PODCAST · business
Toolbox Talk
by Jon Dale
This podcast is for tradies and builders who want to put structure and systems into your business so you can grow it properly.Watch more videos at smallfish.com.au and check out the Big Numbers Workbook to learn about the important numbers in your business.
Episodes
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306 - What You Quoted VS What You Made
It is important to know if you’re losing money between quoting jobs and getting paid.If you quote with a 30% gross margin but you don't see 30% in your P&L, something's wrong and you should fix it.You should set up systems so you do it for every job (yes you should)If you can’t do that yet, do…
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305 - How Smart Tradies STOP Losing Money
You should measure profitability on jobs after they’ve finished. And you should compare it to what you thought it would be when you quoted it.The point, of course, is to check if the job made as much as it was supposed to and if it didn't, it’s for you to figure out why.Specifically, for you to...
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304 - Job Profitability
I taught this workshop in my recent client Intensive - how to measure job profitability. It’s part of my program - they paid to get it. You’re getting it here for free.Most people don’t measure job profitability. It feels like an admin burden that gets in the way of doing work you get paid for,...
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303 - The Proper Hiring Process
If you want to do the work that will grow your business - the businessperson work that moves the needle and makes you more money - BUT you’re too busy doing the other shit to do that, then you have a problem, don’t you?You’re caught in the busy trap where you’re too busy doing work to do the work...
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302 - How To Be More Of A Businessperson
If you don’t, guess whose fault it is? Yes, it’s yours - it’s always yours – you’re the boss, who else is there? You could blame the economy … Albo … Trump … Putin Customers and their unreasonable demands around pricing Competitors and their stupid race to the bottom Or you could look at yourself...
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301 - Tradies, Don't Rely on Your Memory!
Hi Tradies, memory isn’t that great. You can’t rely on it.If you want a successful business that gives you more money, time and freedom, you need to act more like a businessperson and less like a tradie.And that means not relying on fallible memory — yours, and everyone else’s: customers, staff,...
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300 - See you at the Bali Trade Conference
If you’re keen to build a business that gives you more money, time and freedom, it’s likely that holidays factor in there somewhere.Money - pay for holidaysTime off - go on holidaysFreedom - nobody bothers you on holidaysI might be projecting a bit but who doesn't want that!One way to have more...
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299 - More Business, Less Tradie
If you want a better business — more money, more time off, and more freedom — you’re going to have to work on the business, not just in it.That’s the shift: more businessperson, less tradie.Jobs still need to go well. Customers still matter.But they need to go well for your business, otherwise…
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298 - How's Business Tradie?
Hi Tradie, how's business? That's a pretty open question, isn’t it?Usually, the answer to that is pretty basic, isn’t it?"Not great""Pretty good""Good, we're booked out till Easter"But they're just conversational responses, aren't they? They're not real answers to the question.I'm a business…
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297 - Make a Plan to Hit Your Goals
Make a Plan to Hit Your Goals Why make a plan? To hit your goals, it's in the title of this video.If you've been following this series, you’ll have made some goals, so now you have to decide how you're going to make them happen. And that’s where the impact filter comes in. It’s a simple tool to…
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296 - Trade Business Goal Setting
Are you goal setting, tradie? Many tradies and builders start their businesses without clear goals, focusing initially on just surviving. Without direction, businesses can become overwhelming, with more work, stress, and insufficient financial reward. No one starts a business to be overworked and...
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295 - How to be more of a Business Person and less of a Tradie
Are you behaving like a Tradie or a Businessperson? I’m talking specifically about becoming more conscious of your behaviour - how you act at work, as the trade business owner. You should be aware that you need to act like a businessperson if you want your business to be better: more money, more...
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294 - The Trade Business Lifestyle Ladder
Is Your Business Giving You What You Want? Most tradies want the same three things: More Money, More Time, More Freedom. That’s exactly what the Trade Business Lifestyle Ladder measures. It helps you assess how well your business is serving you across Money, Time and Freedom. There are eight…
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293 - Tradies Avoid This Christmas Pitfall
Every year at this time, the same pressures show up:“Needs to be finished by Christmas…”“We need to hit lock-up before the break…”“We’re behind — can you catch us up?”It’s all pressure to cram work in before the holidays. It helps them, and it usually costs you — overtime that trashes your…
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292 - Christmas Cash Flow Crunch
Tradie, are you ready for Christmas? (Do this now while there is still time!) Get the Quick Christmas Cash PlanYou need to be ready for the shutdown period - don't get caught out - get the template and get organised.--------------------------------------Get the Quick Christmas Cash Plan for…
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291 - How to Work Properly with a Bookkeeper
First, what NOT to do: Don't let them tell you how it's going to work (they understand bookkeeping, not your trade business).Don't let them batch process your stuff because it's convenient for them.Don't let them set it up the 'traditional' way (rather than the trade-specific way).What you SHOULD...
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290 - How to Check if Your Trade Business Is Making Money (Properly)
Remember — you’re not just a tradie anymore. You’re a business owner.And it’s your job to make sure your business is trading profitably.A lot of people don’t do this properly. Don’t be one of them.Here’s a simple monthly money check-in I do with all my clients — and I want you to do it too.✅ Step...
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289 - Are you being a turkey?
I'm sure you're not but a recent encounter with a brush turkey when I was walking my dogs prompted me to prompt you to make sure you don't act like one.The turkey has built a nest near the path & chased us away, flinging dirt at us to deter us from getting to close to the nest. It's not very...
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288 - The True Cost of Your Tradespeople
What is the TRUE COST of your TRADESPEOPLE?A lot of tradies and builders misunderstand how much their people actually cost their business, and, because of that misunderstanding, they undercharge for the labour they're selling.Labour is one of the biggest costs in a trades business, and if you…
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287 - The Problem with Bookkeepers & Accountants
Bookkeepers and Accountants. I don't hate them, they are important & necessary.However, there's a problem with them.For most tradies and builders, they are the people you go to for advice, particularly advice about your money.But the truth is, they are not very good at that.Both bookkeepers and...
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286 - Business For Tradies: Proper Business Plan
More money (profit), more time (off work), and more freedom (from work, stress, responsibility) are what you want. And they are possible. You need to get good at business, not just your trade. You need to make time for working ON your business (not just IN it). You need to build the systems and...
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285 - [BACK OFFICE] Problems with Bookkeepers and Accountants
Bookkeepers and Accountants. I don't hate them, they are important & necessary. However, there's a problem with them. For most tradies and builders, they are the people you go to for advice, particularly advice about your money. But the truth is, they are not very good at that . Both bookkeepers...
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284 - [MARKETING] Marketing Is A Numbers Game - Are You Playing It Properly, Tradie?
Trades business owners find themselves without work in the pipeline all too often. Choosing to focus on other, seemingly more important parts of their businesses because at that moment they had work. But when the work suddenly dries up it's a lack of consistent marketing activity that we have to...
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283 - [MARKETING] Business To Business Marketing For Tradies & Builder
If you run a trade business and get your work from other businesses, not individual people, then you need to be doing business-to-business marketing. Before you dismiss marketing and say you don't do it, consider this: you're doing some form of marketing, or you wouldn't get any business.And for...
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282 - [MARKETING] What Marketing Should You Do, Tradie?
Marketing is a big topic, isn't it? And there are so many elements, so many potential areas of focus. So it's super easy to get overwhelmed about what marketing is right for your business. And that's the question this week - what marketing should you be doing? The answer is - it depends... a…
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281 - [OPERATIONS] Why Would You Get a Business Coach?
Why would you? It’s a good question. Something's going on for you that makes you click. We all have our one-sentence/pitch. This is mine: You want to improve your business, grow it (a bit, at least) but grow it properly – which means profitably, without loads of stress and with a normal week and...
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280 - [MANAGE YOU] My interview with Your Small Business
I interviewed myself for my friends at Your Small Business Coach late last year about what I do and how I help tradies and builders. Want to watch or listen to the interview? -------------------------------------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and…
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279 - [MANAGE YOU] How To Work Less
How do you work less? Get more effective so you get through more work – sure(!) but that’s like a temporary fix, isn’t it? You’ll be out of capacity again in no time and there’s a limit to how efficient and effective you can be. This really only leaves hiring people or working less and letting…
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278 - [MANAGE YOU] Reflect, Refresh, Refocus & Recommit - Holiday Homework Part 2
Reflect and Reload Being the final week of 2024 I felt it apt to release videos on reflecting on the year coming to a close and another on thinking of what you want for yourself in the year to come. I wrote these videos as Holiday Homework for my clients but I am putting them out there for…
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277 - [MANAGE YOU] Reflect, Refresh, Refocus & Recommit - Holiday Homework Part 1
Time to reflect and refresh over the break I hope you’re taking a break, even if it’s just a short one. I am, I’m staying at home and I’m not doing much at all except eat and drink. One thing I will do is think about how 2024 went for me and how I want 2025 to go. I’ve made my client a holiday...
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276 - [OPERATIONS] Where Can You Find The Good Tradespeople?
I just made a guide on where to advertise your jobs to attract the people who aren’t looking on SEEK. Want a copy? (Same with “I just made a video”) You can’t just ‘put the word out’ or chuck a basic ad on SEEK or Indeed and expect to get loads of good applicants for your jobs. You’ll have to…
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275 - [MARKETING] Marketing & Sales Strategies For Tradies & Builders
It’s Quieter BUT! There’s work to get but you have to work to get it. Are you doing ENOUGH work to keep your team busy? (Book a call and we’ll check) ---------------------------------------------------------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you…
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274 - [OPERATIONS] WTF is this Circle of Coaching?
This week’s Toolbox Tip is the ‘Circle of Coaching’. To be honest, it’s really the circle of any focused activity. Decide what to do Figure out how to do it Actually Do it Listen here on podcast to see how we do it in my coaching program. _________________________________________________ If…
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273 - [MARKETING] How Tradies Can Do Business Properly
Do you want to know how to do business properly? That’s profitable, without too much stress and too much work and with people in their jobs doing a good job and liking it. You’re a tradie or a builder. You run a business. You’ve started growing and you have a team. Is this YOU?…
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272 - [MARKETING What's The Intensive And Why Should You Come?
What’s the intensive and why should you come? It’s a workshop for my clients, most of them (those who can’t make it come via Zoom) to get together up in Byron Bay for 2 days (in November) to work on their businesses. I know that for a lot of you that can be quite difficult - to spend the time...
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271 - [BACK OFFICE] How to Collect on a Debt: A Bad Debt A Bad Payer
How to Collect on Bad Debt This isn't unheard of, especially in the trades industry. You do the work in good faith and submit your invoice, but the payment never comes... This week I’m detailing your options if a client refuses to pay. There are a couple of approaches you can take. Starting more...
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270 - [MARKETING] Understanding the Trade-Off: What You Lose When Choosing Cheaper Options
The Price Trade-Off - what happens when someone is cheaper? There has always been tension around price in the trades industry, hasn't there? You're charging enough to cover costs and risks and make a profit - you're doing what's right and what you have to do to keep a business running and...
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269 - [MARKETING] Effective Branding Strategies for Your Trades Business
How you present yourself is important For a trade business or a building business, how you present tells your customer a lot about what to expect from you and your business in terms of the quality of the job you’re going to do, the level of care you’re going to take and how you and your team are...
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268 - [MARKETING] Your Competitors (Other Tradies) Are Not The Enemy – They Can Be Very Helpful
There’s a narrative that is apparent in everything that tells us that our competitors are the enemy. You’re all out there competing for the limited business on offer – like seagulls fighting over some chips. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. That’s the story, isn’t it? It engenders a suspicious, jealous,...
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267 - [OPERATIONS] Are You Doing Your Bookkeeping Properly and Who is Doing it?
Your bookkeeping is important and if you’re doing them properly, they are a hugely valuable resource for understanding your business’s profitability. That’s important. Not just because it’s nice to see how much money you’re making, although it is… BUT also because of the danger of not knowing…
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266 - [MARKETING] BJs for Builders - A Useful Metaphor
BJs for Builders - has Jon lost the plot or is there merit to the metaphor? He obviously feels it is a useful metaphor and it does have merit and the added bonus is it's funny (well we think so). It's a metaphor for Relationship Marketing. Something you should all, as trades business owners be...
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265 - [MARKETING] The Importance of Language for Tradies
I get my Marmite flown in from the UK... Who cares? You should because here I'm talking about the importance of specific language use, especially in marketing. Especially in YOUR marketing and in how you define your business and the services it provides. What do I mean by this? Well, by saying…
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264 - [MANAGE YOU] What Can You Do To Make Yourself Happier?
What can you do to make yourself happier? No, I’m not trying to become one of those happiness gurus or getting into spirituality. I’m a coach so I mean this in the context of your business - how can you make yourself happier at work and as a result in other parts of your life as well? This…
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263 - [MANAGE YOU] How To Be Successful - Mindset Part 5
Research shows that businesses or business owners who have achieved success have commonly encountered similar challenges to those that we are facing. What was the key factor that led to their success? Check out the rest of this week’s Toolbox Tip in this episode.
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262 - [MANAGE YOU] Your Business Mindset Part 4
Your tradie mindsets helped you be successful as a tradie and even to build your business up this far – but that won't help you take your business to the next level – you need business mindsets. Check out the rest of this week’s Toolbox Tip. ---------------- If you’re interested in growing your...
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261 - [MANAGE YOU] Your Money Mindset Part 3
This week's Toolbox Tip podcast is Your Money Mindset. You've got mindsets around money, are they helping you or holding you back? Check out the rest of this week’s Toolbox Tip. ----------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of...
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260 - [SALES] Your Pricing Mindset Part 2
Assess yourself - what's your mindset or pricing? Is it holding you back? And how can you shift this mindset to something more practical, more beneficial to both parties? A pricing mindset that covers all your business costs … Listen to this week’s Toolbox Tip. And if you want help changing this...
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259 - [MANAGE YOU] Why Your Mindset Is Important Part 1
Do you ever think about how your mindset affects your business? You could harbour s#!tty mindsets and attitudes without even realising it, and these are making it harder for you to grow your business and get the success you want. Having productive mindsets is a tool to better yourself and your...
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258 - [SALES] What Do They Mean When They Say 'You're Expensive'
Customer says 'Too Expensive' means something entirely different (Often) Listen here to find out why. --------- If you’re interested in growing your trade business, head over to our website and you can read some more of these Tradies Toolbox Tips:...
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257 - [MANAGE YOU] Too Many Hats
How many hats are you wearing? Too many? Too many hats costs you and your business. “How many hats are you wearing? Too many? Too many costs you and your business.” By hats I mean all the different jobs you do in your business and I know, if you’re a trades business owner you’re doing too many. I...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast is for tradies and builders who want to put structure and systems into your business so you can grow it properly.Watch more videos at smallfish.com.au and check out the Big Numbers Workbook to learn about the important numbers in your business.
HOSTED BY
Jon Dale
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Toolbox Talk have?
Toolbox Talk currently has 306 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Toolbox Talk about?
This podcast is for tradies and builders who want to put structure and systems into your business so you can grow it properly.Watch more videos at smallfish.com.au and check out the Big Numbers Workbook to learn about the important numbers in your business.
How often does Toolbox Talk release new episodes?
Toolbox Talk publishes regularly with 306 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Toolbox Talk?
You can listen to Toolbox Talk on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Toolbox Talk?
Toolbox Talk is created and hosted by Jon Dale.
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