Marti sits down with husband and wife team Ben and Lindsey Ockenden from Perth, Western Australia. They share their rapid journey from a small carpentry crew of two to a team of ten in just six months, transitioning into a full building company specializing in high-performance, lightweight construction.
They discuss the "madness" of their early days—"flying by the seat of our pants" without systems—and the breaking point where Ben was "running on fumes" and ready to collapse. They reveal how they turned it around by embracing builder-specific systems, hiring key staff like a site foreman and VA, and shifting their mindset from "I can do everything" to trusting their team. Ben also shares his ambitious new goal: delivering a house a week within two years.
🕒 Timestamped Key Points
- [02:37] The chaotic start: "flying by the seat of our pants"
- [03:53] Lindsay joining full-time and their son starting his apprenticeship
- [06:00] The breaking point: "You're going to pick me up in A&E"
- [06:50] Finding TPB: The "off-field support staff" they needed
- [11:30] Mindset shift: "Last night I had the best sleep I've had for a long time"
- [12:03] Rapid growth: From 2 people to 10 in six months
- [15:12] Realizing Ben was "undervaluing himself" and his skills
- [19:57] The power of trusting your team and not micromanaging
- [25:55] The crazy goal: Delivering a house a week in two years
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