in your country or state.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

What is Rise Legal? [03:45]

Legal disclaimer [04:47]

What makes today’s topic timely [05:14]

Don’t rush into it [06:35]

Why you need to get necessary legal documents in place [09:53]

Overview of today’s topic [07:26]

Identifying a contractor and an employee [11:45]

Hiring contractors vs hiring employees [12:40]

What is a contractor? [10:28]

The best thing to do is to err on the side of caution [16:19]

If 80% of your worker’s income comes from you, you should pay the employee benefits [15:08]

Contractors can delegate their work [17:34]

Contractors get paid based on a quote; Employees get paid based on work hours [17:44]

Contractors provide their own assets, employees don’t [17:55]

Contractors take commercial risks [19:22]

Six factors that determine whether your worker is an employee or a contractor [17:25]

Ways to draft a contract with a contractor [20:07]

Deliberate on the legal and insurance risks before signing a contract [23:55]

It’s essential to get a legal advisor to review your contract [26:08]

Any contractor should have a tailor suit template for all subcontractors [28:05]

Clauses you need to include in as-and-when contracts [29:01]

Subcontracting on a small-scale business [27:09]

The tendering process for contractors [30:50]

Grab a copy of their insurance [33:18]

Trust your gut [34:00]

The practicality when hiring contractors [32:15]

You can’t build human touch points into tech-related automation [36:57]

The human element is still essential for all types of industries [35:33]

Bullet points to remember when hiring contractors [37:06]

About the Guest:

Helen Kay is a business lawyer. In fact, she is The Contracts Lawyer. Helen Kay is the owner and managing director of Rise Legal. She is a highly accomplished commercial and property lawyer with extensive legal experience working within top tier firms in Australia as well as running her own legal practice and heading up various commercial practices over the years. 

Helen has assisted many businesses across different industry sectors with their commercial legal agreements, including commercial leases, buying and selling businesses, and providing general contractual advice.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Join our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSiteShed)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Employee/Contractor Decision Tool (https://www.ato.gov.au/calculators-and-tools/employee-or-contractor/)

Check other episodes in this series Protecting Your Trade from Legal Risks with Helen Kay

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-1/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-2/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/contracts-3/

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 257 - Keeping Accountable and Measuring Results

When you set a goal for your company, most of the time, you’d like to charge into it right away without pause. Achieving it in the timeline that you’ve set only sounds natural. However, by charging into it without a real strategy, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. So how do you ensure that you and your team can efficiently work together to achieve those goals?

In Part 3 of the ‘Strategic Planning for Business Success’ mini-series, Kim Archer from BDR—a company that provides training and coaching services to the HVAC industry—joins us once more to talk about how to keep you and your team accountable for achieving your daily goals to set your company up for success. We will also learn the significance of having an accountability partner in making sure that those goals are met and why it’s important to celebrate when you meet those goals.

Efficiently measure results and start hitting your goals by tuning in to this episode now!

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

Why companies fall over when it comes to accountability [04:17]

The difference between a dream and a goal is writing it down [05:10]

Strategy and discipline go together in achieving your goals [05:54]

Taking time in hitting your goals is okay [07:37]

Having an accountability partner makes you a better leader [06:30]

Staying focused on your gifts can help you get your goals faster [08:24]

Know how to celebrate when you hit your goals [09:59]

Involve your team in keeping accountability [10:38]

The frequency of which your team needs to revisit your goals [11:31]

How to better deal with rank-and-file team members [19:10]

The essence of organisational chart in handling your staff [20:24]

Love your team [21:01]

How team accountability plays into measuring results [12:29]

Why upselling is essential [22:59]

Finding out what results to measure [21:40]

How to keep accountability in small businesses [24:51]

About The Guest:

Kim Archer is the lead trainer for BDR’s financial courses, Accounting & Office Management and QuickBooks for the HVAC Contractor. She also serves as BDR’s Vice President for Dealer Coaching and is the architect of BDR’s Profit Launch business planning workshops.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit the Business Development Resources website (https://www.bdrco.com/)

Check other episodes in this series Strategic Planning Done Right with Edward Plant

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-1/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-2/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-3/

Listen to Part 1 and 2 of this series Strategic Planning For Business Success

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/kim-archer-1/ 

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/kim-archer-2/ 

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

Building Your Business Roadmap

Many businesses all over the world have suffered tremendously in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of businesses were shut down and people were downsized. However, does it really just have to do with the pandemic? Or does it also have to do with how much effort business owners put into strategic planning?

This episode marks the second part of the ‘Strategic Planning for Business Success’ mini-series with Kim Archer from BDR, a company that provides training and coaching services to the HVAC industry. Today, we will learn the importance of strategic planning in preparing for contingencies, how to effectively build a business roadmap that can lead to business success, and how to build a roadmap that’s easily achievable for you and your team.

Convert crises into opportunities and tune in to today’s podcast episode.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

How strategic planning prepares you for contingencies [05:11]

The compounding effect of operating without a business roadmap [07:04]

Complacency is what makes businesses fail  [08:03]

Business planning is like exercise [09:34]

Understanding the depth of your financials is essential in business planning [10:16]

The first step in running a business is knowing how to [11:23]

Understanding financials is critical to your business success [12:16]

Most businesses fail because of cash, not their ability to make a profit [14:20]

Don’t waste a crisis [16:56]

How to build a business roadmap [17:37]

Determine how much you need to retire and when [18:05]

Determine how to get to your desired net profit [19:25]

The essence of using an organisational chart and sharing it with your team [22:27]

How to translate business goals into net profit [24:11]

Transactional costs and generating the most gross profit dollars [24:46]

The ‘Grow, No Grow’ strategy [25:28]

The value of mind mapping [27:28]

Mind mapping brings clarity to a business process [28:03]

You don’t need more leads to improve gross profit sales [29:35]

Break your business plan down to a daily goal [30:18]

Start your business plan from the end [31:16]

About The Guest:

Kim Archer is the Vice President of Profit Coach at Business Development Resources Inc., a company that provides training and coaching to the HVAC industry. Starting out as a bookkeeper, she has then discovered ways on how to drive profit and growth. She now helps businesses in developing best practices to move them forward.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit the Business Development Resources website (https://www.bdrco.com/)

Check other episodes in this series: Strategic Planning Done Right with Edward Plant

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-1/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-2/

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-3/

Listen to Part 1 of this series Strategic Planning For Business Success

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/kim-archer-1/ 

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 255 - What Do You Want, and How Are You Going to Get It?

As business owners, most of our focus goes to turnover rates, revenues, and profit margins. However, we often fail to see the bigger picture and realise we’re nowhere near our business’ end-goal. Sometimes, you need to take your foot off the pedal, get in touch with the people that make up your team, and reevaluate whether you are still working towards the goal that you initially set for your business.

In Part 1 of the ‘Strategic Planning For Business Success’ mini-series, we have Kim Archer from Business Development Resources—a company that provides training and coaching services to the HVAC industry—to share with us the value of communicating with your team and how it is essential in bringing in the right talent. With her experience, she will share with us the essence of rediscovering your personal goals to better advance your business.

Reconnect with your team members and effectively work your way towards your end-goal by tuning in to this episode.

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

Regularly revisiting your strategies is a big turning point for your business [03:31]

Business plans are built to support your personal goals [4:09]

Business requires perseverance to get to the end-goal [06:18]

It’s not what you turn over, it’s what’s leftover [07:29]

Training vs coaching [11:09]

BDR’s journey in the training and coaching industry [09:12]

Who can benefit from today’s topic [11:55]

How to keep the right talent [14:49]

Recruitment: The biggest challenge to any business [14:19]

The goal should be to get bigger, not to increase profit margin [18:37]

Unresolved turnover issues hinder business growth [19:41]

The essence of sharing your business plan with your team [20:40]

What and how to communicate better with your team [15:15]

The mission statement brings unity in your team [23:38]

A good value, mission, vision statement attracts good talent [24:22]

Maintaining good energy within the team through effective communication [25:05]

Communicating your mission statement with your team [22:13]

Breaking those goals down into bite-sized chunks is empowering [29:12]

The essence of rediscovering your personal goals [27:37]

About The Guest:

Kim Archer is the Vice President of Profit Coach at Business Development Resources Inc., a company that provides training and coaching to the HVAC industry. Starting out as a bookkeeper, she has then discovered ways on how to drive profit and growth. She now helps businesses in developing best practices to move them forward.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit the Business Resources Development website (https://www.bdrco.com/)

Simon Sinek podcast (https://simonsinek.com/podcast)

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz (https://amzn.to/37HjoKs)

Check other episodes in this series Strategic Planning Done Right with Edward Plant

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-1/)

https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-2/)

(https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/strategic-planning-3/)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 254 - Proof that Your Trade Business Can Run While You Travel the World - Part Two

Most business owners daydream about sailing away in a yacht, bathing in the warm sunlight with that cool ocean breeze and whispering to themselves that ‘This is life!’ all while running a business in another part of the world. But while you think this is something that’s just too good to be true, think again, because it is possible.  

In this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Darren McKavanagh, owner and director of The Kitchen Maker, and a living proof that working remotely for your business is never beyond your reach. We talk about the lessons he has learned throughout his career and the essential tips in order to make working remotely for your business work.

Tune in to today’s episode and learn how all this is possible!

What’s Discussed in This Episode: 

Darren and The Kitchen Maker [02:15]

Lessons learned about working remotely [03:23]

Communication is key for your skeleton-staff [05:12]

Managing the team remotely [05:37]

Changes he has made within his organisation’s workflow [06:57]

His role within the business [08:24]

Always get back in touch with the grassroots [09:27]

Remove yourself from the business to let it grow [12:00]

Good team relationship equals smoother workflow and better retention rate [18:39]

The relationship between mentoring and better retention rate [19:44]

Manage your team without having to micromanage [11:01]

Scheduling and having a roadmap is essential for any business [22:11]

Train your managers well and they will do the job well [23:42]

Major changes in Darren’s business [20:56]

Things that Darren would do differently [29:57]

Darren’s advice on working remotely [32:00]

Creating a reliable system will get the business going [34:09]

Being more hands-on with the team vs. working remotely: Darren’s choice [26:45]

About The Guest:

Darren McKavanagh is the owner and director of The Kitchen Maker, a family business initially dedicated to supplying materials to kitchen and joinery companies. Founded in 2002, their wide array of services has then expanded to include interior designing and customizing kitchens, bedrooms, laundries, etc. Darren enjoys going on trips in his yacht and skiing.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Check out Darren's company website (https://thekitchenmaker.com.au/) 

Tune in to Darren McKavanagh’s previous podcast episode

Episode 147 (Proof that your trade business can run while you travel the world)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 253 -The Complete Process Breakdown of a Commercial Solar Project

Any business who wants to deliver their services in a better way understands the need for them to have systems and processes in place. Most of the time we retain our clients and build long-term relationships when they see how efficient we are in giving them the service we promised. This holds true even in the solar power industry. 

In this week’s podcast episode, we continue our conversation with Gareth Felton of GreenElec. Our topic is focused on the customer journey and the processes involved in setting up solar power in a commercial setting. Gareth also shares why it’s important to build relationships with clients and how everyone in the industry would benefit from increasing the standards across the board. We also talk briefly about future storage and virtual grids.  

Tune in to this episode. 

What's Discussed in This Episode:

Future storage and virtual grids [3:45]

Changing service offerings to include support and maintenance [12:11]

Energy audit/A solar feasibility report [16:15]

Checking on efficiency of current appliances in the commercial building [16:50]

Prelim design [18:06]

Design and installation planning process [19:41]

Design confirmation and proper site inspection [25:38]

Get an engineering report [26:31]

Installation [28:04]

Inspection report and system evaluation (during and after installation) [29:56]

Commissioning process [31:38]

After sales support [32:18]

The customer journey and processes involved in a commercial setting

Building long-term relationships with clients [36:53]

Raising the standards in the industry [39:11]

About the Guest: 

Gareth Felton is the Founder and Director of GreenElec. He is an electrician, a solar and battery designer and a rugby enthusiast.

In 2008, during the last year of his apprenticeship, Gareth decided that he wanted to offer more to the community than what other electrical companies were prepared to, and so he created GreenElec. He wanted to create a multidisciplinary electrical contracting company that empowers community members through education about how they can control the way they produce, use and store energy on a day to day basis.  Further to this, Gareth visioned a company where customers can experience a centralised process of having their electrical, communications, home automation, solar energy, battery storage and home automation needs met.

Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength growing into a team of 13 staff who have achieved many of the goals Gareth has set for the company, including winning an award from the Master Electricians of Australia for Residential Project of the Year in 2014, 2017 and 2019. 

He reflects on his greatest work-related achievement as his team.  He believes that if he answers to their needs, looks after them and helps them progress through their career by learning every day, then he is doing a good job, and the return they deliver is endless.

Resources:

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit the GreenElec website (https://www.greenelec.com.au/) 

Listen to Podcast episode 190: Solar power, fuelling communities (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-2/) 

Tune in to Gareth Felton’s previous podcast episode 

The Past and Future of Solar Power

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 252 - The Past and Future of Solar Power

A lot of people are making the move towards renewable and sustainable energy using solar power. And solar power has definitely evolved throughout the years because of technology advancements and still continues to do so. 

In this week’s podcast episode I talk with Gareth Felton, founder and director of GreenElec. Our discussion revolves around how solar power has evolved and the technologies developed within the solar space. He also talks about how solar is constantly changing due to compliance and reassessments being conducted to give way for improvements. Other topics that we talk about include ways clients can get their ROI on their investment into solar, and the options clients have in the financial perspective, etc. 

If you’re contemplating a shift to solar power then this is a podcast you have to listen to. 

What’s Discussed in This Episode:

A brief background of GreenElec 

Solar power technology and how it’s constantly changing [7:06]

Addressing misconceptions regarding solar power [8:55]

Compliance and reassessments aimed at making improvements [10:37]

Main changes coming through in solar power [11:31]

Biggest goals for panels [12:43]

Efficient panels, shading, direct sunlight, UV [12:58]

Solar harvesting and efficiency of self-consumption [13:48]

Three ways to get ROI on your investment into solar [15:43]

Benefits and downsides of batteries for those moving off grid [17:02]

When is solar a good investment (residential & commercial setting) [21:00]

How people are more educated and ready to make changes as they shift to solar [22:07]

Solar panel installation [24:03]

Significant changes that are going to happen or happening to solar power [27:16]

Who is mostly affected by the evolving technology for energy [29:09]

Development of other forms of renewable and sustainable energy [30:10]

Handing over the monitoring system for solar power to clients [312:41]

Obtaining data prior to recommending installation of solar panels [32:40]

The importance of monitoring [33:53]

Construction of homes that are energy efficient [36:20]

Financial side of buying solar [38:49]

Issues around consulting solar experts with regards to new buildings  [40:18]

Framework for liaising with architects and builders [41:45]

Maintenance of solar panels [45:27]

Options available in the financial perspective [47:32]

About the Guest: 

Gareth Felton is the Founder and Director of GreenElec. He is an electrician, a solar and battery designer and a rugby enthusiast.

In 2008, during the last year of his apprenticeship, Gareth decided that he wanted to offer more to the community than what other electrical companies were prepared to, and so he created GreenElec. He wanted to create a multidisciplinary electrical contracting company that empowers community members through education about how they can control the way they produce, use and store energy on a day to day basis.  Further to this, Gareth visioned a company where customers can experience a centralised process of having their electrical, communications, home automation, solar energy, battery storage and home automation needs met.

Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength growing into a team of 13 staff who have achieved many of the goals Gareth has set for the company, including winning an award from the Master Electricians of Australia for Residential Project of the Year in 2014, 2017 and 2019. 

He reflects on his greatest work-related achievement as his team.  He believes that if he answers to their needs, looks after them and helps them progress through their career by learning every day, then he is doing a good job, and the return they deliver is endless.

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

Visit the GreenElec website (https://www.greenelec.com.au/) 

Listen to ‘The Future of Energy’ podcast series

Episode 188: The Future Of Our Energy Sources (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-1/) 

Episode 190: Solar power, fuelling communities (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-2/) 

Episode 192: The future of residential energy (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/energy-3/)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 251 - Streamlining Company Processes

Streamlining your company’s processes are vital to your business success and growth. We have discussed this time and again in our podcast episodes to stress the importance of it. 

In this third and final installment of the series ‘Creating the ultimate communication framework in your trade business’, we talk with Aaron Salow. He provides us with an understanding of how streamlining processes work, where does one start with implementation, workflow, the need to be proactive with customers, and a lot more. 

If you’re excited about transforming your business for the better, this is definitely the episode for you. 

What’s Discussed in This Episode: 

How XOi develops the processes that companies can use and follow [3:20]

Where does the work for streamlining company processes begin [7:00]

Starting point for implementing better company processes [7:41]

The problem with redundant roles in processes [11:34]

Aaron’s take on ‘over processing’ [11:18]

Ultra transparency [15:18]

Existing technology and integrations [17:25]

Over investing in technology and solutions [21:29]

Critical things to avoid when streamlining processes [17:13]

Proactive communication with customers [23:26]

Delivering better service by understanding your workflow [24:30]

What are your company’s critical functions [35:32]

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

XOi (http://www.xoi.io/)

Email Aaron for more information ([email protected])

 Check out Part 1 and 2 of this series: 

Part 1: The impact of technology in modern business (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/aaron-1/) 

Part 2: Technician’s three lines of defence – workflows, knowledge base and live calls (https://www.thesiteshed.com/blog/aaron-2/)

About the Guest 

Aaron Salow is the founder of XOi Technologies which is based in the U.S. Coming from a manufacturing construction background, he saw there was a skilled trades gap with millions of unfilled skilled trade positions in the U.S. 

He and his co-founders started their business in a bid to address this problem and help the industry to grow. Their business aims to empower customers to effectively put their best technician on the site. 

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 250 - Technician’s Three Lines of Defence – Workflows, Knowledge Base and Live Calls

Having a powerful ecosystem of tools that includes a structured workflow process, a knowledge base, and live chat will lead to a significant pivot in your business. Merely having a clear understanding of the delivery you need to make will automatically result in a radical change.

Aaron Salow is back for Part 2 of our ‘Creating the ultimate communication framework in your trade business’ series. Today we talk about implementing workflows, the perks of having a knowledge base where you can pull information from and access to a virtual mentor, etc.

Head to the show now to find out how you can improve communication in your business.

What’s Discussed in This Episode: 

Overview of episode [03:11]

Creating the 3 lines of defense [03:46]

Integrating the workflow tool into the current process [06:56]

How a residential contractor saved time and money [08:05]

Provide a training opportunity [15:32]

Create pathways for guys to ask for help [18:14] 

Appeal to the younger generation [22:21]

Getting the entire organisation to buy in the process [12:36]

The value of videos in our current time [23:59]

About Our Guest:

Aaron Salow is the founder of XOi Technologies which is based in the U.S. Coming from a manufacturing construction background, he saw there was a skilled trades gap with millions of unfilled skilled trade positions in the U.S. 

He and his co-founders started their business in a bid to address this problem and help the industry to grow. Their business aims to empower customers to effectively put their best technician on the site. 

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

XOi (http://www.xoi.io/)

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.

[thesiteshed]

TSS 249 - The Impact of Technology in Modern Business

Technology is constantly being updated with changes in business happening so fast that there’s always something new coming out. The addition of amazing tools and software has radically changed the landscape as unnecessary workload is reduced even more. 

In Part 1 of our ‘Creating the ultimate communication framework in your trade business’ series, we have Aaron Salow from XOi, a technology made to support field service companies. With years working blue-collar jobs, Aaron knows what tradie guys need. We talk about the role technology plays in building trust, how to improve adoption, the benefits brought by technology, and more.

Tune in to find out how technology can take your business to the next level.

What’s Discussed in This Episode: 

Aaron’s background [2:57]

Overview of episode [06:00]

Technology communications need to build on trust [07:12]

Why you need to educate your customer [10:01]

Use technology to fix issues [17:04]

Add benefits to 3 stakeholders [19:57] 

Get customer engagement [23:10]

Present an opportunity for the business to win [24:09]

How technology adoption can be improved [13:05]

Supports others to use their crafts differently [27:22]

Helps people leave their legacies [27:55]

Gets people to work on what they like [30:29]

Benefits of adopting technology in the tradie industry [25:57]

Resources: 

Come and visit my website at (https://www.thesiteshed.com/)

Check my latest podcast or listen to the previous ones (https://www.thesiteshed.com/podcasts/)

Tradie Web Guys (https://www.tradiewebguys.com.au/apply)

XOi (http://www.xoi.io/)

About Our Guest:

Aaron Salow is the founder of XOi Technologies which is based in the U.S. Coming from a manufacturing construction background, he saw there was a skilled trades gap with millions of unfilled skilled trade positions in the U.S. 

He and his co-founders started their business in a bid to address this problem and help the industry to grow. Their business aims to empower customers to effectively put their best technician on the site. 

Connect with me on LinkedIn. For more podcast episodes, you may also visit my website. Tune in and subscribe to The Site Shed: You can also listen to The Site Shed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Thank you for tuning in! 

If you enjoyed this podcast and this series, please take 5 to leave us a review:

Google

Facebook 

iTunes – Apple

Stitcher – Android

Check out our latest podcast.