The "Level Up" with Duayne Pearce Podcast
I take on the role of an authoritative voice that fearlessly communicates truths drawn directly from my lived experiences. With a genuine sense of ownership, my insights are free from any hidden agendas – they truly belong to the audience. My stories and journey add remarkable value, the key now lies in harnessing its power effectively to help others.
My purpose is to create a new residential building industry. My mission is to inspire unshakable self-confidence in my colleagues in the industry, empowering them to orchestrate prosperous, enduring, and lucrative businesses that bring exceptional projects to fruition for our clients.
My goal is to foster a deeper comprehension among clients about the identity and functions of builders, redefining their perceptions.
The "Level Up" with Duayne Pearce Podcast
NEAR DEATH Experience Set Me On My Path in The Building Industry
GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE LEVEL UP EXPERIENCE HERE - https://duaynepearce.com/events/
#133 Byron shares his remarkable journey from struggling school student to successful building business owner, revealing how finding his passion completely transformed his educational experience and career trajectory.
Check out Byron and Limitless Building Co. here...
limitlessbuildingco.com.au/about
Check out Duayne's other projects here...
Live Life Build
livelifebuild.com
D Pearce Constructions
dpearceconstructions.com.au
QuoteEaze
quoteeaze.com/Free-Offer.html
GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE LEVEL UP EXPERIENCE HERE - https://duaynepearce.com/events/
When you're in that flow state and you're pumping frames, got the tunes or whatever you're doing, like man, it's the best feeling in the world. Yeah, when you've got a good crew, like, yeah, it's unstoppable, like it's really, it's one of the funnest things, that's what you get hooked on.
Speaker 2:G'day guys. Welcome back to another episode of Level Up. We are back in the shed for another cracking episode this afternoon. I'm pretty pumped about this one. The guest we've got with us today sent us an email with a bit of a, I guess, outline of his life story, and it is absolutely gull. So sit back, buddy, grab a can of Coke or a drink of water or whatever you want to grab, and this one's going to be a cracker. So massive shout out to Byron. How are you, mate? Good mate, thanks for having me on looking. Been looking forward to it. Yeah, mate, I'm stoked that you're here. So Byron reached out to me on Instagram a lot of like a fair while ago now yeah, yeah, maybe September or something last year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, started chatting about some things yeah, good, a good six, seven months ago. And and as I say all the time, I put it out there that anyone that wants to come on this podcast have a chat, I'm happy to coach, mentor and give you advice or whatever. And yeah, byron's one of the guys that have put his hand up and he's come on the. We're going to have a chat today about just what he's up to, what he's doing and how we can do that. So you run a building business Limit yeah, limitless building.
Speaker 1:Co is um my company, so yeah, where the name come from.
Speaker 2:Um, it's got a bit of a story.
Speaker 1:It's just I suppose it's a guy. It's a book called limitless um. It's a guy that sort of struggled to learn through school and everyone sort of quit on him and he found his way like, and learned to speed read and really learned to learn in his own way. And it's a book to help people like pretty much all of us builders with ADHD and all that sort of stuff that struggle at school.
Speaker 2:Just to learn.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like just to get through it all and comes from that. And then just there's another book called Relentless Not that it ties to the name, but it's sort of like that same pursuit, and that's about Kobe and Michael Jordan and all that.
Speaker 2:Have you been diagnosed with ADHD? Like, I mean, that's about Kobe and Michael Jordan and all that. Have you been diagnosed with ADHD? Ah no, we'll come back. I haven't worried about it. We'll come back to that, but yeah, well, that's an awesome story behind getting a name. Yeah, so Do you know who wrote that? I've read that book. I can't remember who.
Speaker 2:I've got it written down, but yeah yeah, shane might be able to look that up. But yeah, it's awesome when you like. I think it's something I wish I had done better. When I got my name, like I've talked about before, the accountant just said what do you want to call it? Dps Constructions. Like you've actually put time and effort into thinking about it, so it means something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I knew from the start, like, not to nothing against you, I never wanted my name tied to it, because I knew from the start where I wanted to go and I knew that a name couldn't be tied to it because it needed to be. It wanted to be a company, and then sissy companies and an entity, you know all that sort of stuff. And I was like limeless can last in the small scale and it can last in a big scale and I was like, well, it's that name plus limeless obviously ties in and there is no limit. So yeah, that was.
Speaker 2:Jim Quick. Yeah, yeah, look it up, jim Quick.
Speaker 1:It's a really good book. For anyone that's a little slow, it is a really good book. Yeah, and if you're learning to read properly too, like speed reading and all that sort of stuff. So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So, like, obviously this podcast is aimed at traders and builders and the construction industry and stuff. And your email you sent through with like a bit of a brief on your life, like honestly, like it was only a page long or something, but almost out of teremor because it's a very common story. Yeah, so do you mind if we go back and talk about stuff? Yeah, do you want to tell us a little bit about your childhood? Yeah, stuff. So do you want to tell us a little bit about?
Speaker 1:your childhood, yeah, yeah. So I grew up in an army family, mum and dad. Dad joined when he was 15, mum not too long afterwards, so they were in very early. They had me pretty young too, like mum would have been like 20. And they split very early too, when I was about three, which like never affected me as a child. I was like you don't understand all that stuff till you get older. Um, but my dad wasn't around much and it's like I don't see this. It's his fault. He's on tour, like he's in um overseas protecting us with you know all his friends, as everyone does, but do you know your old man?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah, you know all his friends, as everyone does, but do you know your old man? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, nothing's wrong with any of those relationships, but yeah, it's just um, it was just tough, I suppose, like not having him around. You know, um, and then that split parenthood sucks and I think you don't really see the byproduct of that till you're a bit older, till you're smart enough, um, so, yeah, and then, yeah, I think that was just an on-flow effect through school, socially and academically, and that, as I said in the email, I was pretty bad, like real bad, at school. Um, till, yeah, year 11 and 12, what are your classes? Really bad like, oh, just like, straight d student yeah, didn't want to be there.
Speaker 1:No home attention yeah, I was in trouble, yeah, I was just bored, like I didn't understand, like all of us, like obviously maths and English matters, but the rest of it like I don't need it. You know, I still haven't really even used the maths. Like we use a little bit of it on site and stuff, but it's not one of those things and so, yeah, I was just not very good at it till 11 and 12, went to the trade college over there at Scarborough and then pretty much straight A, b sort of student, because we just did maths, english, business and my trade. That was it. So I did four weeks of school, four weeks of work through 11 and 12 and, yeah, set me up pretty good. I was qualified when I was 20.
Speaker 2:So we've had quite a few of our apprentices go. I've gone blank. What's the name of the trade college over there?
Speaker 1:I think it's Australianralian trade college yeah, yeah, it's an awesome setup yeah, I think emerald owner or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah but, um, I think it's like our people need to be encouraged to do trades, especially now with all the issues we're having with housing shortages and the cost of housing and stuff, but like the old-fashioned days of trying to push everyone to university and to finish like. I'm definitely not a believer that people should finish year 11 and 12.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because, just like you just said, if you have no interest in being there and you're not getting anything out of it, why waste your fucking time? Yeah yeah, so and I think it's awesome to hear like your turning point because that we hear it all the time from guests on this podcast like when you flick that switch and all of a sudden you've got an interest in something. Yeah, your brain switches on. You're keen to learn like yeah oh it's.
Speaker 1:It's like all of us, like even you know, I suppose, in building itself, um, I'd become a builder. But I love carpentry, like, I'm very passionate about it. Like I watch YouTube and I watch awesome framers and I I learned the fastest way to frame and the most efficient ways and I get hooked on that stuff Like. And so when you like really do love that stuff, when you're a carpenter, then you're like I want to be a builder, but then carpentry is almost got nothing to do with being a builder, builders, a builder but then carpentry's almost got nothing to do with being a builder. Builders, marketing, sales, accounting, you know all that sort of stuff. But now I'm hooked on business, like I just love it, I love watching it all work. I love the leadership side of things, which is my new hobby, I suppose, like really trying to be a better leader, team, organizational health, you know all that sort of stuff. So yeah, yeah, just I think you have to be super passionate about what you're doing, otherwise there's no attention there, like I'm, I'm still the same now.
Speaker 2:So what? Um, just go back to your school. How did that affect the rest of your life?
Speaker 1:Um, it made it tough like through up until year 10, like just, yeah, as I said, struggled socially, like just, and academically. So I didn't really fit in, I think. And what I meant by I understand it later on in life was I almost had like abandonment issues, which is what I sort of thought like, and I didn't figure that out like recently. But I was like, oh, no one is going to stick around, if you know what I mean, like, and I didn't know that when I was a kid, but I think that's what I thought, like you know, so I would never try to get too close to anyone and all that sort of stuff, because I was like, oh, he's going to leave, or like it wasn't genuine or something like that. So I struggled. And then, yeah, year 11, 12, when we're just around like just normal people, like all of us, and I don't know, it just got easier, I suppose, and I got through some of that stuff somehow.
Speaker 2:Like I didn't figure it out at the time, but it sort of just started working. So, yeah, it's much better once I'm in school. So yeah, but the, um, the teachers seem to be a lot better as well, like when you go to those trade colleges and TAFEs and things like obviously, those teachers there because they've got a passion as well, yeah, um, I know what you thought at school, but I know when I was at school, like the and look, it's probably a whole other subject, but teachers should be paid a lot more, I guess.
Speaker 2:Like so many of them are just hating their lives and, like our kids, are getting sat in those classrooms in front of people that hate their lives and don't want to be there. So how do you think the kid's ever going to learn and be passionate about things that the people that are sitting in front of them will stand in front of them and tell them what to do when they're passionate?
Speaker 1:I totally agree. I think teachers should be some of the most highest paid people around, because I've got two young boys as well and their education system in Australia has failed like absolutely huge failure. They know it. I think we just scored some of the lowest academic results ever in the world. We're not doing good and I think a lot of it's got to do with that. Like the teachers and stuff. Like I know Not all teachers. There are some, yeah, there are some really good teachers, like the teacher I had at trade college, the ones that are like really take the time to get to know you and understand you. Like they're the guys that are worth like 300 grand, like and if schools and the unions or however that stuff works, knew that like yeah, we just need more of those people, I suppose that's how the world works, isn't it like the main doesn't go to the right places, like teachers, firefighters, police officers, ambulance officers like they definitely need to even nurses, like I thought nurses would have come up after covid, but they still haven't met no lesson.
Speaker 1:Like you, you know they're the first line too. So yeah, I think Australia and the world needs to wake up to some of that stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So yeah, what happened after that? Like you finished your. So when you do go to those trade schools like I've sent some of my apprentices there, but that's part of my apprenticeship sitting there Like did you have an apprenticeship or were those two years just just taken to sort of working towards your apprenticeship?
Speaker 1:no, so, um, yeah. So when I got there, you could have gone there with an apprenticeship for year 11. I didn't have one. Yet it was really tough in well, it was tough for me anyway, in 2010 or 11 or whatever year it was, we couldn't find an apprenticeship, um, but my stepdad he's a builder, like a big commercial builder here in Queensland, so we couldn't find one apprenticeship. But my stepdad he's a builder, like a big commercial builder here in Queensland, so we couldn't find one. And then dad I call him my dad, like he's been there since I was about five, but went with him, started with FKG Group and did commercial stuff for about a year and, like I soon realized, commercial not really for me.
Speaker 1:I just wanted to get into residential. I wanted to wear in a cubra, wear a singlet, you know, just, you know all that stuff. Like I don't know. That's why I got into it at the start. I want to be outside, um. So I wasn't doing that on commercial sites. I was wearing hard hats, longs, had to work 12 hours a day. I was like, no, that's not for me.
Speaker 2:So it is a um, it is a lifestyle thing. Hey, being trading oh, I'm chippy.
Speaker 1:You gotta have cruiser cubra and a kelpie like that's chippy, so yeah, but um and so how did you end up getting an apprenticeship and stuff?
Speaker 1:yeah, so started with dad.
Speaker 1:They um, gave me that apprenticeship, which was awesome, like so thankful, and still have very strong ties to that organization and my stepdad.
Speaker 1:And then, through one of the subbies on one of those sites, his dad was an architectural builder and we sort of voiced my concerns about wanting to go into residential and that sort of thing and then, yeah, it worked out. So I left that company and then went to work with them and work with them for about a year and a half so I was just about third year or something like that um, and got real quiet, um, and like last to come first to leave that sort of stuff, four of us four or five of us got laid off, um, but had good recommendation and got in with another local builder that just lives around the corner actually, um, finished my apprenticeship with him and he was in that custom architectural space and he was awesome for me, like he's just just a real genuine guy and obviously we're all local and all that stuff really plays a big part for me, um, so, yeah, finished my apprenticeship with him and then started doing some subbie work from there, like after I was done.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, yeah, did you? How long did you stay with your boss once you'd finished your time before you started subbing uh?
Speaker 1:it wasn't long because it got quiet for him too and, um, like he sort of runs his company as chippy's, like subbies and stuff like that, like not how, but have full-time employees yeah um, so it wasn't long. We're doing bits and drabs. And then I was like I'll just find some work, and yeah just sort of happened like that organically, uh, which was fine.
Speaker 2:There's no skin off my nose, like you have to, uh, you have to grow up quick, hey, when you get in the real world.
Speaker 1:Yeah, subcontracting yeah, and I did learn quickly. It's probably the next part of the story, but just worked for some awful people Not like awful people, but awfully run businesses. Nice guys like don't get me wrong, but shit show.
Speaker 2:You don't know what you don't know eh.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's right and I think if this, the education that was around now, even back then, like it'd be a different story because it was this guy like getting burnt, so we're getting burnt and it's just everyone getting burnt so yeah, and actually completely left the industry at that point and um went drilling, did all on gas all around australia for three years yeah, so how'd that go?
Speaker 2:I loved it. Yeah, that's hard work, isn't it? Yeah?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, there's, that's work ethic. No one in brisbane can tell me they've ever worked hard until they've done that.
Speaker 2:That's my new favourite show at the moment, now that Yellowstone's finished Landman, landman.
Speaker 1:That's what it's like. Like on the rigs, yeah, that's what it's like. Everyone's like, oh, you work in the mines. I'm like, no, I don't, we do with mines and there is no policing and there's no rules. It's yeah, it's a show.
Speaker 1:So what was your role out there? Like um, so I started. So there's like six on a crew, so it's like lease hand, floor hand, motorman, derrickman and driller, and then you have your day push and night push who are like your rig managers and stuff like that. So I started out there as a lease hand, um worked, did floor hand, worked my way to motors before I sort of come back to chipping in. But yeah, I thought I knew how to work and then I went out there and a lot changed for me because everyone out there comes from the school of hard knocks, like talking, like light criminals.
Speaker 1:You know stuff like that. What's a light criminal? Well, no, you wouldn't like I don't know. It's not murder, just other stuff. So they're hard dudes. There's not a lot of sympathy. There's no sympathy, empathy. It was just yelling and a lot of running. And you know it's 12-hour days, three weeks on, one week off, like yeah, I did a lot of crying at the age of 21, like, let's put it that way, yeah it was. It was tough. It's everything I needed, though, I think, to grow up like real quick and get a work ethic that I have today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's tough at the time, isn't it? Because when you're going through that and you, you're getting treated like a dog and yelled at and, yeah, pushed hard, like at the time, you're like fuck this, this, like what am I doing? But yeah, we all need that, you need to go. We all need that at some point in our life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a hundred percent. Like I'd call my mum, I'd call everyone that would answer the phone after work, like I do me 12 hours. I called mum yesterday.
Speaker 2:I called dad, called grandma, called my grandpa, then back to mom. That's how you're just a cycle. I was like, hey, I'm struggling, like they're like no, just stay at it. I'm like, right, hey, yeah, so, yeah, um, but it's awesome that you can talk about this mate, like oh yeah, this is a conversation that need to be had because, yeah, there's a lot of people that are probably in that situation right now in in their job, that are wondering whether they should be pulling the pin or might have some depression and things. There's a lot at the end of the tunnel for everybody.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, a hundred percent. Like it took. It took a while. Like it took me like maybe four swings, um, cause the blokes out there like they need to break you, like they, they I think that's why they push you so hard, cause there's also green in this. Like they pushed me to my absolute limits, where I was like no, I'm going to quit. And then the boys turned around and it was all good. Like I become, I moved through the ranks very quickly because of my driller, like he was the hardest on me but he also taught me everything he knew and let me do roles above my roles and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:So I think once you prove to them that you got the guts to do it and you got to be pretty smart out there, like people don't, drilling is different, it's petroleum engineering and you got to guess what's going on 6 000 meters below the ground and you need to do it in an instant, otherwise you kill your whole crew and $50 million worth of equipment. So that's why they're on edge and that's why they're so hard on you. So once you respect that and you understand how dangerous it is out there and that, I think you learn to really think about your team, like everyone around you, like you can't just be thinking with the fairies and stuff, like you need to be onto it like all day, yeah. So that's why I think people are on edge out there and are so tough because they don't want anyone getting hurt. Yeah, and it is something where you can get really hurt out there. I've seen it.
Speaker 2:Um, it was actually one of the reasons why I sort of left, um, but yeah, it's still like shit, like you see on land man, like that, like that shit happens. Yeah, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:That's called a blowout, Like what happens. Um, but a lot of that running gear. Like you can't have sparks, can't have phones, can't have torches, Like you gotta have special it's all special equipment. Um, that was on oil, like that was oil drilling. We were doing gas drilling, which is way worse. Um, Um, I've done oil stuff in South Australia but the gas drilling is, yeah, really scary. Um, it's more of the pressures, like so some of the wells that we drill, like drilled, were like over 20,000 PSI. Like that will cut 40 mil steel, like that. Like just the amount of pressure. So yeah, it's very dangerous. You see, like we had flare tanks catching fire, like all sorts of stuff.
Speaker 1:If you ever seen Deepwater Horizon? I've seen that in real life. Yeah, right, yeah, like that stuff happens, like it's really real and you grow up pretty quick when you see that. Like not, you grow up, but you understand, like have a real respect for the game. It's a real way of how quickly, shit goes wrong.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's why they try to break everyone, because it's like if you can't handle the pressure from a person, imagine handling the pressure from a blowout, and your mate next to you is like dead and you still need to shut in the well to save everyone else. Like that's a very real scenario out there, holy shit. Yeah, so I think that's why they try to be hard on you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, it makes sense. Yeah, that's high risk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, super, and they've got to snort all of us out there. I wouldn't do that yeah.
Speaker 2:So what made you come back from that and get back in the building?
Speaker 1:So I had a pretty close call, like real close, similar to the movie Deepwater Horizon, like a packer underground failed and it's like, yeah, pressure came out. Luckily it was on the other side, because that's how we get taught to like, take down a Christmas tree is what it's called and yeah, it was on the other side and I was like it shouldn't have happened what happened, and we pretty much nipped it back up. I got down off the EWP, got in the truck and drove to Toowoomba Never went back. Yeah, right, yeah so, and then I was always doing cashies when I was at home, so I always had my finger on the pulse, sort of thing. Saved a lot of money. That's all I did was out there.
Speaker 1:I got into stocks, got into crypto, started reading huge amounts of books, yeah, and then was able to start Limitless with cash, obviously, and leads and yeah, just come back pretty much. I worked for my previous employee for a year just to get my head around things again teams and jobs and stuff Because at that point I never really had a whole lot of responsibility. Did that for a year and then went back out subbing again and yeah, all happened organically from there. So, yeah, it's been a bit of a wild ride, but yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but look, I think it's really important for people to share their stories. There's always a backstory to people and where they've come from and how they've gotten there and share their stories. There's always a backstory to people and where they've come from and how they've gotten there, and everyone just looks at the like now yeah, what you've got, where you're at, what you're doing, and no one sees.
Speaker 1:It's like that iceberg picture, like no one sees the fucking huge lump, yeah, below the water yeah, 100%, like yeah, you can never judge a book by their character or, yeah, perceptions, everything you know. Yeah, really respect it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 100%. So you've got your builder's license. Now, don't you, in a way, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I suppose that's what's been tricky as of recently. So I went to get my builder's license for myself. As usual, you get your low rise, but I did it about four weeks after they changed the rules, and the new rules are you have to have two years pay yg slips as a site supervisor yeah, this is in queensland, queensland, sorry, yeah, queensland. Um, and you need to show that you are using like zero or myob for the company you're working for, like which none of my boys use it like. My bookkeeper does that and I do that.
Speaker 1:So I'm like don't know how you're supposed to get this experience, um, and just this big criteria, which I thought was crazy. So I got denied regardless. Um, even I had referrals from architects, engineers, like clients. I had everything but that thing and got denied um. And then so you got two options and qbscc will like flat out tell you this is close, your whole company, shut it all down and go work for someone, um, which wasn't an option for me. So or you can pay a nominee supervisor, they become your nominee and you can build you like you build, your company gets a builder's license, so to speak, or however it works so how does that work?
Speaker 2:are you spreading the risk with them?
Speaker 1:obviously like yeah, yeah so it was like all the risk is still on us, like the company, it's all my problem, like still, if that makes sense. So, and then I have to work under him for two years just to show that I have those pay slips or whatever as a supervisor, and then I get my license. So I got another year and, yeah, I get my license. But yeah, like it's gonna end up costing me like 140 grand to get my license. So, yeah, it's not ideal. Yeah, still achieving it and like it like I do get why qbc are doing it. Like I don't I'm not like pissing them on, and but because there's a lot of builders out there that probably shouldn't have a license and there's still dodgy ways of getting it. Like, don't get me wrong, I just I thought if you're a guy that cuts corners from the start, it's a flow on effect. Yeah, and I didn't want to do that.
Speaker 2:So I think it's like I say all the time like if it had harder, but I think they go about it the wrong way, I agree.
Speaker 1:I think getting a builder's license should be a lot more respected for sure, and I get why they're. I get that framework. I think it was more that no one knew. It's not like they publicly announced it. So I think that was probably the hard bit, because everyone, in everyone's mind, like you go on all the carpentry pages, everyone's just trying to subby. I'm like, well, do you understand that you're not going to get your license? Like, and they don't understand that, and they're like, oh no, there's a way. I'm like there's not anymore, like it doesn't exist. It's not people driving around the sites and you give them five grand and you get an open license, which used to happen, and this just doesn't happen anymore.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I operate under a low-medium rise. I don't have any ambitions for doing high-rise and things, but I did. I did go and do all that Like I did everything, did all the study, I passed all the tests, I did all the paperwork, just to say that I had my open bills and literally, like you like, went finished the final exam, yeah, and they're like, oh, mate, you, uh, you need to have two years proof that you've actually worked on a high rise site. I'm like, fuck, I'm not going to business. That's very profitable, making me heaps of money.
Speaker 2:I'm having a great lifestyle yeah just so I can say I've got a fucking open ticket. Yeah, yeah, and uh, yeah, so I just let it slide. But yeah, obviously if I wanted to chase that work I would have had to keep pushing. But um, I think it's important for people to know, or like, if they have ambitions to get to a medium rise or an open license. Like, yeah, you do have to follow a path now to be able to do that in queensland anyway, I'm not so sure on other states.
Speaker 1:But you need to honestly like it's a 10-year plan, because which is?
Speaker 2:good like it's like. People need to get that experience yeah, kind of.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't disagree with the um experience whatsoever. Like I think two years minimum. Um, like I learn every day, you know, like I learn every job, like when the new products or new architects, you know it's all different. So it's like it's. It is tricky, and like even all your numbers like you speak about and just understanding probably the core of your business, I don't think a lot of people like that's why so many people get in trouble because they don't know all that stuff. Yeah, especially when you're coming from sub in, like you you don't, you just don't really have control of all that sort of stuff yet. So I think experience is better and if your boss is sharing that information with you too, like that's huge and you should respect him a lot if he's happy to help you out.
Speaker 2:I think the building industry is going to go a long way now. There's a lot of builders that are looking for improvement and I think a lot of our issues that we've had in our industry trades and builders like. We're all taught by people that aren't taught to our to run a business, so you just pick up their bad habits and before you know it, you're on a shit show, just like they were.
Speaker 2:Like, yeah, the um, and look, it's definitely not our industry. I think it's. I think it's all industries. Like, whether you're a chef or an accountant or fucking banker, it doesn't really matter. Like, yeah, people get into a role because they they're focused on that role. Yeah, no one tell teachers anything. Like it should be taught at school. Like, yeah, yeah, business should be a subject and you should be told that, no matter what you want to be in life, you need to understand business yeah, 100, and that's that's like.
Speaker 1:That's like when you get promoted in any, I think, probably their biggest ones, when you go from, like, leading hand to foreman to supervisor or something it's like. I think a lot of people forget about the human part of all that, like the soft work. Like, if you don't understand management, if you don't understand leadership, if you don't understand like psychology, like all this soft stuff, it's like I'm not just paying you to supervise, you need to like run your crews, you need to understand the people. Like, and that all gets forgotten in construction, I think. Um, well, it's not.
Speaker 2:We're not taught to do that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're not taught to do that, that's right. And again, they're subjects that should be taught at school. Yeah, yeah, and then it's. It's like a big focus. Mine now, like my biggest thing is my team, organizational health and just the overall well-being of everyone. Like I'm really trying to protect that at all costs, like as I'm learning about leadership now, like I'm not a strong lead up, I'm really trying to be like I'm. I'm doing everything I can to try and learn about being a better leader and teach my boys about leadership too, cause it's the same, they need the help as well. Cause what are you doing to become a better leader?
Speaker 1:I read a lot. I read heaps, um, I suppose, and just read or audible, both read, write and audible. So, yeah, usually audible and write and then read, write and then, yeah, fly space. I just do all that and just regurgitate and then try to implement it in our like. We have team meetings once a month, so I go to like dinner, I'll go go-karting or whatever that stuff is, and I'll, um, I'll do a book summary, like, so I just read, um Motive by John, someone or something, I but, and then I did a book summary and then just keynotes and we'll talk about that next Wednesday night at the pub and what I think, what they think about it. Um, I send it to them. I actually send it to my subbies this time, which I got a good response because part of my team.
Speaker 2:So how does your team take that?
Speaker 1:good. Well, they're all learning it as well. They're like, oh, I never thought about that, like it was a difference. In this book I just read they talk about the word, like the acronym whatever, ceo. Obviously everyone says chief executive officer, but that's wrong. It should be chief executing officer. You're not supposed to be hands-off like. You're supposed to be managing those smaller teams and that's pretty much all your job.
Speaker 1:It's like, yes, you need to know everything, but you also need to have your finger on the pulse on all those smaller teams and the leadership of all of that. And that was just a big one for me, because I'm like it's still my responsibility to know everything on site, whether it's through the because I run two teams and it's through those leaders, like through the foreman. Talk to the apprentice, you know all that sort of stuff. And then just having more like peer-to-peer accountability it shouldn't be the apprentice comes to me and then I have to go to them. It should be why don't you just confront them, have a chat about it and then, you know, regurgitate it, something. So that's like something we're focusing on. Yes, because I've got a good team now, but now we just need a, just become a high performing team how many is in your team?
Speaker 1:Six, yeah, so just two teams of three plus me, my partner, estimator and bookkeeper, stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, patrick Lenciani, is that what it is? Yeah, yeah, and now I'm reading the Advantage same guy. So, yeah, really really good leadership books.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I'll to um check them out. You need to check out, uh leadership eq mate for leadership for the everyday leader. Okay, she's. Uh, she's only just around the corner, mate. I highly recommend helen rogerson. Yeah, get her to come and do some teamwork with your team.
Speaker 1:She is unbelievable, that's yeah, that's what I want to do. I want to do like corporate psychology and understand each other, like, and yeah, all that that soft work. I know a lot of people are like, oh, that's not important, but it is, man, like it's huge. If you want to create a team that's going to go a long way, I think it's pretty important, like it's my everything at the moment. Like, yes, you can like the skills and all that, yes, we can all do that. Like it's great.
Speaker 2:But I, the right people on the right bus in the right seats is way more important. Well, mate, uh, this podcast should be out before it, but, um, I've managed to pull together the the best event that the construction industry has ever seen in australia. It's on the 30th of may this year. Yeah, um, we can't. I won't say too much more than that at the moment, but, um, because I I know that, like for this industry to to and break its old habits, we've got to focus on ourselves. Yeah, so, yeah, we're going to be covering it's going to be a full day of full-on personal development with world-class leaders in their fields, as well as covering a lot of building science and building biology, because I also believe that that's a massive area that gets forgotten about or people don't know enough about in our industry. But I think it's incredible, like it's addictive, eh, like, are you addicted to that 100%?
Speaker 1:I just honestly, like I read the motive and then obviously got hooked on that author. Now, like I've downloaded here's I'm doing Audible because I've already spent too much on books but yeah, there's like six other books now I'm just going to read them all, I write about it and then, yeah, send out all my book summaries to like my dad and everyone, the subbies and stuff and we just have chats about it and just learn what we can. You know like I love it.
Speaker 2:That's a frigging awesome idea.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just think it's the only way forward, like with you know, none of us have that formal education like I suppose not into psychology and stuff like that, but I think you can still learn a lot from books. Like all leaders are readers, I don't care what people say, um, I think it's massive like you have to read and audible or whatever. But just that education after school is you should never start.
Speaker 2:You should never start learning like ever I think that's um grant cardone talks about some stat in america and it's like I'll get the numbers way wrong, but it's still. Even if I exaggerate it still, it still means a lot like the average person in america reads like 2.6 books a year or something yeah the average ceo or leader reads like fucking 68 or some shit yeah 100%.
Speaker 1:I've read seven since news. Yeah, I've read and listened, oh yeah, yeah, I think it's important. I know I'm pretty sure you're a fan of Alex Lamosi. I love him. I've read, actually, grant Cadone's books too, like the Sales and all that sort of stuff. I love that stuff. But Alex is huge. Like Alex is one of my.
Speaker 2:He has an incredible way of summarizing things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'd love to be in his brain. He just he's unapologetic about just wanting to do business and work hard and I really I think that's why I, um, really like his stuff is like hey, you don't have to have a balance like life. If you love work, send it and that's what I'm like.
Speaker 2:Like people, yeah, everyone's like oh, you fucking need this work life balance. Like no, you know everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with yeah 100 and like. Well, reality is if is, if you want to be successful, and whether success is. Success means a lot of things to everyone, whether it means how much money in your bank account or how much free time you want to have with your family. Success, fucking, only comes from hard work and putting in the time and the effort.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think. Yeah, all the woke ideas around balanced life and all this stuff, yeah, I think it's all for lazy people, like for sure, or if you're happy with nothing or whatever you want to do. Like I'm not financially driven or anything, I just I love the work. Like I think it's cool, like I love learning. I knew where I was last year and this year is completely different and that's all self-taught, you know.
Speaker 1:Like I think that's all self-taught, you know like I think that's incredible every ceo reads 60 books per year yeah, well, I wasn't far off.
Speaker 2:I said 60, 68, yeah a lot, yeah, sorry and that's uh, like that says a lot, mate, because that's definitely been a huge change in my life. Like I never used to pay attention to anything, I didn't even read the newspaper or anything, and I still wouldn't now read the newspaper. But a massive turning point in my life was getting starting to well, I started to try and read books and I was just way too slow. And then I got audible and I just haven't looked back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I think you like, you gotta. It's like school over again. You gotta learn how you learn. You know like there's a lot of people that don't have the attention span for reading, and I do know what that feels like. I can't read at any point in the day. I have to either read early, early morning, like 4 am, or late at night. I know I can't read during the day because I'm like oh, what are the boys doing? My mind does drift.
Speaker 1:But Audible, because we drive so much as builders is wonderful, and then yeah you can just use the app on your phone and record your thoughts and then you can either keep them there or write them down and then just build little biographies in your books and checkpoints and go over them and chat about them with mates, family or business owners.
Speaker 2:I like books because for someone to take the time to write a book, it means they're passionate about it and they put everything into it, yeah, so for me it says a lot about it's the subject, and it's well worth reading, like yeah because someone's actually put their heart and soul into it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, it's not like, it's very and and so I really like going to seminars and conferences that people will be there that I've listed their books yeah, um, because I know that they put a lot of effort and they're very passionate about what they do. Yeah, it's very different sitting in a classroom with someone that's just been paid to be there for the day and tell you the same shit that they've fucking been printed out and told to present.
Speaker 1:The system, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Like the system tells them what to do. Yeah, um, so we'll, we'll keep moving on a bit, but from that, off the back of that, um, like you've done, coaching, yeah, I think coaching is a no brainer, like everyone needs to be doing it. Yep, I totally agree. What was your turning point to? To realizing you need to get some coaching?
Speaker 1:Um, like we sort of spoke about before the podcast. I had a mentor which guided me up until that point. So I got a coach, probably seven months before I got my license, just to, yeah, start to understand everything, because I thought I had, I thought I knew things. And then I was like, talking to my mentor about it, he's like, oh, you should probably do some coaching. I was like, righto.
Speaker 2:So when explain to people what you call your mentor?
Speaker 1:I'm like a friend. So when explain to people what you call your mentor, like, um, like a friend, like it would just, you know, have coffee once a month I'd have a lot of questions and he'd teach me and, yeah, he was like he was. He's a builder himself, like where I pretty much where I'd love to be like he's just, yeah, I'll always be trailing him as he goes up, um, and just learning from him and what he implements. And then like, obviously, I try what my way and you know just stuff like that mentorship sort of become a friendship. And then, yeah, he, he was the one that sort of recommended coaching. I did coaching for that 12 months and then that coaching brand just got real stale and luckily spoke about and there's just repetitive crap. Um, I think you can take away the basics and then you can pretty much take everything to the next level yourself, but you still like I still want another coach, I want to hunt for a new coach.
Speaker 2:So what we talked about that a bit before and you were saying that one of the downfalls was they. They weren't in the industry. They're trying to teach.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2:So, whether you want a mentor or a coach, like my theory is like you, you have to be working with someone. That's where you want to be, yeah, and if they're not actually physically doing it, yeah, then I call bullshit. Yeah, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:Any, none of these guys, as far as I know, have built there. You know, like this, the the structure of this um coaching company was to have their departments and to have like their department heads, like sales, marketing, social media, all that sort of stuff, numbers, and then they just have guys there, but none of them are builders, they just work for this company.
Speaker 2:What's your opinion, mate? I think all traders and builders will agree with me. If you haven't run a business in the building industry, you don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1:No no.
Speaker 2:Unless you've done it day to day and you understand the things that come up on a daily basis, the fires that have to be dealt with, yeah, the constant communication, the constant rescheduling and checking on people. And yeah, like you, you can't. It's very easy to sit in front of people and say, oh, you need to do this. Yeah, um, and I find that like that's where I struggle a little bit with my training business of life bill, because I don't talk shit like I tell people how it is. I'm not, I'm not perfect. My business building business still has uh issues, but it's how my mindset works and how I deal with it and makes the biggest difference yeah, 100 it's all about.
Speaker 1:I think in construction is speed really like just fixing problems or just having solutions there all the time, not getting maybe like dwelled down on issues and you just need to deal with things in a fast manner and I know clients love that. Like we've had that, Like none of my jobs have been like oh yeah, just three stars, Like we've had things. But the clients like we're all friends now, Like we still talk, because they're all friends Like now, like we still talk, but cause they're like you, when a something arose, you dealt with it fast. Whether it was raining on a Sunday and something got wet, I was there, I was on the roof, I was doing everything and they were always like you didn't have to come. I do.
Speaker 2:Like you paid me to do it, us, yeah, um, so what like? But what was a apart from your mentor saying how you need to get a coach, like what? At that point in time, what was like, what were the things that you thought you needed?
Speaker 1:help with mainly the numbers, I think. Yeah, just understanding um, markups, net margins, even whipper, like all all those basic stuff I had no idea about. You know not, there wasn't tracking anything, um, just, yeah, pretty much anything to do with accounting. I'd had didn't really have a good idea about it. Um, that's probably the biggest thing I learned from them.
Speaker 1:The rest of it was just fluff, like, like, yeah, like, and that was only three, um three subjects. So the rest of it was probably a waste of time for me. Yeah, but yeah, it's just probably understanding that. And then all that did was I went and talked to more people about it. I didn't even talk to them about it, I just went to my account and I was like, hey, now I've learned about this, what I need to do, and just understanding, um, like, yeah, cost of sales and just like labor hours and just all that sort of stuff. And then understanding, like, the lag effect of invoicing and just all that sort of stuff, and like progress claims and understanding probably scheduling to suit all that, like knowing when that money is coming out or what people are billing you and having the money there, and just all that sort of stuff that has that cash flow because, like I've had cash flow issues pretty much up until now, like just because it was just all wrong, I suppose.
Speaker 2:You didn't know what you didn't know, yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm still learning now and implementing new things and always trying to get better. But yeah, it was just all the number stuff I was just going backwards.
Speaker 2:The biggest thing in our industry, mate, is you don't know what you don't know. Yeah, again, it's one of those things like I'm definitely addicted to it now. Like just every job, constantly reviewing things where can we improve, what can we do better next time? Like, what went wrong? Where'd we lose money? What, why'd that happen? Did we underquote it? Did we not give enough information to the subbies? Like, yeah, we not get enough documentation at the beginning of the job. Like, yeah, just constantly reviewing things, looking for, I guess, black holes in the business, looking for profitability leaks. Like, yeah, um, because we all have them. But again, it's, it's made, it's being aware. Like that's what most people's problem people aren't aware of what's actually going on, because they don't know yeah, yeah, let's, yeah, totally agree.
Speaker 1:and, um, yeah, you get addicted to it now, like I'm. I love like back costing jobs and understanding labor hours and how long it took them and yeah, just all that sort of stuff and maybe new techniques and new products. And that guy is a big difference between using like a hume cavity slider to like a tornx cavity slider the hours and you know that goes into it, or using this type of cladding and all that and actually understanding all that and like the time and the intricacy of all of it, I suppose, and just so you get the next job better, like you said, just get like just a more efficient and more efficient and I think like project management software really comes into that. Stuff that I use is awesome. I love it. What are you using?
Speaker 1:uh, wonder, build, yeah there's a lot of people jumping on the wonder build bandwagon yeah, I got in like real early, so like I talked to the developer all the time. Oh, hey, mate, can we uh sort this out? And he's like, yeah, right, I'll get the developers onto it. So it's um, it's good, he's there from melbourne, so it's pretty easy to use um, but it is good to have someone like you can just talk to about it. And, uh, if it's pretty easy to use um, but it is good to have someone like you can just talk to about it, and if it's a good idea, and other builders are saying the same stuff, like they'll just change things to suit, and there's lots of things like that. So over the last like seven, eight months it's been that's getting better, and so it's getting better for us too, and I I think it will sort of take the charge. You'll'll definitely outpace. What's the one that everyone uses? There's a few out there. Yeah, it's definitely getting good recommendations around the place yeah.
Speaker 2:Sorry. So, mate, what's the goals? So you've done all your coaching. You're sort of getting on top of things. Are you structured in the way that you forecast? Have you got a one-year, three-year, five-year plan? Yeah, I in the way that you forecast.
Speaker 1:So you've got a one-year, three-year, five-year plan. Yeah, I'd say so just really. Like I said before, I just want to focus on my team. I want to get some of those yeah, that leadership and all that sort of stuff really dialed before they maybe expand in the next couple of years. I want to get very proficient at what we do too. Like I wouldn't say like we've been in it for like five minutes, like, don't get me wrong, I'm not a lucky you guys. Like I'm not the best builder, I'm not haven't been in the game long enough to know the ins and outs of absolutely everything. But I just want to get better and like that's all I want for the team. I want to keep them together, um, like I protect them at all costs, pretty much like I do anything to protect what I have.
Speaker 2:Um how do you keep your workflow coming in, like what are you doing for marketing and that sort of?
Speaker 1:thing, yeah, just marketing advertising. So like, obviously, google ads, all the seo stuff, websites, instagram, facebook, reels, um, do that constantly now, um, and that's starting to work too, because I don't. Word of mouth is great, but it's not how you get, it's not how you have a constant workflow and be 12 months, 24 months, 36 months ahead. Instagram is a new word of mouth, mate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, People are watching everything. I had a client tell me today like we, the last two, we're just getting out of the ground. Like the last two weeks he's quite a busy person. The last two weeks he's like like oh no, it's all right, we're driving past like we know what's going on.
Speaker 2:Like you're only, you're still digging a big hole, though yeah, um, anyway, finally got into sight today and we had a really good chat about the schedule and what's happening and we've just finished the bulk earthworks, we're starting to do the pool and everything. And he's like man I like you explained things so well in your, in your stories on social media like I don't need to come to site. Yeah, well, mate, don't get in that mindset, because I want you at site every day. But he's like diane, it is so unreal, like how you do your walkthroughs. You talk about what's going on and he has um. For me as a client, it just gives me peace of mind, like if you're willing to put that information out there and talk about what you're doing, like that just gives me confidence that everything's going to be correct. So, yeah, I, I love social media. I think it's the most powerful free tool you could possibly get for a business.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it is now for sure. I totally agree. We're really, yeah, trying to, um, get on the camera more. It's something I need to do is, like educate, even though I don't know everything, but you still, like education is key. Like you're helping potential clients, chippies that might be working around, like if you're doing, if you've got a certain detail, how you frame or do cladding or concrete, or you know tricks, like it's all, it's all good, like people will follow you If you know stuff, if you're very well educated and that's something I do, would love to get into. I just probably need to get better in front of the camera I know I tell everyone all the time I don't.
Speaker 2:Everyone says, oh, I hate my voice, I hate this, I hate that. But like, seriously, like I think everyone gets so caught up on they. They think they're doing it to gain thousands or tens of thousands of followers. Like, does your business need tens of thousands of followers? Oh no, no and this is the thing like, honestly, you could have a few hundred or a couple of thousand quality followers that actually are interested and engaged, yeah, and that will keep your business flourishing for years.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think you said it, that key word there engaged. It might not even be the person that follows you. They might follow you and then their friend might be like, oh, I'm looking for a builder, but hey man, I watch this guy like every week and that, yeah, it happens organically, like that. And that's why, yeah, we're definitely on a pursuit of social media this year. I probably haven't really pushed it that hard before, but now I do understand that you need to have word of mouth and like pushing through those avenues as well. Pushing through those avenues as well. Obviously most builders get a lot of their work through architects and stuff like that and that's all great. But sometimes I went through it last year where I was like, oh crap, where's the next job? And I'm like I don't want to, like, I don't want to experience that again. So that's why I'm spending the money on marketing you can't be.
Speaker 2:Um no, you, honestly, don't have to spend money no it social instagram just put, put yourself there, talk about what you do, talk about what you're passionate about, because, yeah, we talk about this a lot in live life build like I believe all marketing companies are doing it very wrong. Like you, um, for you to have a successful building business that thrives on attracting the right types of clients, you have to make a personal connection. Yeah, so when you're on camera talking about what you're passionate about on site whether it's a detail, whether it's about a product you're using, or whether you're just getting on there and doing your job, updates and educating like education is the key. Yeah to um, for attracting the right types of clients, because every client is different. Like some people want a healthy home, some people want a sustainable home, some Some people want a sustainable home, some people just want to know that their house is getting built correctly.
Speaker 2:Like our most successful builders, our most successful videos on our platform are always the ones behind the scenes. Yeah, and I am adamant, like I'll go toe to toe, I'll bet money on it. Like the builders out there that own this show the flashy shit, the nice fluffed up pillows and all the finished photos are having the most problems. Yeah, because they're setting an unclear expectation with the people that are following them. Yeah, our most engaged clients, our best clients, are the ones that see, like we do the site walkthrough. They see a little bit of mess here and there. We talk about what's in the cavities of the walls before we line them and and I I think a lot of people's hide shit. Yeah, um, whereas we just tell it how it is. Yeah, and clients love it like. Clients want to know that you're putting time and effort into the shit that they can't see. Yeah, yeah, um and yeah, as I said, I believe it attracts a very different type of client?
Speaker 1:yeah for sure. Yeah, I think they, they definitely they love all the information. I suppose it's like us with that education we're hooked on getting better and sort of. I think sometimes they get like that too, though okay, look at these builders, are they really? They're trying to be better and trying to break all those, um, like stigmas around us. You know what I mean? There's a lot out there. Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:I think when they meet some different ones like oh, yeah they are truly, really trying to break all that and be better and help everyone, where a lot of people don't think that we're there to help them, I suppose sometimes yeah, well, mate, look the industry's got like decades of just shit media and shit coverage like everything.
Speaker 2:Every story is a bad story like yeah I think that's another powerful thing about instagram.
Speaker 2:Like you can put your own story on there, you can tell people how it really is and, yeah, um, people really relate to that. Like, creating those personal connections with clients is well with your team, with your clients, with your contractors. Like, yeah, that's another big part of being a successful business. Yeah, yeah, um, you've got to make it personal. But, mate, what's um, like you're only a young fella, like you're obviously putting a lot into growing a successful business. Yeah, like, what's the chill out?
Speaker 1:Uh, not a lot of them are just hanging out for my two young boys, um, but yeah, I just love being outside, whether that's surfing, mountain biking just come back from snowboard trip, like anything. Is that uh that high rush, high adrenaline? I race motocross my whole life Like. I love being on the edge sort of thing, and that's a very relaxing for me because it means I can't think about anything else. So I'm on the edge, I'm like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, let's go back to the ADHD thing. I think so I'm on the edge. I'm like, yeah, let's go back to the adhd thing. I think that's um, I'm exactly the same, like that. The only time my, my brain switches off is well, I've done drag racing, I've done bloody circuit racing, I've done motocross. Like that's yeah.
Speaker 1:In that moment I do not think about anything else and I I feel so refreshed after that, yeah, 100, yeah, 100, because if you, if you do not concentrate, like when I race motocross, you have to think about like two corners where the people are, what gear you're in, like just so much goes into it, like so much foresight, there is absolutely no room Like. And even like I took my boys go-karting and I was just I loved it. I was in the zone Like I was just like I can't think, I'm like trying to be that fast, my lines and just all that sort of stuff. I'm like I wish I could replicate that on a weekly basis, but I obviously can't. Mountain biking's okay, but I can still think, so it's not really cutting it at the moment.
Speaker 2:Not going to fast stuff yet, yeah, so let's go back to the ADHD thing Like you, to the adhd thing like you brought it up very early in this podcast, like what you, so you haven't been diagnosed with it.
Speaker 1:No, no, I never bothered, but I suppose I think it. I think it's more common than not really like. It's pretty easy to spot, so I cop a lot of flack.
Speaker 2:Every time I talk on the podcast about adhd and I say, oh look, I'm confident of god, I've never been diagnosed. People are fucking message me and go, oh fuck you. Like you can't say you're good if you haven't been diagnosed, and like you don't know, you don't understand it and all that sort of shit.
Speaker 2:But I've read about it yeah like and I'm, I am 100 positive. Like if I went and got tested, they would tell me you've got that, you've got dyslexic. Like you're dyslexic, I would have a fucking list as long as my arm. Yeah, yeah, I choose to just use it as my superpower, like I know what works for me and, yeah, I run with that I think that's why I like I never bothered.
Speaker 1:I thought about it for a while but I'm like I don't want to take the pills or like, because I don't like all that sort of stuff. So I was like I'm living and I've lived fine, I've felt I found my ways to do it. But yeah, I'm, I agree. Like I think I'm dyslexic too. Like I'll see your phone number or numbers and that and I'll just say them completely wrong. But I'll get all the numbers right and same with words. Like sometimes I'll see them and they'll just be mixed and when I type they're mixed, all the right stuff just all over the place.
Speaker 1:And lucky I have ChatGPT and AI and all that sort of stuff to help me out, because I'm terrible at all that sort of stuff. But yeah, I think, like you said, I used to when I was running a crew and I was on the ground as well. Like you find that flow state oh, that's your day. Like when you're in that flow state and you're pumping frames, got the tunes or whatever you're doing, like man, it's the best feeling in the world and to try.
Speaker 2:I don't think people understand it, mate, like some of my couple of my business partners just don't. I know they just don't get it. And I talk about it all the time and they look at me like I'm a dick and they tell me that other industries deal with the same shit and I'm like it's different yeah, oh yeah, I'd agree.
Speaker 1:Like you get in that zone, I suppose, and I don't know, like framing is very complicated, but you, I don't know you can really get into it once, like if you got good chippies too, like you'd go a whole day without talking if you got good guys, you know, I mean, you really could, you could test that no, it is like unreal a when.
Speaker 2:So like the guy's cutting, the guy's setting out, the guy's nailing and everyone's just flowing after each other like the tunes cranking and yeah, just like everyone knows, when the wall's nailed off and ready to stand up, the next one's laid out like yeah. And you look back at the end of the day like fuck, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:When yeah, when you got a good crew, like yeah, yeah, unstoppable, like it, it's really it's. It's one of the funnest things. That's what you get hooked on. If you love carpentry, love that. I think, like framing would have to be my favorite thing because it is fast.
Speaker 2:Just hearing air nail guns, yeah, I love it so, um, yeah, but again back to the adhd thing. Like, look, I don't know, I'll probably get more bloody people reaching out telling me I'm a wanker. But my personal opinion is, a lot of people, rather than take accountability and responsibility for their life they because to me, I actually think I would be this type of person you become a victim, yeah, and so you go get the test and like, yep, you've got it.
Speaker 2:All of a sudden in your mindset's changing yeah I've got an excuse now, yeah, like something goes wrong. I've got an excuse. I can say I've got adhd. Yeah, I can say I got dyslexic. Like I'm dyslexic, yeah, um, and I, I truly believe a lot of people that's how they live their life. Yeah, like they get these tests, they get told they got things and then all of a sudden that that is the excuse for I can't do good in business. I, I failed at this, I can't make enough money.
Speaker 1:Like, yeah, I don't know what's your opinion. I 100% agree. Um, it's funny.
Speaker 1:Before I went to japan, I talked to my psychologist about this because I was trying to understand why I don't have empathy, just doesn't seem to operate in my brain, and I asked him I was like why? I was like I don't like people that don't think they're in control of their own life. I'm like I hate people that think they can't change their thoughts like that, because you can. And I was asking these questions because I have people around me that are like this and my relationships aren't good because I don't. I don't understand them and I don't understand why they think they're victims when they can change.
Speaker 1:So this is a good topic because I believe and you know it's very close to home for me because I'm dealing with, I've dealt with it for probably four or five years with very close family and, um, I don't, yeah, I don't get it like it's I struggle with, and that's why I'm trying to get help to understand other people that do see themselves as victims, because I'm like I suppose like you, I'm just like, hey, I can change my thoughts. I can be sad right now and I can also be happy right now. I can. Yeah, I think it's all energy and I think it's all thoughts and, yeah, I 100% agree.
Speaker 2:It is so easy to be the victim.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thoughts and yeah, I 100% agree. Like it is so easy to be the victim?
Speaker 2:yeah, it is, and I think in this world they support it. Yeah.
Speaker 1:As soon as you tell yourself you're the victim, yeah, you literally have an excuse for everything yeah, let's say yeah, 90% of the people subscribe to that, you know, like in the world, and but they shouldn't. Because you look at, like I love elon musk. I don't really care what people think of him, but he is a dropout. Like all of them are dropouts, they all have. He has so many screws loose, but he's the smartest guy in the world. You know what I mean. Like I don't know. Same as bezo, same as like warren buffett, same as all these exponential dudes, like they all have problems, like einstein everybody on the planet has problems.
Speaker 1:Yeah, einstein ever dropped out super early as well, and I don't think you can actually get that good at stuff without ADD, because you need to be hyper-focused on things. If you can't hyper-focus without like drugs, like Ritalin and all that sort of stuff, like I don't know how you get there because these guys are just, they get so focused and fixated. Like everyone tells me, I have a very addictive personality and I totally agree I'd be screwed if I went down the wrong route in life, but I have one. So everything I get interested in I go all in or nothing. I'm just not a guy that it's half in half out. I'm all in or yeah, don't worry about it, man like I think it's an ADHD thing made up, I'm the same.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, there's no cutting corners Like, yeah, if you're interested in something, you go. Like you. Yeah, I would say I've wasted a lot of time of the year just going down rapid aisles because all of a sudden I just get so focused on something that I all of a sudden have an interest in. But it's just like. I think it's just getting I don't know if we're more aware of it these days or it is getting more accepted, but I feel like they, just as soon as they put labels on things, it's just, it gives everybody an excuse.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I talked to my grandma about this the other day because she's like me, I suppose, probably where I got it from. But you know, in the 50s none of this crap existed. I don't know.
Speaker 2:None of it was around. Well, it was around. It wasn't too long ago. Yeah, we didn't have labels for it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and everyone was just fine.
Speaker 2:I don't know, it's probably an unpopular opinion, but there's a bit more Like I do believe there's a lot of chemicals in our foods and drinks and things these days that have definitely had a massive process, yeah, yeah, on, uh, on our, our makeup as humans. Um, that's why my wife and I are definitely on this journey to live off the land and support ourselves and, um, be all organic and that sort of thing. But it's like I get sad about it, like because I, like you touched on like I've got a lot of family members that just it's victim. Yeah, like I am the victim, like everything's hard, like I can't start over again. Oh, I can't do this, I can't do that, I'll never have that. I shouldn't. Like why they got all that. Like, yeah, I've heard that my entire life and, just like you, it I get very angry about it because I'm like, I know, like if you just do this.
Speaker 2:You will be, you'll change, but you um, you can lead a horse to water. You can't make it drink.
Speaker 1:Nah, and yeah, that's. I think that's what I'm, that's my journey this year is to really cause you can't give up on those like relationships, not when they're that close. So that's why I'm going down that rabbit hole to try fix, help myself understand other people that don't have those qualities. There's nothing against anyone, because perception is everything too. You know. Like, just because we see the world this way doesn't mean the next person sees this world that way. I think you have to have a lot of respect for that and that's definitely something I understand very well. But I just want to help like I don't. I'm like life is so short, like it is finite, you know, and I just like don't waste your time, man, like that's where my frustration comes from yeah because I see people just wasting their lives yeah, I get sad before I get angry.
Speaker 1:Like I'm like, I'm like man, like yeah, I was it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, makes me very sad and then I get angry about. It's a bit cool to go and see a psychologist. Yeah, it's like what um like, do you? Only is that something you've just done recently, or have you done?
Speaker 1:it. Yeah, literally, like a couple days before I went to japan. Um, like I'm fine, I don't need a psychologist, I just wanted to talk to a professional and it was. He was a waste of my time because I knew everything he said and I was like damn it, and it cost me a lot of money. But yeah, you wouldn't have known if you didn't go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, and that's what everyone says, like you've got to find someone and then so I've booked a whole bunch of different people just to try find out the things, because, yeah, there's like I read a lot of books and like reading psychology books, but I don't know. I think you need to hear it from someone. I would like to hear it from someone, but unfortunately, what old mate was telling me, like I already knew, and it just didn't really help me. Um, but I am trying to find those answers so I can be a better brother and son and dad for these. Yeah, for people. And yeah, that's why I'm going down that route, to try to be better for them and understand, and because you can't just be cutthroat, like not all the time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, no, I get it. I get it. It's been a 10, probably a 10-year journey now that I've been on, and even just this morning actually, I had a bit of a frustrating conversation with my parents about some stuff that's going on and it just like man, like why do you do this?
Speaker 2:yeah fuck like you could have an incredible retirement. Why don't you like, yeah, just do something different. Yeah, it's hard. Um well, mate, look, I really appreciate you coming on this afternoon. Uh, thanks for reaching out on Instagram. Before we wrap it up, is there any advice that you would give people out there in the industry that are either young people wanting to get into it, someone that might be struggling?
Speaker 1:Yeah, probably, just don't be afraid to reach out. Hey, like, if you talk to other builders, heaps, like, I feel like this new generation is coming through and it's because of people like yourself. But look, I, I talk to everyone, like almost. So we got to a point last year a bit off context, but we were slow on work and I messaged every builder on my instagram, said, hey, if you have small jobs that you don't want to do whatever and I did that and I've made so many friends from that and we got rid of that quiet time because of that.
Speaker 1:Um, there's a lot more people that are willing to help you now and understand that the market share in brisbane is huge, oh, and everywhere else. But, and everyone has the same problems, like, we're all the same builders, like, and we're all on different levels, yeah, all the trades as well, probably the trades big time as well, because, like, they don't, I suppose, like they need just as much help as us. And, um, I think, yeah, I think it's important for everyone to just reach out and like, coaching's massive. I know there's coaches for subbies as well and obviously business coaches, but then, yeah, builders, getting a coach, getting a mentor, is massive, like it would save you millions. A good mentor will save you millions of dollars like 100 but they'll make you lots of millions yeah exactly Like I've definitely skipped some really hard stuff because of that.
Speaker 1:Because you hear the stories, like, you know what I mean, Like, and I've missed some of that stuff, I think by just learning about qualifying clients and you know just all those little things. You just know, like, what's that. So, yeah, reach out. Your network is your net worth, so make it huge. You know, like, be friends with everyone. Reach out to architects buying coffees, building designers, engineers, everyone. They're all interested in having friends, but some people are just massive introverts. So, yeah, I think it's important.
Speaker 2:Man awesome advice, mate. Well, look guys. Important man uh, awesome advice mate. Well, um, look guys. I hope you've enjoyed this uh cracking episode of level up. Um, look, stay tuned, we uh well, actually, by the time this podcast comes out, you will probably know about it, but, uh, the 30th of may this year, 2025, will be the best event that the construction industry has ever seen in australia. So, um, go to the dwayne pierce, the level up website and get your tickets and and look forward to seeing everybody there. It will be huge, so make sure you get on board with that and, yeah, as always, make sure you like, subscribe, purchase our merchandise and help support my mission to create a new building industry. Look forward to seeing you on the next one. Are you ready to build?
Speaker 1:smarter, live better and enjoy life. Then head over to livelikebuildcom forward slash elevate to get started.
Speaker 2:Everything discussed during the Level Up podcast with me, dwayne Pearce, is based solely on my own personal experiences and those experiences of my guests. The information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We recommend that you obtain your own professional advice in respect to the topics discussed during this podcast.