From Burnout to Freedom: Aussie Builder’s Journey to a Happier Life with Eric Vielle

Eric from VL Constructions shares his journey from burnout to success on the Level Up Podcast. Discover how this Brisbane builder used systems and mindset shifts to transform his construction business and life. 

🏗️ Get tips for tradies to find freedom and balance! 📲 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I know you put the effort in and you get rewarded
for it and it'll come your waylike what you put out will come
back to you.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
I just have this huge goal.
The whole industry will be sucha better and healthier and
happier place.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Absolutely.
You have to go backwardssometimes to go forwards that's
what we did, yeah that was a bigthing was letting go of what
you your part like, some of thethings that hold you back from
your past.
At the end of the day, for menow it's not.
I don't, the money's not thething for me anymore.
It's like like I go to workhappy every day.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now we all get fed all this rubbish that you've got
to do this and you've got to dothat, but you, at the end of
the day, you've got to do whatworks for you.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yeah, you just got to find your own path and then go
well, that's what I'll, that'sthe way I want to do it.
Everybody runs a businesstotally different.
They're never the same.
Yeah, you want everything nowwhich you can't have.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
G'day guys.
Welcome back to another episodeof Level Up.
We are back in the shed thisafternoon with another cracking
episode coming your way.
The guy I've got with me todayhas been.
I've been sort of trying to gethim in the seat for a bloody
fair while now, but he's been alittle bit shit and bricks, so
that's all good.
We finally got him in here.
But Eric from VL Constructions,how are you buddy?

Speaker 1 (01:20):
Yeah, good Thanks, dwayne.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Good to be here so yeah, eric's another local
Brizzy builder, so you've alsobeen in the builder's breakfast
group.
Hey, here in Brisbane for along time.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, probably two years, I think in that one.
So, yeah, it's been really goodmeeting all the guys in there,
so yeah it's how I met you.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
And look Eric, he's a very humble guy, but Eric is
kicking gulls.
He actually was down the gullcoast with us over the weekend
and he's been a member of LiveLife Build for over four years
now and he took out our awardfor systemisation, mate.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
Yeah, that was really good.
So, yeah, I put a heap of workinto systems in our business.
For a while now probably a yearand a half I've been pushing it
hard and, yeah, just startingto see all the rewards of, yeah,
having the systems in thebusiness.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Well, let's dive into the systems, because I think
systems are.
It's one of the key areas.
That's what's going to give yousome freedom back.
Yeah, absolutely.
What was your turning point?
What made you realize youneeded to implement systems and
processes?

Speaker 1 (02:25):
Probably.
When I got an admin lady, Isort of or my sister started in
our business and that sort ofpushed me down that track going.
Well, I've got to geteverything out of my head onto
paper.
So at the beginning we werejust we were just writing a
process down and then justfollowing that, but it just sort
of we did a lot of admin ones,um, and then that sort of led

(02:46):
into our on-site ones now, whichis helping out a lot as well.
So it just frees me up to do doother things in the business
and gets everything out of myhead, which it was for years.
I was running everything.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
So yeah, because you've taken it the whole hog,
but you've got our full intranet, like you've worked with our
systems expert and you've got itall now.
So your guys we're just talkingabout, like your guys on your
site, actually have them accessto the systems.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
So we've done ours through our computer program.
There we can write next to themand everything.
So usually we'll try and gothrough them at our weekly site
meetings for say two weeks or aweek ahead and then get all the
guys around, get their inputinto how we're going to do that
next task and it just gets theminvolved, their involvement in
it and work out they might havebetter ideas on how to do things

(03:35):
.
So we usually jot all that downand then it updates, we update
that system and it flows on tothe next job.
So it works, yeah, really wellfor us.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
So are you getting buy-in from your team?
Is your team acknowledging them?

Speaker 1 (03:50):
Yeah, like when we're doing the meetings, it works
well because I usually set up achecklist and everything off the
side of that as well to helpout.
But I don't know if they'relooking at them all the time
like going back into them,because there is a lot in there.
But we've sort of set it out ina way that just works quite
easily, that even theapprentices can go through it

(04:11):
and check it on their phones andstuff like that about what's
happening.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
There's something that's never finished.
Your team's got a lot going onon site.
So for me, I try and justremind the team all the time to
use them as a bit of a checklist.
So for me, I try and justremind the team all the time to
use them as a bit of a checklist.
I don't expect them to belooking at them constantly, but
when they think they've finisheda task, just go back and have a
skim over it and it'll jog yourmemory whether you've missed a
step or you might be doingcladding or something.

(04:36):
Have you gone back and checked?
All the boards are tied.
Have you punched all your nails?
Just little things like that.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, well, even like even one thing we do now is
same thing on that same program.
We'll have a tab calledLearnings and we'll write stuff
down on that.
That stuff goes wrong, we'llget information out of that and
then I'll update the system on.
Something went wrong.
So we've got to put a check infor that to make sure it doesn't
happen again.
Because, like, we were alwaysgetting to the end of the job

(05:03):
looking at stuff and going, oh,what went wrong on that job?
And then you just forget aboutit because it's been 12 months
since it happened.
So that was another thing.
That sort of links to it aswell.
So that works well.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
Have you gone like you're using the systems with
your contractors?

Speaker 1 (05:20):
No, not yet.
That's something I've got totry and that's my next step to
work on that.
But we'll see how we?
No, not yet.
That's something I've got totry and that's my next step to
work on that yeah.
But we'll see how we go.
We use them for our meetings onsite with the contractors.
So go through what we've got todo and just tick off all the
like a tick list sort of thing,a checklist so that works.

(05:41):
We don't miss anything whenwe're talking to them about the
job, so we make sure we includeeverything.
Yeah.
But yeah.
So how about do you do the samewith your?

Speaker 2 (05:51):
We use systems.
Well, look, so what we do withthem is like when we send so
every 12 months, when we resendour like worth making statements
and all the insurance we've gotto collect all their new
insurances and all that type ofthing, we'll send out the
working with DP's constructionsystem and if it's plaster,
he'll get the managed plasteringsystem and then they get

(06:16):
re-sent again every time that weaccept a job.
So if we've started a newproject and the plaster is
getting sent the schedule andeverything for that job and
we're letting him know that, hey, we've accepted this quote, we
just re-send them again.
But, um, they're working verywell, like our using.

(06:36):
Talking about our plaster, likeour plaster is is quite good
because he has his own checklist.
Like he's spent a lot of, he'sinvested a lot of time and money
on himself and his business.
So it's really enjoyableworking with other businesses
that are improving as well,because, like he point, he shows
us where we're still needingimprovement and we can show him

(06:58):
where he still needs improvement.
But yeah, um, I think thebiggest thing that we're
frustrated with when it comes tothe systems with contractors,
mate, is the pricing.
Like I'm sick and tired ofhaving to like I just feel like
I've got to hold everyone's hand.
Like we give them, we send themthe plans and request pricing.
And they give us pricing andthen it comes time to do the job

(07:21):
and they just try charging forevery single extra they possibly
can and look at the end of theday, it's our business.
We've got to spend the time tomake sure we're reviewing their
quotes.
But I see it the other way,like I believe if we're sending
you a set of plans, it's yourresponsibility to price that job
properly.
And I think that's just.
I was always brought up oldschool and worked for old school

(07:44):
builders.
Mate.
You did not get variations,Like if you got asked to price
something, it's on you If youmissed it.
You haven't allowed it too.

Speaker 1 (07:51):
Fucking bad yeah weird to do the same, like some
of the plans I have to send outfor quoting, and that you send
it out, but you have to.
I start to just put that muchinformation in my scope of works
now, and even sometimes I'll dovideos for the guys explaining
what's got to happen on a plan,just so they know they've
included everything.
Sometimes you get back and theydon't give you a full scope.

(08:12):
They should copy what you'vegiven them in their price and
give it back to you, but a lotof times you don't get that.
I think probably the best oneswe get are the electricians and
stuff.

Speaker 2 (08:28):
They seem to itemise everything out and it's yeah,
you know what's included, yeah,how many lights, which is all
that type of stuff.
But it makes it hard, like it'slike a builder's job is just so
much reviewing everyone else'sshit, like we're the ones, we're
the ones left holding thebloody bat when, when, things
aren't right.
So yeah, we have to pay for itall.
Let's go back like we jumpedinto the deep end there.
But take us back, like Imentioned before, you've been

(08:49):
with live like bill for fouryears.
Um.
Take us back before that, likehow did you get in the industry?
Have you always um been in it?

Speaker 1 (08:56):
yeah, so I started um so I went through primary
school, then went into highschool and I did a vocational
education course there, so itwas furnishings and wood and
metal work and then alltrade-based subjects which I
found awesome, like I don't knowif they do it anymore at that
school, but it's that sort ofset me up for what I wanted to

(09:18):
do and so through that you doone day a week work experience
on it.
So every Friday they do workexperience and I did it with a
Brisbane-based builder and hewas an old-school builder that
does everything roofing, all theconcrete, everything.
So, that was really good, havingthe experience with them.
And then I did that for twoyears.

(09:40):
Didn't get paid a cent like theschool-based apprentices.
This this year, this time theyhave to.
You could get paid for goingevery Friday or whatever it is,
which not I don't agree with.
So but, yeah, did that for twoyears, got an apprenticeship
with them, learn a lot about, um, learn a lot with these guys.
They did all architecturalstuff.

(10:01):
Stay with them all the waythrough my time.
And then I think, when I wassort of just got into fourth
year, just handed the builderhanded me like a $1.5 million
job to go just run it and I hadone of my.
One of the chippies was aboutto leave.
He had about a month, I think,before he left, so he mentored

(10:21):
me through the start of the joband then I was on my own, yeah,
and then just had guys with mehelping me and that was just
eye-opening for me, like Ilearnt heaps just being just
being thrown in the deep end,having to think, think about
everything.
I called the, I called the bossall the time.
But it's he didn't really carelike, sometimes, the best way to
learn is just getting thrown inthe deep end, absolutely and

(10:43):
and I was keen as to, though,like I loved, like all the way
through my apprenticeship, evennow, like I watched all the
trades what they would like.
I was still doing my work, butI would always have my corner of
my eye open going, oh, what'sthe plumber doing?
How's he doing that?
Or how's the plaster hangingthe sheet?
Like I?
Just I'm that sort of person,like I'm a visual learner, so I
learnt a lot that way and Ithink, as a supervisor and stuff

(11:05):
and running a project, you needto know the other trades a lot.
So I did that, and then I thinkit was about I think two years
after I'd finished my time thebuilder sort of ran out of work,
but at that time we were doinga lot of project homes and that
was another good thing that welearnt a lot of speed from that,

(11:26):
and the guy I was working withwas very systemised and every
time he could find a better wayto do something, he would just
go no, we're doing it this way,this is heaps quicker and you
just keep refining on everyhouse.
You'd refine the process and wejust had it that we didn't have
to speak to each other.
We had an apprentice and himand me, and you just knew what
each other were doing.

(11:47):
You knew what tool you needed.
It was all just flowed.

Speaker 2 (11:50):
Just to pull you up a little bit there, because it's
something myself and I hear somany builders complaining about
these days what drove you to orwhat incentive did you have to
watch and learn and know whatyou had to do?
Because I even see it with myown team now, with some of the

(12:12):
carpenters and the younger guysLike they stand back, there's no
thinking ahead, it's not likeoh well, shit, he's doing that
there, so I should be doing thishere to stay ahead of him.
Yeah.
Like.
I don't know what it is like.
I was taught old school but andI don't know if it was the fear
of the boss kicking me in theass or the yelling or whatever

(12:33):
it was, but like.

Speaker 1 (12:35):
I don't.
Well, for me I was in a greatum with a great build that they
weren't aggressive or anythinglike there was never yelling or
anything like that.
They were just really nice, butI really nice.
But I think I was just.
I think I was driven, like Ialways like I knew, from when I
was, when I had an, when I wasan apprentice, that I was like
no, I want to be a builder,that's what I want to do.
I had my name, my company,everything all set up or ready

(12:57):
to go and I'm like, no, yeah,just wanted to achieve things,
like I like achieving things,like setting goals and achieving
stuff.
And I think I just, yeah, it'sjust how I was brought up, sort
of thing that you work hard.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
What do you think makes a team be in that position
where, like you said, it's justlike clockwork, like you just
know what each other's doing?

Speaker 1 (13:21):
I think you just because they're on the same page
for starters, like they, likethey would the other guys, which
was very driven as well andwanted to achieve things and
just like we did big days andstuff like that but I think you
just where's that going?

Speaker 2 (13:34):
you reckon with the, the new generation?

Speaker 1 (13:39):
I don't, I don't know they lack.
I think they there's an instantthing.
They want everything instantly.
Like back then, like we had towork our ass off seven days a
week and I wasn't on good money,like I just I never got, never
asked for a pay rise.
I just got what I got and thenthey would offer you a pay rise
and I'd take that, because youshowed that you deserved it.
I showed that I deserved it.

(13:59):
It's like that's the way I wassort of brought up.
Is you sort of I don't know?
You put the effort in and youget rewarded for it and it will
come your way, like what you putout will come back to you.
So I'm not sure where that'sgone, because I don't know, like
I was working with.
I think when you work with aperson for like I think I was
working with him for like fiveyears and you just start to I

(14:22):
don't know, you grow close tothem and you understand
everything how they work and itjust flows.
But I suppose nowadays, evenwith my guys, they sort of move
around a bit Like they're notalways with the same people,
which is a bit harder.

Speaker 2 (14:38):
I do think that's harder and I think that's
probably something that affectsmy business, like when you grow
your business and you end upwith a big team.
Like when I just I work withthe same two guys.
Yeah.
Most of my apprenticeships,yeah, and I try and swap them
around, like I try and get the.
Let the apprentices havedifferent experience with

(14:59):
different carpenters.

Speaker 1 (15:00):
but yeah, I just yeah , I think that some I do the
same, but I think sometimes itshoots me in the foot because
you have to learn another wayhow they work, like the
carpenter work, so I don't know.
It's it's hard to keep everyonehappy at the same time, so, um,
but then you get to a pointwhere you too it's like the
point where right now it's likedo I go, do I need more guys, or

(15:22):
do I just stay where I am andsort of just keep it that size?
It's hard.

Speaker 2 (15:26):
So it comes with new challenges.
So, mate, sorry, I've added inback to your story.

Speaker 1 (15:32):
So, yeah, finished.
What did I do?
So I was two years out,basically, the builder ran out
of work.
So I'd already started my owncompany structure.
So we were subbing for thebuilder, so I do 100% his work.
But then he got a bit quiet.
So I had a mate from thecycling club I was with who was

(15:54):
a developer, and he was tryingto get me to start and go and
work for him.
So I ended up doing that andlike, worked hourly rate on.
They basically did six-pack unitblocks where they would refurb
them, the old.
They basically did six-packunit blocks where they would
refurb them, the old ones, and10-pack unit blocks.
So we'd just go in and justsmash those out and get that

(16:14):
done.
That was, we did that forprobably two years and then in
amongst that we built thedeveloper's house, which got us
in with an architect, and thenwe did another one for the other
director of the company andthen I ended up basically
downsizing because the mate thatI was with for a long time we

(16:36):
sort of had a falling out andthe apprentice had left and then
it was just me left and then Ijust went well, stuff it, I'll
just go and do my own thing,sort of thing.
So I ended up working out atSomerset Dam for a mate building
his house out there.
So backwards and forwards, andthen I got to a point where I
worked out I can't work bymyself.

(16:56):
I just started talking tomyself every day.
So I'm like screw this.
So I went and started, hadanother job lined up with a
developer for his next house, soI did that and started just
getting more guys.
So I ended up I think back atabout.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
So were you the builder for the developer.

Speaker 1 (17:17):
I was the, so I was under my license but it was all
like basically cost plus butthey would pay for all the
materials.
So it was me just paying, justgetting paid for my labour.
But back then I wasn't.
I didn't know how to run abusiness, so I wasn't making any
money off these.
I was just turning over moneyand I was Sounds good at the
time eh it sounds good becauseyou guarantee this work, but
it's, you're not making anything.

(17:38):
Like the bank account's nevergoing up.
You just see it's stagnant.
It just stays there and you'rejust like what the hell am I
doing all this for?
Like I'm taking the risk withmy license on it.

Speaker 2 (17:50):
I did a post last week on my socials basically
just saying how mum and dad,investors and developers are
taking advantage of bills thatdon't understand how to run
their business, and I got suckedinto that for a long time.
Like I thought oh man, I must bedoing good.
Like this developer wants me todo all this work and oh yeah,
like it's guaranteed and he'sgot all this work and I'm like
awesome.
But yeah, all they're doing istaking advantage of you and I,
because we didn't know what weshould have been charging and

(18:11):
they're the ones that are makingall the money, yeah exactly
right.

Speaker 1 (18:15):
So yeah, did that for a bit and then I got in with
one of the architects that wekept doing work for after that
and that sort of kept us goingin high-end architectural stuff.
And then I think I did I thinkit was probably three jobs and
then there was one that just itwas the next level up for us in
that and cost-wise and by theend of that I was just I'd had

(18:40):
enough, sort of thing.
I had four guys with me workingfor me, um, and I think it just
got to the point they were Ipriced like six for them and
they were upwards, like theywere going up to four and a half
million dollars and stuff, andI just I wasn't winning them.
And then I ended up having achat to them and and they said,
oh, you're too expensive and I'mlooking at my figures just

(19:00):
going, I can't do it any.
I don't know how these otherguys are beating me on the price
Like they can't be making moneyand that's back when you
weren't doing things right,that's when I wasn't doing
anything right.
So I basically, on that last Iremember the night like I was
pricing it and I basically justburst out in tears in front of
the computer because I was doingit.
All I did was it was all atnight, because I was on the

(19:22):
tools every day and I'd price itand I'd just look at myself and
what the fuck am I doing, likepricing all these jobs, and I
know I'm not going to get it andyet you price, like I knew that
one was just a price check forthe client.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
But you get stuck in that you have to keep doing it,
because if you're not doing ityou don't get the work.

Speaker 1 (19:49):
Exactly because I was at the time where I was just
doing one job at a time, so Iwas just I'd have to start
looking for the next job and andand call architects, but it
wasn't the.
The problem with the tenderthing is you end up getting
stuck in a like there's, there'sno gap, like the clients don't
like to wait, they just want togo oh, who's available?
And start.
And the bigger guys have theycan move stuff around to start a
job.
And I was only one man, likelike a one-job builder.
Yeah.
So I was a bit harder.
So I remember then that's whenI found your Instagram and then

(20:12):
I found Live Life Build, andthen I joined that because I
just had to change something,otherwise I was just going to
give it up.
I used to go to work and justsay to the boys I'm going to go
and drive a truck for a living,I can't be bothered with this
anymore.

Speaker 2 (20:24):
You were telling your own team that, yeah, I'd had
enough.

Speaker 1 (20:27):
I was done, so you're just stressed about it.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
How's the workout put on those sites if you're
telling your own team thatyou're going to drive a truck?
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (20:41):
My guys were good, they were good workers and
everything.
I still, um, still know themtoday and I've still got a few
of them with me, but it's justmentally.
You, I don't know you're donewhen you get to that point.
You just had enough.
You've checked out yeah andthen.
So I thought there's got to besomething I can do better than
this.
And then found Live, life Buildand then started the pack

(21:05):
process and that and that's just.
I think with that it's like itgives you the pipeline of work
is the big thing that's changedfor us.
You're not stressing aboutwhere the next job's coming.
There's always that work infront of you because you're
going through the design phase.
Yeah, and that's what's.
And you know your outlook, likeat the moment we're all the way
out to end of next year.

(21:25):
So it's it just.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
Yeah, helps heaps, like with stress levels and
stuff like that it's just, yeah,you're like I said at the start
, you're a very humble blokelike, but you you put in the
effort like, so in our live,life, build in our community.
We do what we call friday winsand your.
Friday wins are always.
You seem to be a verystructured person.

(21:47):
You have your time now that yousit in your office and get shit
done.
You've definitely kicked somemassive goals in the last four
years.

Speaker 1 (21:57):
Yeah, because I've even.
A couple of weeks ago I turned40 and I was actually reflecting
back on just different things.
I don't know what happens at 40.
Happy birthday, mate.
But I think the way you thinkabout everything changes.
Like even I said to my wife,it's like you get to a point in
life where you're just likewe're comfortable, like you
don't have to.
You stop the stressing aboutevery little thing.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
I think Don't get too comfortable mate.

Speaker 1 (22:20):
No, I don't get comfortable.
There's still I set goals andstuff like that, but I've always
been like, even looking back,there's stuff that I said when I
was in high school and stuffthat I wanted to achieve, and I
never wrote them down, it wasjust in my head and I kept
saying I want to do this one, doit.
And then you look back andyou're like, shit, I've actually
achieved all this stuff, butyou don't realize you actually
set out to achieve that yearsago you set goals for it.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
Yeah, um, so that's yeah, that's been really good
and you and you've seen massiveimprovement in your home life as
well, haven't you?
With your family time?

Speaker 1 (22:52):
Yeah, just being.
I think just, yeah, beingpresent at home.
I think the biggest thing forus was moving the office out of
the house.
That was number one for me.
Like I, just every time I gothome or be at home, I'm like, oh
, I'll just go and finish that.
And you sneak off after dinnerand you go and do your work and
just like, screw this, there'sgot to be something better.
And you always think thatyou're on all the time, that

(23:12):
you've got to answer the phoneand all that sort of stuff.
And now I just I don't answerthe phone after 5.30, I'm done,
that's it.
And then don't answer it tillthe morning.
And then same with weekendshands don't touch it yeah.
So it's just being able to justseparate the two, like have your
personal life and your worklife and just separate them and

(23:33):
work out ways to control thatyeah.
So but yeah, just having theoffice away from home was a
massive win for us, and thenthat also allowed us to put an
admin person on, which startedwith my sister for a couple of
years and then moved on toanother lady.
Now that does all our stuff,and that's another thing that
just.
I think admin's the biggestthing that changed our business

(23:55):
is just getting everything, likeall the little stuff that I
don't have to do.

Speaker 2 (23:59):
Everyone needs help.
Mate Like it really.
It's a bit of a passion now andsomething I want to try and
help as many traders andbuilders as I can Like.
I just it's not fair thattradies just work their asses
off all day, every day, on site,get home, have dinner, maybe
not even spend any time with thekids, and then spend hours in

(24:19):
there like I see it now some ofsome of the um times that my
contractors will send emailsthrough and I think, fuck.
And I talked to him about likewhat are you doing?
They're all sort of too headdown, bum up.

Speaker 1 (24:32):
But I think that some people are too scared.
I know I was at the beginninggoing, oh, what are they going
to do for all these hours andstuff like that?
And I'm like it doesn't youdon't realise how quick you can
fill their time, like I couldfill another lady's time now
with admin stuff if I wanted to.
You still read a VA, no, so Inever went down that path.
I sort of need someone sittingnext to me, that's just the way

(24:53):
I am Like I struggle, like Istruggled reading and writing
and all that sort of stuff.
So that was something like myadmin lady.
Just if she read my like shereads my stuff and fixes all the
spelling and all that stuff upbefore I said stuff because, I'm
just hopeless.
But it's just nice, I think,having someone next to you to

(25:13):
speak.
I know it costs more to havesomeone there, but she's that
efficient at what she does.

Speaker 2 (25:19):
I think that's a really important lesson.
But for people that arelistening, I do the same.
We've got multiple people inthe office, but I do spend a lot
of time sitting beside them.
But yeah, um, because I'mexactly.
I'm the same.
I'm dyslexic.
I can't spell like I I.
Whatever it is.
I think is it gremlin orsomething we have on our
computers now like I do.
I do an email every line isjust red and green.

Speaker 1 (25:44):
Yeah, and then sometimes you click.
I'm like I'm pretty sure it'snot even in spellcheck the word
you try to go.
I use the dictator one.
That's even better.

Speaker 2 (25:54):
Just write it all out that way and then check it but
I think there's always like Ilet that sort of stuff hold me
back for such a long time likethere's always a way and I think
like, obviously knowing yournumbers and your data is a big
thing.
You've got to be able to knowyour numbers so the business can
afford to employ the adminstaff.

(26:16):
But look, I just have this hugegoal that by the time I leave
this planet, like traders willunderstand the value, like
they'll do their eight or ninehours a day, they'll go home,
spend time with their family,because they'll be structured,
they'll make money, they'll havesomeone in their office helping
them and the whole industrywill be such a better and
healthier and happier placeAbsolutely.

Speaker 1 (26:39):
But I think you've got to go.
You have to go backwardssometimes to go forwards.
That's what we did.
I didn't have it in ouroverhead to calculate, to have
an admin lady on, I just wentwell, stuff it it actually
worked out pretty good.
My sister was put off duringCOVID, so that's where she came
and worked for me then and thatjust worked out really well.

(27:01):
But yeah, if you just sometimesyou have to go backwards, it
will cost you money and it costus money at the beginning, but
then we reap the rewards of itnow coming through.

Speaker 2 (27:14):
And you're 100% Like.
Sometimes you've got to take apay cut, don't you?
Yeah, absolutely.
I hear like that's somethingGrant Cardone talks about a lot
in his books Like you've got tomake sacrifice to get ahead, so
that sacrifice is taking a paycut so that you can do something
else to get you ahead quicker.

Speaker 1 (27:32):
Yeah, but even paying even the other thing.
Learning is just payingyourself right.
For years I was paying myselfas a chippy and just and half
the time like a lot of timesbecause you'd lose on jobs.
The chippy would earn more thanyou would earn and it's getting
to that point of going.
You're worth.
You're worth this much.
It's like the risk you'retaking and and all the work

(27:52):
you're putting in.
You gotta get paid for that soit's not.

Speaker 2 (27:55):
Yeah, that was a big turning point for you, wasn't it
?
Like I think that was one ofour kingscliff live events where
you had a few realizations thatyou were held back from some
old yeah, like I had.

Speaker 1 (28:08):
I remember in in high school I had a teacher told me
I wouldn't make it and stuff andthat, and I just after that I
just went well, fuck you, I'mgonna prove you wrong.
And yeah, I've proved him wrongnow so he can get staffed
wherever he is, but um, but Ithink yeah, that was a big thing
was letting go of what you like, some of the things that hold

(28:29):
you back from your past, thatit's not bad to make money and
earn a decent living from doingwhat you're doing and get paid
for that.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
We can.
All, I think, myself included,like a lot of us, I think are
afraid to overtake people Like,if you don't, you're being
brought up around a familythat's worked their ass off to
provide for you and it canreally hold you back being
concerned that you're going toearn more than what your parents
did or your relatives do.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
But it gives you the opportunity to give back too.
100%.
That's what I see, now I'd giveback to my parents and stuff
like that.
I'm like, well, they sacrificedfor me, I'll help them out.
Yeah, thank you.
Yeah, you can't.
At the end of the day, for menow it's not, I don't, the
money's not the thing for meanymore.
It's like like I go to workhappy every day.

(29:19):
Now I don't like even today wehad a massive drama on a job.
I had one minute, I think I wasjust going fuming about it, and
then I was fine.
I'm like, well, nothing I cando about it, let's just work out
.
Was just going fuming about itand then I was fine.
I'm like, well, there's nothingI can do about it, let's just
work out a plan ahead and getover it and move on.
Yeah, we lost money and stufflike that, but it's like, well,
I can't do anything about it.
Now we learn from it and don'tdo it again on the next job.

Speaker 2 (29:40):
Yeah, it's a good mindset to be in.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:43):
I think that's sort of taken me.
I reckon like I remember we didthat drive 23,.
I think we were on a bus withsome guys and, yeah, I think
that hot seat was anotherturning point for me, just the
realisation, like I was at aeven then I was at a point of
going, oh, do I really want todo this or do I want to go do

(30:04):
like cabinet making or furnituremaking or something?
And just because I think I justfound a sticky spot, because I
just needed to move to the nextstage in my business, like
employ more guys, and I wasscared of doing that, I think
just going too big yeah but Ithink every year I go by it sort
of just naturally happens thegrowth.

(30:25):
I'm not forcing anything, itjust sort of just happening that
way, which is good, it's notjust happening, mate.
You're putting in the effortyou manifest it and stuff, and
it just stuff.
It just works out.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
You're doing the hard work, you're putting in the
effort.
I see your Friday wins, mate,and the check-in call, and that
You're putting in the effort.
I think it's awesome.
Now You've got your warehouse.
You you've recently just uprebuilt the offices, haven't you
in the in the warehouse?

Speaker 1 (30:52):
yeah, we're just finishing that off, or when I
get my ass into gear, the boysare too busy, so but yeah, so
you're very organized, you gotgood space, yeah, um even though
, like we went from that lastyear, I got to a point we had
eight running at a time and Ijust just couldn't physically
run the jobs anymore.
So I was just stressing out overit and I'm just like, no, I

(31:14):
can't do this anymore.
So I end up getting aconstruction manager in one of
my guys that I put through histime and just getting rid of
that load and putting it ontosomeone else where that's all
they deal with.
They don't have to deal withall the pricing of jobs and
finding the work and that sortof stuff.
That's another thing that justfreed my head up massively.

Speaker 2 (31:33):
So just going to that so slowly, we're just
implementing different thingsand employing more people, like
a lot of people, say everyone'sin that mindset where you can't
charge more.
But once you understand yourcosts, there's no turning back.
You can't unknow what you know,and so there's no way you're

(31:55):
going to do work for less thanwhat it's costing you.
There's no way you're going todo work and you're not
physically going to get paid asa director and the owner of a
company.
So then it all obviously flowsinto your marketing and
attracting the right types ofclients and things.
But it all comes together likeit has for you now, and I assume
you get a lot more freedom nowthan you did back in the day.

Speaker 1 (32:17):
I do, but I think I'm a workaholic.
That's my problem.
Which is okay.
Like I like what I do, like Istill do long hours and then
it's the ADH thing, do you thinkyeah?
Like that's.
I just can't see it still likeI'll like I struggle, like even
sitting in the office.
My prime time is from like alot of times I even this morning
I'm in there at three o'clockin the morning because I just

(32:38):
had to get a proposal done.
I might stuff it.
I'll start at three o'clock,but every other day it's like
four o'clock in the morning.
I get in the office but I punchout more stuff in that period
before the phone starts ringing.
So usually until probably about9 o'clock I'm really good and
then I just sort of drop off.
I'm not as good in the office.
Anyone that?

Speaker 2 (32:58):
starts at 3 or 4 in the morning is not going to drop
off at some point.

Speaker 1 (33:02):
No, but it's just.
I don't know I don't need a lotof sleep.
I go to bed early, but I don'tneed a lot of sleep.
I go to bed early, but I don'tneed a lot of sleep.
I'm happy to do it.
That's just my problem.
I'm not a night person.

Speaker 2 (33:15):
Mate, I'm the same.
We all get fed all this rubbishthat you've got to do this and
you've got to do that, but atthe end of the day, you've got
to do what works for you.

Speaker 1 (33:25):
Yeah, you've just got to find your own path and then
go.
Well, that's the way I want todo it.
Everybody runs a businesstotally different.
They're never the same.

Speaker 2 (33:38):
So how's the team mate, Because you've had a lot
of changes with your team overthe last couple of years with
everything that you've learntand putting structure around
them in place.

Speaker 1 (33:49):
Yep.
So I've got three apprenticesand three carpenters at the
moment, just put on anothercarpenter.
So that's been going well.
And then I've got my admin ladyin the office myself and then
I've got our constructionmanager who runs all the
projects and he's a little biton the tools and then I sort of

(34:10):
do this year we sort of changedaround that I was freed up a
little bit more that I can dosort of two or one and a half to
two days a week on the tools,just to basically not to run any
of the jobs or anything, justto work alongside apprentices
and the guys on site, just totrain them, because I was
finding they used to like itwhen I came onto site and worked

(34:30):
for the day.
They were getting a lot out ofit, the speed was there and they
learnt a lot.
So what we looked at was it'sjust a lot of the stuff in my
head wasn't coming out, likethey weren't getting all the
information.
I know, like the little tricksof the trade sort of stuff,
because we did a lot of a lot ofmy guys were in during COVID.

(34:52):
We did a lot of unit refurbsand we got really good at that,
but we just got to a point wherewe're like, well, the guys
can't keep doing this stuff andwe're all getting sick of it.
So we've gone back into doinglarger homes and renovations now
which the guys are loving, andwhat we found with that is
they're just the skill level.
I need to sort of train themback up again on all that stuff.

(35:14):
So that's what we're doing atthe moment is going through that
phase, which I love, being backon the tools like swinging a
hammer and stuff like that.
But, it's good training Like Inever used to be.
I used to hate teaching peopleLike I used to.
Just I was a micromanager andused to go in and just nah, I'll
go and do it all myself,because I can't bother, just
telling you how it is, how to doit, and yeah.

(35:37):
So that's sort of I've changedthe way.
I've sort of looked at that nowand gone.
No, I actually enjoy goingthere and teaching the
apprentices and the chippies andstuff, just new skills and that
sort of stuff.

Speaker 2 (35:50):
Yeah, I think it's definitely something that's
lacking in our team at themoment.
I only just spoke to mysupervisor about it yesterday
and said look, the three of usprobably need to start actually
allocating some time to spend aday here and there with the team
, just to stop talking aboutwhat we can do and how we do
things like actually show themhow we can do it.

(36:12):
And it definitely makes adifference.
The odd Saturday I work with theboys, all the teams on site but
, actually going in and doing afull day's framing or fitting
out or something like that Ihaven't done for a very long
time.
Yeah, yeah well, I do it in theshed and sometimes get the
apprentices to come and help mein the framing or fitting out or
something like that I haven'tdone for a very long time.

Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yeah, yeah, well, I do it.
I do it in the shed and getsometimes get the apprentices to
come and help me in the shed orwhatever, like I'll go out and
do Saturday out there.
But it's, yeah, it's, it'sdefinitely good training them
you just see, you see them growtoo, and I think that's the
other thing is like.
You see, pretty much except forone guy, I've trained every
single one of them, of them thatwe've got at the moment and

(36:49):
just seeing them like everythingyou've taught them is pretty
much what you've like, it's allcome to fruition, sort of thing.

Speaker 2 (36:56):
So how do you think it compares to when, like you
mentioned before, when you wereon site and everyone, like your
boss, had lots of systemprocesses, everything just
flowed.
When you're doing projectbuilds, it got a lot quicker.
Yeah.
How?
How do you flow that throughinto your team?

Speaker 1 (37:18):
Well, you've got to try and I think you've got to
work out what drives them tobegin with, I think, to see
where they want to get to.
And like I got one at themoment that wants to.
He's just pushing to getsomewhere and I'm like, okay,
I'll help you get there.
And he wants to be an open risebuilder in that.
So I'll help him as far as Ican get and teach him and that.

(37:39):
But he's willing to learn andtake on things.
And I think I don't know with,like the way I had it when I was
like doing project homes andstuff with with another, a
chippy and apprentice, it sortof flowed really well.
But I think that was it was atime thing.
Like we're saying like together, having the same guys all

(38:00):
together, they just you learn to, you learn to read each other.
And even like a guy that usedto work for us, we're the same
and it was probably only likework together on on my jobs for
probably four years or something.
But you just know like, do youknow how you?
Just even just passing a nailgun is just the simplest thing.
Like, do you know how you youpass it with a handle, facing

(38:20):
the perp, just and a drill, justsimple things like that.
It's just, and you know like youcould put your hand behind you
and that person was therealready with whatever you wanted
, like that's.
I don't.
I still don't know how you.
I think that just comes withtime.
If you keep the same guystogether, it sort of flourishes,
like their relationship, Isuppose, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (38:42):
I'm searching hard for it and I'm struggling to
find it at the moment?
Yeah, it's just like theyounger generation just doesn't
like.
I don't know, it might pisssome people off they just don't
seem to have that.
Their mind's always occupiedwith shit they've seen on
Instagram or something.

(39:03):
I think they're never fullyfocused on what they're doing.
And if they do have a splitsecond.
Instead of being prepared,they'll look at their phone for
two minutes.

Speaker 1 (39:15):
Yeah, and it opens up another can of worms in their
head.

Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yeah, and then like it's just, it really shits me
yeah.
Like productivity on.
I forget the figures.
There was a study only a coupleof months ago that was saying
like productivity inconstruction is massively down
from where it was only like fiveyears ago yeah, it's definitely
a lot less than what it used tobe.

Speaker 1 (39:37):
Like I remember we used to pump through Like I
think I don't know in anarchitectural job it's a bit
some of the jobs like you canpush out framing stuff like that
, and then you just get theseslow bits where it's that detail
that you've got to try and likeI even pull my guys up and just
say, look, just stop and drawout a plan of how we're going to
do this.
Don't just start a bullet, agate at something and then you

(39:59):
screw it up and then you've gotto go backwards and fix the
thing again.
So I know, with project homesyou can just punch out, you
don't even have to think becauseyou've done that many of them.
It just gets done.

Speaker 2 (40:09):
As much as I hate to say it, I almost think that
every apprentice should becompulsory that they do 12
months with a volume builder.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (40:18):
I think so, yeah, definitely.

Speaker 2 (40:22):
Because it just well even not that, like when you
finish your apprenticeship andyou start contracting or
something you should be made toa few frames on a project rate,
so that you can learn thatshit's not done.
You don't make money.

Speaker 1 (40:37):
See, when we were doing project Home, we were
hourly rate so it was a bitdifferent.
But we knew the builder wasn'tmaking money, Like we could look
at it and go, mate, I don'tknow how you make.
We were running and we don'tknow how, because he had other
guys on contract and I don'tthink they were making anything
on it.
So it's yeah, you've got to besuper fast and accurate with

(40:59):
everything.

Speaker 2 (41:01):
It's not a good way to make money.
No, it's not.
Well, you can't.

Speaker 1 (41:05):
I don't know, I couldn't do that, for I couldn't
keep doing that same pace forlike till I am now.
Like at the age I am now, I'dbe ratchet.

Speaker 2 (41:12):
Oh, no way, mate, so it's good.

Speaker 1 (41:14):
Like I used to find I used to work as an apprentice
Like I used to do cashiesSaturday, sundays for guys that
I knew and man, I hardly everhad a weekend off.
It was just cashies everyweekend and do that, and then
after work I'd go in andsometimes I'll do if they're
commercial jobs I'll go and donight shift there and stuff and
it's I don't know.

(41:35):
You just get.
I think back then I was drivenbecause I had a goal I wanted to
buy a house by a certain time,I wanted to be married by a
certain age and all this sort ofstuff.
And it basically like the funnystory is I always tell my
parents I'm like I want to bemarried and move out by the time
I'm 25.
And I literally just I bought ahouse and moved out in just a

(41:57):
couple of weeks before mybirthday and that was but I
never.
You just think of things and,like I was saying before, you
manifest things and it happens.
Yeah.
Yeah, I don't know With thespeed thing, I'm not sure.
Like they, just, I thinkthere's too many distractions
nowadays for people.
Yeah, like the youngergeneration, they just, and I

(42:17):
think they want everything now.
They don't want to wait foranything or they don't want to
work hard for it.

Speaker 2 (42:24):
Bones should be banned on job sites.
Mate like schools.
It breaks my heart to walk intoa job site at Smoker and to see
everyone sitting around theirphone Like where's the
camaraderie and thecommunication and the
conversations and the laughterand the mucking around.

Speaker 1 (42:41):
Yeah, like it's just we used to have the newspapers
go around.
We were apprentices.

Speaker 3 (42:45):
That's everyone would get a bit of the newspaper and
you'd have a read and then you'dtalk about footy and stuff like
that.

Speaker 1 (42:51):
But my guys are pretty good, like most of the
time.
We're having good chats atSmoko and stuff, like when I'm
there I see that, so that's good.
But yeah, I think thedistraction thing is definitely
high up there with what'scausing a lot of it.

Speaker 2 (43:06):
So how do you go about getting all your work,
mate?
You do some pretty awesomehomes.

Speaker 1 (43:10):
So I think all our stuff is mainly word of mouth
and I just meet different peoplelike different architects or
designers through the processand then we just do stuff on
Instagram and that.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
Because you're charging for your proposals.

Speaker 1 (43:26):
Yeah, we charge for proposals and then we do so.
Then we've got a with a cabinetmaker.
We've sort of teamed up and hegives us a lot of leads as well,
so we go in and do work withthem.
That's a lot of our unit refurbstuff which is really like
which is good work during COVID,especially Like we didn't have

(43:46):
any real any issues with likeprice rise and stuff because the
jobs were smaller.
So we sort of came out unscathedfrom that, but yeah, so just
word of mouth, really a lot ofour stuff and you do a good job
for people and then they usuallyjust pass your name on, and
that's something I'm alwaysproud of is like I won't walk

(44:07):
away from a job, like there'sjobs where I've lost heaps on,
but I still will do everythingperfect till the end, like I
don't believe in doing a roughjob or anything like that.

Speaker 2 (44:16):
Yeah and yeah so that's you do stuff on your
socials and that.

Speaker 1 (44:21):
Yeah, so I do videos and stuff like that, and I'm
just at a point now where Idon't even look.
I used to watch them back andthen not post them.
It was like no, I just sendthem.
Now I've got someone that doesall that for it.
We just send it to her and theythey post it for us.
Yeah, so I don't care whatpeople think, if they don't like
it, they'll move on.

Speaker 2 (44:40):
So yeah, but you're attracting the clients that you
want to attract exactly, yeah,social media is such an
incredibly powerful tool yeahthat um people aren't taking
advantage of.

Speaker 1 (44:50):
Yeah, so, like a lot of our stuff isn't?
I don't have a heap of finishedstuff on there, mainly just
videos about what we're doing oneach job, sort of thing.
Yeah.
And then just the process ofhow we're doing it.
That's all I mainly do, and Iget comments all the time about
it.
Yeah, so, that's good.

Speaker 2 (45:08):
So do you like, with all the growth and everything
you've had in the last few years, like do you think that you
contribute a lot of that to likeyou're learning more about the
business, or do you think thatyou contribute a lot of that to
like you're learning more aboutthe business, or do you
contribute it to learning aboutyourself?

Speaker 1 (45:23):
I think a lot of it is myself, because I found I go
up and down a lot and I findwhen my personal stuff's good,
it's sort of everything flowsjust perfectly Like everything.
You go ups and downs in yourpersonal stuff all the time.
Like you get like I wasn'tdoing a lot of fitness for a bit

(45:43):
, like for ages.
I never did.
I did cycling and stuff for awhile and then that died off and
then didn't do anything andthen I worked out.
I just need to even just moving,like at the moment, I just
every 15 minutes when I get tothe office in the morning I just
do some push-ups, sit-ups andand jumps and stuff, and it just
just a little bit of exercisegoes a long way.

(46:04):
Yeah, um, and that helps outreally well.
Um, and then I think, justsetting setting goals, like when
we do the 6p wheel and stufflike that, it just you know the
bits you got to work on and whenthe when the personal's down, I
always go to the personal firstand try and get that right,
because other stuff just flowsoff that really well so what are

(46:28):
you doing with your personalstuff, like what type of things
you have you got to set routineand exercise and stuff?
yeah, so that's pretty much so.
Usually in the mornings I getto the office most mornings like
4 o'clock, 15 minutes I just dopush-ups, sit-ups and do sort
of burpees and stuff like that,and just wake up for the morning

(46:49):
, sit down, have a coffee andthat's pretty much my exercise.
Then I'll take the dog for awalk, usually like two times a
week and then on the weekends abit more.
Yeah.
So that just, I think, even justgoing for a walk by yourself,
you clear your head like nophone and stuff like that.
I think I learned that fromanother guy.
He just leaves his phone.

(47:09):
Like you, just leave your phoneat home, don't even bring it
for a walk, you just go back toold school and just go.
Well, I'll work it out ifsomething happens, yeah, and it
just you're disconnected.
I think that's why, like I went, I really craved going camping
and stuff, just to get away,like when I was in, when I was,
um, stressed and stuff.
I'd just go away and you don't,you just de-stress and I'd

(47:32):
usually say, on the way comingback into the city you're like,
oh shit, here it comes again.
All all the stress.
It's some I don't know what itis.
You come back through Toowoombaor coming down the coast and
it's like, oh shit, here it is.
I've got all the stress againcoming back.
But that was years ago, that'show it was.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
But now I don't like.
I said control, not thebusiness.
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1 (47:56):
Yeah, so yeah, that's been really good.
But yeah.

Speaker 2 (48:01):
And you're doing like you've done some pretty cool
stuff with the family, likesince you've got everything
together now making money andstuff you've done all your
backyard put a pretty awesomepool in.

Speaker 1 (48:13):
Yeah, we put a pool in and stuff like that.
It's just goals we've had thatwe just wanted to achieve and I
just went well, stuff it, I'mgoing to do it.
So I did something for thefamily finally, and then, like
next year, I booked a holiday, Iwas down south to the snow,
just simple things like that Iwould never have done because we
didn't have the money sort ofthing, I wasn't paying myself,

(48:34):
right.
And I think once you knowyou've got the money, the income
coming in that you're supposedto be getting paid, you can do
these other things that actuallymake you happy and you can
relax and take your family outLike even just the amount of
times we take the family outplaces.
Now, I never used to.
I was a tight ass, like I justnever liked spending money at

(48:55):
all.
Tight ass Like I just, yeah,never liked spending money at
all.
And then now I'm just like, well, you can't take this shit to
your grave Like you may, as wellyou may as well spend it with
your family and use it and haveexperiences is probably our
biggest thing that we do it'sall about the experience, isn't?

Speaker 2 (49:09):
it.

Speaker 1 (49:09):
Yeah, like things, things don't do it for us
anymore.
Like my wife and I I it's morejust having experience with the
kids and stuff like that.
It's like items are just.
They're just items.
Like you get the, you get thethrill of gonna buy like the
tool or whatever.
But I can last the next daylast yeah, you just you're over
it pretty bloody quick you openthe box?

Speaker 2 (49:29):
yeah, that's it's.
Where's the next one?

Speaker 1 (49:31):
yeah, exactly you're trying to.
You're trying to find thatother endorphin hit so it's like
yeah, but yeah.

Speaker 2 (49:38):
You get out a bit, don't you, and do a bit of
camping, yeah, Because, weduring COVID, my daughter got
COVID.
During COVID we did that tripand I had to pull out.

Speaker 1 (49:49):
Yeah, I remember that we went through that one.
Yeah, it was one of my kids, itwas good, but that was pretty
cool.

Speaker 2 (49:54):
I think you're a bit like me.
You like getting out in thecountry and exploring and stuff.
We went and visited that oldsawmill.

Speaker 1 (50:00):
Yeah, all that was amazing.
I'd love to go back out thereand see all that.
Any of that stuff, any of thathistory stuff around Gimpian
stuff around there is justlovely to go see.
But we used to go camping mostlike a fair few weekends during
the year and that.
But we haven't.

(50:20):
Lately We've sort of gone awaybecause we've done the whole
like Amex thing that you guysput us onto and use points for
stuff and go for flights andthat.
So that's been really good.
Yeah.
But once you've it's funny, onceyou've been in a nice hotel and
that it's hard to go back to abloody swag or a tent?
No, it is.

Speaker 2 (50:42):
It makes me appreciate things I'm heading
off next week for two weeksdoing that charity rally again.
So I've got two weeks in theswag this time.
Oh nice.

Speaker 1 (50:50):
Hopefully it's not a leaky one, you'll be right.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
No, it's not a leaky one, but I'm really looking
forward to it just getting outin the stars.
I think I'm a bit overdue for abit of me time, and actually
it's from someone from my levelup experience has won the Pat
and the Co driver, so I've gotto make it all the way from here
to Broken Hill and back on myown, like he's going to meet me

(51:12):
down there.
So, yeah, I've got four daysthere and four days back to just
cruise some back roads andcrank the tunes.
You've got a lot of thinking inthat time, crank the tunes and,
yeah, I'll be swaying it on theside of, hopefully, some
billabong or creek somewherejust chilling out.
Oh, wicked.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Oh, mate, I can't wait.
Just to take some time out.

(51:34):
Mate, I really appreciate yourtime Before we get out of here.
Is there anything that you'dlike to mention to listeners?
I guess for someone out therethat's thinking that life's shit
, life's hard, business sucks,like I'm not doing the right
thing, like, what sort of advicehave you got for those types of

(51:55):
people?

Speaker 1 (51:56):
I think you've just got to believe in yourself that
you can do, that things canchange.
Like you got to get in contactwith the right people.
I think, like for me, like live, life, build was it for me and
that's sort of changedeverything for me.
Like just believing believingyou can change things doesn't
always have to be that same way.
Like it's it's not much tochange a little bit in your

(52:18):
business and it goes along likeit changes a lot of things.
So I think just you've got toget out of your comfort zone too
.
That's the other thing.
It's like even me doing this,I'm like shit scared, but it's
fine.

Speaker 2 (52:28):
Mate, you were shitting bricks and you have
smashed it out like seriously,all good You're bloody talking.
Well, you're bloody talkingwell, you're confident.
It's awesome.
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (52:41):
But yeah, I think you've just got to get out of
your comfort zone and justthere's something better around
the corner for you.
So it doesn't always have to bedepressing being a builder and
that.

Speaker 2 (52:50):
What about timing?
Like everyone talks abouttiming, like it's not the right
time, I can't afford it.

Speaker 1 (52:55):
Well, you've just got to go, like I said before, go
backwards, like sometimes you'vejust got to sacrifice not going
out to dinner and stuff likethat and just save your money
that way and go.
Well, okay, to get ahead you'vegot to go backwards, so you've
just got to sacrifice things.
But you've got to be willing todo that and you'll succeed, I
suppose.

Speaker 2 (53:17):
Everyone in this day and age, once, once, both of
everything, yeah you wanteverything now which you can't
have.

Speaker 1 (53:21):
Like you gotta do the hard yards to get to that point
.
And then, once you get to thatpoint, it just, it just flow.

Speaker 2 (53:26):
Everything seems to flow a lot better yeah and mate,
where, uh, where can peoplefind you if they want to look
you up and see what you gotgoing on?

Speaker 1 (53:33):
uh, we're on instagram just under vl
constructions, um, and facebook,and then on on the website as
well.
So yeah just get on there andyou can flick us a link, uh,
flick us a email through theinquiry form and yeah all good
excellent.

Speaker 2 (53:49):
Well, I really appreciate your time and, um, I
do.
I really appreciate how humbleyou are and you've definitely
come a very long way in the lastfour years and I'm super proud
of you.
Well, lottie hasn't donenetball this year, but we were
running into Sarah quite a bitat the netball courts and you
can just feel both.

(54:11):
Your energy is so much betterthan it was when we first met
four years ago.
So mate keep smashing it out andkeep doing what you're doing,
because it's paying off not justfor you, but for your family as
well.
Cool, thanks for having me on.
Appreciate it.
No worries.
Well, guys, thanks for watching.
Make sure you like, subscribeall those types of things, Share
this podcast with all yourfriends so we can continue to

(54:33):
make this Australia's number oneconstruction podcast.
If you haven't been to mywebsite yet, duanepeircecom,
make sure you go there andpurchase your merchandise.
We want every tradie inAustralia wearing some form of
level up gear so that everyonecan help my mission to create a
new building industry.
I look forward to seeing you onthe next one.
Are you ready to build smarter,live better?

Speaker 1 (54:54):
and enjoy life.

Speaker 2 (54:56):
Then head over to livelikebuildcom forward slash
elevate to get startedeverything discussed during the
level up podcast with me, dwaynepierce, is based solely on my
own personal experiences andthose experiences of my guests.

(55:18):
The information, opinions andrecommendations presented in
this podcast are for generalinformation only, and any
reliance on the informationprovided in this podcast is done
at your own risk.
We recommend that you obtainyour own professional advice in
respect to the topics discussedduring this podcast.