The Trade Den

True growth in business often starts with personal transformation. By facing his own struggles head-on, from burnout to self-doubt, Shaun Bates became a stronger leader, husband, and father, proving that the most powerful changes happen from the inside out. 

Shaun opens up about the messy, honest road to building Elk Electrical into a thriving Gold Coast trade business. He shares how coaching helped him stop drowning in admin,...

Join us as we relive the energy, connection, and clarity that came out of Pravar’s recent Lifestyle Mastermind & Awards event on Hamilton Island. We celebrated the real growth – both personal and professional – of the best trades business owners in the country. 

For those of you who weren’t in the room, today’s episode is the next best thing. You’ll hear about the awards, the heroes&rsqu...

When customers say, “You’re too expensive,” that gnawing temptation to shave a few dollars off your quote can feel irresistible. In markets crowded with lowball offers and shrinking margins, discounting seems like the only way to survive. But, even a small discount can slice a huge amount from your profit. 

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real maths of discounting – and why caving on ...

You’ve done the hard yards of selling the job to a client. You’ve planned it to perfection and teed up the crew. But just when you think you’re off the tools for good, the phone starts ringing. Again. And again. And again. It’s like you’ve built a business… just to answer questions from your team all day. 

It’s not because they’re incompetent. It’s often because they&rsquo...

If you’re wondering why life feels stuck on repeat, look no further than the standards you enforce – or fail to. Standards aren’t lofty wishes scribbled in a journal. They’re the invisible lines you draw every day between what you accept and what you refuse to tolerate. They shape how you treat yourself, how you show up for others, and what you expect in return. 

Low standards breed excuses, sloppy habi...

Today’s conversation isn’t just another business success story – it’s a raw, honest look at what happens when life smashes through the walls you’ve carefully built. Dane Middleton found his purpose crafting beautiful Hamptons-style homes. Success followed: award-winning builds, a thriving business, and the image of a perfect life.

But behind the scenes, stress was quietly destroying everything. A marri...

Ever feel like everything in your business depends on you? You’re flat out quoting, answering questions, fixing mistakes – and somehow, the team still isn’t getting it right. Delegation is meant to lighten the load, but when it’s done poorly, it creates more work, not less. 

Most business owners think they’re delegating, but what they’re really doing is offloading tasks without clarity. Or w...

You got into business to build a better life for your family – but what if the way you’re going about it is pulling you further away from them? The Provider Trap is real. You work long hours, chase growth, put food on the table – and convince yourself it’s all for them. But to your kids, it just looks like you’re never home. 

Good intentions can quietly unravel the very relationships you’re ...

Everyone’s chasing shortcuts. Biohacks, crash diets, money tricks, overnight success schemes – you name it. We live in a world addicted to instant results and allergic to doing the work. But here’s the truth: sustainable success doesn’t come from silver bullets. It comes from boring, repeatable habits done over time – when no one’s watching, and when it’s not exciting. 

We dismantle th...

If you’re still doing tasks you hate – or just plain suck at – you’re not building a business, you’re babysitting one. In this episode, we dig into why so many trade business owners get stuck doing low-value tasks, and how that mindset of “I’ll just do it myself” is silently sabotaging your growth. 

You’ll learn to identify what you need to shed, how to calculate the real c...

What if you could grow your trades business and get your life back? 

Matt Ryan has lived through the grind, hit the glass ceiling, but refused to stay stuck. From launching his electrical business, MTR Electrical Solutions, straight after his apprenticeship, to finally building a team and systems that allow him to take a month off with his family – Matt’s story is raw, real, and relatable. 

If you’ve eve...

Every growing business reaches a fork in the road — the moment where doing it all yourself no longer works. You either slide back into old habits or step forward into the awkward world of management. 

It’s uncomfortable. It’s unfamiliar. And it’s the make-or-break zone where confidence can vanish. What once felt natural — being on the tools, problem-solving on the fly — is replaced with the ...

Revenue, gross profit, overheads, and net profit—four numbers that reveal the true story of a business. 

Hidden in plain sight on the profit and loss statement, they show more than what’s in the bank. They uncover what’s been earned, what’s been spent, and what’s really left over. 

In this episode, we break down each number, why it matters, and how it connects to the others. Because knowing t...

Every trade business hits that moment – around the million-dollar mark. Suddenly the cracks show – time’s tight, you’re torn between the job and your family, and something’s got to give. 

It’s the fork in the road we see time and time again. One path keeps you on the tools — safe, familiar, in control. 

The other? You step back, build structure, lead a team, and grow something big...

What happens when a builder rediscovers his spark? In this episode, we unpack the five-year transformation of Andrew Debono – from running on fumes in a labour-hire grind to building a thriving, purpose-driven business in residential construction. 

Burnt out and losing passion, Andrew knew something had to change. With guidance, grit and a commitment to growth, he reshaped his business, rebuilt his team, and shifted into...

Leadership isn’t just about running a business. It’s about how you show up – every day, through the chaos, the pressure, the wins and the setbacks. 

In this episode, we start with a mirror test. Because how you think you lead and how your team experiences your leadership can be two very different things. 

Are you bringing clarity or just adding commentary? Do your people feel supported or second-guessed?...

Difficult conversations are never fun. But they’re unavoidable if you’re running a business and leading a team. The real skill isn’t just having the conversation, it’s knowing how to have it without blowing things up, shutting people down, or leaving things unresolved. 

This is the second of a two-part series. While last episode focused on preparation, this one is all about execution.  We walk you ...

Let’s face it – no one starts a business dreaming of tough talks, awkward silences, or calling out bad attitudes. But as your team grows, so does the need for courageous conversations. 

Whether it’s pulling someone up on poor performance, tackling toxic behaviour, or confronting safety breaches head-on –this is where real leadership shows up. 

We dive into the art and science of difficult conversat...

Mitch Copp is your classic trades business owner story – working long hours, managing a small team, juggling jobs, admin at night, until burnout kicked in.

Mitch knew something had to give. That’s when he swapped long hours for long-term thinking – and started the real work: becoming a business owner.

Fast forward to today – Mitch leads a thriving team, has moved out of his home office and into a full functi...