The Site Shed | Systems, Strategy and Growth for Tradies and Contractors
The Site Shed is a global podcast for tradies and contractors who want clearer systems, stronger strategy, and steadier business growth. Each episode is designed to educate and inform around the topics that matter most in running and scaling a modern trade business.
Hosted by former plumber and digital agency owner Matt Jones, the podcast dives into real-world conversations on marketing, operations, apprenticeships, technology, hiring, leadership, finance, and more, all tailored to the trades and construction industry.
You’ll hear practical insights, honest lessons, and expert perspectives from across the globe.
Whether you work as a tradie, contractor, builder, electrician, landscaper, or run any service-based business, you’ll find ideas and experiences you can put into action straight away.
If you're ready to work smarter, not harder, The Site Shed gives you the tools, frameworks, and viewpoints to help your business move forward with confidence.
The Site Shed | Systems, Strategy and Growth for Tradies and Contractors
Your Business Is Running You (And You Don't Even Know It) | ft. Greg McElroy & Jon Fisk | Ep. 501
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Most tradies think they own a business, but the business owns them, dictating every waking hour and every skipped family event.
In this episode, Matt sits down with Greg and John from CrystalLIQ to unpack why your business is running you into the ground, how you became the bottleneck without realising it, and the exact moment you need to step out of the operator's seat and into the owner's chair.
If you've ever felt like your business would collapse without you, that's not dedication, that's the problem. This episode tells you how to fix it.
Key Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:52 - Meet the Guests: Greg and John
02:22 - Overview of the Three-Part Series
06:45 - The Reality of Running a Mid-Sized Business
07:49 - Transitioning from a Job to a Business Mindset
09:53 - The Importance of Systems as You Scale
11:54 - Identifying When a Business Becomes Unstuck
15:05 - Re-deploying Business Owner Time and Focus
18:14 - Frameworks and Tools for Empowerment
20:18 - Structural Mapping for Future Growth
24:33 - The Owner’s Responsibility to Educate Themselves
28:23 - Adapting Systems to Support Growth
30:52 - Defining Success Based on Owner Goals
33:14 - Creating a Happy and Professional Work Environment
36:42 - Practical Tips for Reducing Burnout
38:16 - Documenting Friction Points for Future Clarity
40:12 - The Role of Technology and Proper Implementation
41:45 - Final Thoughts and Episode Wrap-Up
🎙️ About Our Guests: Greg McElroy And Jon Fisk
Greg McElroy built his plumbing business from the ground up at 21, one ute, one apprentice, and spent 40 years scaling it into a sale-ready operation before exiting. Now a strategic advisor at CrystalLIQ and current president of the Master Plumbers Association of NSW, Greg brings a no-bullshit, been-on-the-tools perspective to helping tradies build businesses that actually work without them.
Jon Fisk is a career entrepreneur who's founded, scaled, and exited companies across tech, solar, and engineering, including a renewable energy business recently acquired by a global investor, marking his fourth successful exit. As founder and lead consultant at CrystalLIQ, Jon specialises in pulling business owners out of the operator seat and into the CEO chair before they burn out completely.
CONNECT WITH GREG & JON
Greg's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-mcelroy-45aa90214/
Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanfisk/
Website: https://www.crystalliq.com.au/
CONNECT WITH THE SITE SHED!
Website: https://www.thesiteshed.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSiteShed?sub_confirmation=1
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-site-shed/
Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/
CONNECT WITH THE TRADIE WEB GUYS!
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Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthemattj/
Your Next Step:
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