The Construction Business Blueprint #020 - Client Case Study: How Dan Grew 500% Without Working 24/7

In this episode, Marc sits down with client Dan to break down the real behind-the-scenes transformation that took him from a 24/7 business that owned his life… to a structured operation that runs without him being on site every day.

Dan opens up about the breaking point: pricing at nights and weekends, constant stress, no headspace, and feeling like the business was impossible to scale because everything depended on him.

Then we unpack what actually changed, and why it happened fast.

The core shift wasn’t hustle.

It was structure.

 Weekly rhythm.

Better pricing.

Clear roles.

Documented systems.

And a team that can run the machine without constant direction.

Inside the episode, you’ll hear:

• How Dan went from doing everything himself to building a business that operates without him
• The weekly structure that gave him back evenings and weekends
• The pricing shift that stopped “working for free” and funded real growth
• Why hiring a bookings/admin role changed everything (and how to train it with scripts + forms)
• How professionalism in the customer journey attracted bigger, better projects
• The difference between “busy then” vs “busy now”
• Why mentorship worked for Dan: bespoke plan, accountability, and a community of owners solving the same problems

If you’re stuck in the cycle of “I’ll sort it later” and you know your business can’t grow while everything runs through you, this is the proof that change doesn’t need to take years.

Subscribe for weekly episodes to gain more time, profit, and control, and leave a review with the one system you need to install first.

Transcript

Setting The Scene: Dan’s Story

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Okay, so this week uh on the construction business blueprint YouTube, we're doing things a wee bit different. We're doing a podcast then here with one of my clients, Dan. So welcome to the Construction Business Blueprint YouTube, the only channel for construction business owners to get more time, more profit, more control of their business in life. So, like I say, today I'm joined here by Dan from Daily Landscapes. Dan joined us back in March 2025, isn't that right? Yeah. Um, give a bit of context before we get into the actual session that we're going to do here when we first met. Dan was sort of stuck um a bit frustrated with the business for the say. I'll let Dan go into that in a bit more detail, but sort of reached the ceiling on the type of projects or series of projects he was doing. Doing projects maybe didn't necessarily enjoy anymore, didn't give him a lot of fulfillment. Um, Dan's obviously very good at what he does, that was never an issue, getting to work was never an issue. It was more just where to take the business to the next level and obviously how the business was impacting you personally in terms of how busy you were, it was just hectic and everything else. So, since being on the programme, in a very, very short space of time, you achieved a hell of a lot of stuff. And since then, the dynamic of what we were doing together has changed. But in that initial period, you know, the size of stuff you're delivering your business has grew by almost over 500% in terms of the revenue that your business is bringing in, which is absolutely unreal. You're now on the cusp of doubling the team, bringing in a second team, and things like that. So definitely working on a hell of a lot of few hours, damn near off the tools if you want to. You know, you like you know you love your craft and you love jumping in every now and again, um, but operating the business with again more control. So all those pillars that we usually touch on, the time, the profit, and control. Um, but what I want to talk about today isn't just a numbers conversation and so talk about what you're doing now and what your turnover and all that carry on. We want to not just talk about figures for the sake of figures, but we want to go deeper into everything like we always do in the programme. We don't do anything service level, no motivational stuff. I want to unpack the shift of what actually happened from when you came on board, what you felt like, and go through the whole process of the journey that we've sort of been on together. I know that sounds a bit um eerie furry about the journey, but it is, that's exactly what it's been. So we're gonna talk about what's changed in business, what's changed for you personally, how it's impacted your life, which is obviously everything we do is based around the founder and having that founder's first approach and what it really feels like in the business and life now compared to what it did back then. So that's the context of today's conversation, that's everything we're gonna go over. So um it's gonna be a great session, looking forward to it. So, Dan, let's just go right back to the very, very beginning um before the change. So when we first spoke, I remember the the conversation very, very well the first time we met. But how did the business actually feel you at the time before we actually had that conversation when you came to me? What sort of what was the the straw that broke a camel's back that made you actually reach out for help? Or what was what was going on?

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Um when I first came to Mark, and this is the reason why I came to Mark, was the business just felt like it was a 24-7 job. If you added up all the hours I had worked throughout throughout the entire week, I would have been better off on a job. Yeah. Um like I was I was working on the toes every single day. I was pricing after hours around the weekends, and then we my on my weekends my head was just filled with stress with all the things I had to close off for the week. It wasn't getting done because the time just wasn't there, and it was just constant 24-7 work, no family time, no time to do anything that I wanted to do. My life was just constantly focused on the business.

SPEAKER_02 3:23

Yeah, and it's a common theme inside the industry, like so. And I know you obviously you're a family man, but you also have your hobbies outside of things, training and motorbikes and stuff like that. And I take it all that just was shell for a long time when all this was going on. So, what were you frustrated by and specifics about the business? Like, what about the business um just constantly felt like it was pulling you in, or what was the what was the main things that was obviously now your business is very different, but what then frustrated you the most about the business? Was it just the time or was there anything else specifically that what was going on?

SPEAKER_00 3:52

It was mainly the time, but uh when I came in the market, um I realised there was there were so many more issues that I wasn't actually aware of until I came on the programme. Um I didn't realise I had the potential to be going after these much bigger projects. Uh not that I didn't realise I had the potential to be going after, I didn't know how to get to that point of of being able to actively seek those jobs and and start start uh getting the opportunity to price them and winning them. Um so that was something that I didn't realise was an issue, was an issue. Um there was no structure to my weeks, it was just it was just firefighting, it was viewing stuff when I could, it was viewing stuff after work. There was no structure, no set days, and it was me doing absolutely everything. From on the tools, the admin, the booking side visits, everything was done by me, and it it wasn't sustainable, and it wasn't it wasn't possible to grow the way it wouldn't be possible to grow the way it's growing now with me doing all those things.

SPEAKER_02 4:43

Yep, absolutely, unreal. And so let's talk about the the moment you reached out. So obviously I do remember the conversation very clearly when we first met. Um how did you feel going into that conversation when you came in to meet me? Like what was going on your head at the time? What maybe did you hope I was gonna do for you and change for you? Because you mentioned there were issues and problems that we discovered or that we dove into that you won't even you didn't even knew were there. So what when you came to me first and foremost, did you know really what I was gonna do for you? Did you know how I was gonna do it? Did you did you know much at all, or what was kind of the hope of coming on board?

Taking The Leap Into Mentorship

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Or no, I I didn't know I didn't know much at all to be honest with you. I sat down with you and we had a conversation and obviously when I came on to you, you you were relatively new at the time. There was there was there was nothing like this for people to look at, um no real results to look at through other people. Um so I had a good conversation with you. You told me you talked through your experience and what you've done in other businesses, how you started on the toes and and worked your way up through through the companies that way. And um I had to put I did just have to put my trust in you. I spoke I spoke to my dad initially, and like every every everybody knows like there's there's there is mentorship programmes about and a lot of them are a lot of good relationships a lot of them are grifters, like they'll just they just suck in, but and that's what I want to make sure it wasn't happening here. And I spoke to my dad, it's I sort of outlined your experience and stuff like that. And he said, Look, he seems like he's he he knows his stuff, like, and well he he does like it's yeah, you do, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:10

And what was that? Was it what what for your dad then obviously, especially for the older generation? Because I know even when I was telling people this is what I was gonna do, you know, they were like, here we'll go, you know what I mean? But like it was the reason for me stepping in, this was something that obviously the experience speaks through, and I wanted to help people genuinely. Yeah, so like obviously what did you show your the social media to your dad or what what was it?

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Because obviously I never spoke to him, but what was the well you you've had you've had videos up before talking about what you've done and other companies and stuff like that, and um I just sort of chatted to him about that and he was like, Yeah, he seems like he's clear in clear in about it. But I had I had reached out to other other mentorship programmes as well, and I didn't get that like a see like I I felt a f like a bit of trust between me and you, like when NSC came in, like you had a personal chat with me, and um whereas all the other guys I feel like everything was just gonna you're just gonna be handed like a cookie-colors programme with no real um getting involved with your per personally, where your business at specifically, and how do you improve that? It was just all they all just seemed to be a programme that they always fired out to everybody, same sort of thing. Yeah, this this felt different.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

And what about construction? Was there many other construction-related guys you spoke to?

SPEAKER_00 7:18

Or there was there was one other construction guy specific guy that I spoke to, but um just the way we went about everything that didn't really fill me with confidence and trust. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 7:27

And then putting other people aside, but like in terms of even just saying because obviously you'd never done anything like this before mentorship or anything like that, or you know, investing the business that way. So what you know talk me through you don't hesitate, you're not a guy who hesitates, you're an all-in-kind of guy, but you're very calculated. Everything you do in business, like everything we've talked about, you've implemented, but I know, and once you once you believe in something, you're you're you're obviously you're a good reader of people, and you did it take a lot of trust. But what was your fears? If you just talk about what were you concerned about? Because yes, you didn't know me from Adam, we only met, we had initial conversation, but that was it, maybe. What an hour. I mean, you were gonna try and trust your business in me and your life and invest money. And do you know what I mean? So, what were the thoughts going through your head of hesitation? You know, what were you worried about happening if you're you know not coming to fruition, or what was what was going through your head that way? Did you have any doubts?

SPEAKER_00 8:18

Yeah, I d I think I did. I'm sure anybody would have to have doubts about investing that kind of money in it, but I did I knew that something needed to change. I knew that I couldn't carry on going like this, and I knew that I didn't have the the experience to know what what to do, how to get there. Um I knew what I wanted, but I didn't I didn't know how I was going to be able to get there. I knew I needed help from somebody who'd done it before. Yeah. So um I did just have to put my trust in.

Early Wins And Rapid Turnaround

SPEAKER_02 8:42

Yeah, 100%. And that's exactly what you did. And and I touched on it there about the trust and decision making. Like in business, that is crucial, and that is a testament to how far your businesses came along here. Like, you know, the the fact that you do make decisions and you move on and you act on things. So when you did sort of come on board uh with all those concerns and obviously the investment that has to be put in place, um do you think now looking back, well obviously, yeah, but you know, how quickly after, with that doubt and with that you know fear, how long did that hang around after you take action actually came on board?

SPEAKER_00 9:14

It was it was quick, like it was really quick that it that it left because what I came with you initially, the issues that I was facing initially, we solved them like that. Yeah, nearly straight away they were solved, and then we moved on to the other things that I didn't think existed, and from then it's just been a constant progression through each issue, and like I didn't I didn't come um come on to your programme to I didn't have any massive big goals about growth. That wasn't why I was there. It wasn't for scale, yeah, it was more personal. The initial plan it was it was more personal, and then from getting that the personal issues sorted out, like it's just been it's just been growth since and that's and that's how we're gonna keep moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 9:51

It's been it has been insane, and like I I'm not surprised, we're laughing because like like 500% is not a figure. Like you hear about 10x in your business and everything else, but like 500% is insane. Um, but that all comes down to you doing the work. So again, you know, we'll talk about the the programme and I'm going through everything. I don't even like to call it a programme because it's much more than that, because you mentioned about the cookie cutter stuff. That's that's what I see programmes as is obviously a mentorship, it's why I bespoke one-to-one. So talk about when you joined, like what was that process like from obviously you hadn't got a clue what we were going to do, how we were gonna do it. So if you even remember, what was that first sort of step like that onboarding process when we had that first meeting? Like what kind of things did we go through? And what would yeah, so what was different from what you expected? But even in that early day of then like creating that plan, um, we obviously we obviously went through things in a lot of detail on the onboarding process, and again, we probably went deeper. You were probably thinking like very surface level stuff, but we then dove into even deeper things where you were you touched on it already, you didn't even realise were issues. Yeah, do you know what I mean? Um so things were obviously different from what you expected. Um yeah, and you mentioned how quick that happened. Um what about the first real turning point? So let's talk about like the the biggest, biggest sort of pivotal moment in how things turned around. So obviously you talked about the stress, you talked about how being busy. Was there anything that sort of stood out, any sort of action or thing that we changed that stands out for you the most? Or what do you now do you think that the biggest difference was or turnaround and and the success of growth? And also because two different things are there's the growth side of things, but then there's also the personal side of things. So you're you're you're you only jump into the tools if it's absolutely necessary or because you enjoy it. Yeah, so that was obviously very different from if you weren't on the tools, the business didn't make money and everything else. So, what do you think were from getting those bigger jobs? Like, what what do you think the turning points were? I don't want to put words in your mouth. So, from you, what do you think it was? Again, if you can remember that far back, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

The biggest turning point um would have been that us transitioning from being on the tools 24-7 to operating it more like a business. Um, so things needed to change within the company, like the way the way stuff was was priced. Um so talk about that, right?

Pricing For Overheads And Profit

SPEAKER_02 12:08

So, what's different now? Well we're not afraid to give away any secrets here because it's nothing strange are wonderful. But what did you have to do then to actually price yourself out of a job? Like what what what what did we sort of process that we go through?

SPEAKER_00 12:20

Well, we worked out sort of what what was being outputted each month, and then we were able to work out myself and our overheads and the like the one overhead calculation, so we're able to price that into the jobs, which means whether whether somebody's there or not, the job the job's still working.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

Yeah, actually, whether you're there or not physically working on the change.

SPEAKER_00 12:37

Which is so important because you you can't run you can't run your business if you're on a tolls 24-7. It's not it's not you can't, you're not going to get the progression that you want to get. Like not a chance will I be able to have that opportunity be getting that second team out, not a chance will I be able to be getting in subcontractors for digging out jobs and stuff like that. It just wouldn't be able to happen because it's it's hard to run your business efficiently when you're on a tolls 24-7 without massively eating into your personal life. Yeah, but evenings and weekends.

SPEAKER_02 13:05

But that's it. It even gave you the the mind space, not mindset, but the space to actually think because it wasn't me that came up with those particular ideas. Like I'm not a landscaper, you're the you're the expert there. And you were coming to me when I when I provided that space for you to be able to actually think by the things and process and systems and all the things we put in place, even the approach and the beliefs, like even the beliefs of what you thought was possible, like when you sort of achieved those, your ideas started flooding in. You started coming up with all the ideas of the dig out teams and how we could actually make the business more efficient. So, you know, giving you that headspace was fantastic. What about the project? So we'll talk about the growth. So that was like the sort of coming off the tools. Was there a lot of things that you had to well actually stay on that point? Was there a lot of things that you had to get rid of in terms of what you believed in, or you know, what you thought was possible? Or because obviously you did implement everything quite quickly. You you're a guy that takes everything on board when you and that's not the same for every client. When when when you come to me, you ask me a question, I give you an answer, you run with. Yeah, do you know what I mean? But obviously, that doesn't come easy. So, was there many things where you thought, like, is this the right way I should be doing this? Like, that's not the way I should do things. Like, oh, like talk about the control. Like, you still struggle there with not being on site.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

Yeah, it's something it's something I have struggled with for for a while. Like, um, was getting my head around that I don't need to be there 24-7. A lot of it was coming down to what I thought the guys, what everyone was thinking about me. Like the guys and stuff, what they were thinking of me. Thinking if he's not on site, he's I don't know, going to the spa or something, or like just not doing work, but yeah, you're working 24-7. Um, not to it's not just no no, yeah, yeah. You're working on but the work's different, but the work's different now, and it's it's really important to be able to get to do that work if you want to grow your business. 100%.

Letting Go Of The Tools

SPEAKER_02 15:00

Yeah, because that's the thing, it's like the mindset of or the belief system of if you're not there physically working, you're not actually earning. But you know, that is one thing that a big challenge for most tradesmen to overcome is the fact that now that you have taken a step back, you're planning differently, you're pricing jobs better, like everything around the terms of the business that actually brings in the revenue has changed. Yeah, but you never had that time, that the space to think because like talk about a job, pricing a job now compared to pricing a job then. You mentioned sitting at night. Yeah, I'm sure those prices were getting through together. Like compared to and like now you're coming to me, like tell me the difference in that. Like we we even had a chat this morning.

SPEAKER_00 15:39

You're you're sort of fussing over the the small figures and stuff, like in like before, yeah, the prices that were just totally thrown together, side visits were thrown together too as well. Like I remember back at the start, like um I was out looking at jobs, and you're looking at a scribble-down notepad because you're you've got that many to look at in in such a short period of time before it gets dark. Yeah, and then um it comes to the time you have to do the job, your price's been thrown together, your draw your notes have been thrown together, and you're coming up to the job and you're thinking, I I actually I can't even think what what this job is. Yeah, or remember Yeah, because everything was so rushed and thrown together.

SPEAKER_02 16:14

Yeah. And what about the client feedback from that? Like, what's what's the difference between obviously your type of client and the quality of client has changed because of everything we do here, but what's been the feedback? Have they like I know it's not always the same client, but have they noticed the difference?

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Like what's yeah, no, if feedback I've been getting on the way we're presenting ourselves now is saying it's much more professional. Like before when I was on site, do you know what I mean? Your phone's ringing and you're busy doing something, you're not gonna answer it, or you are gonna answer it, and you're gonna say I'll get back to you, and you forget to get back to them. There's that many that you can it's it's not possible to remember to get back to you everyone when you're when you're busy all day on the tools. Um, but now we have uh Amy um who's our our booking my my partner as well and our bookings team department. So she handles all clients coming through initially. She organizes the diary for me, books in the site visit. So I'm in specific areas on each day and pricing during the week, and everything's just so much more organised. And from that initial point of contact to booking in the job, the the process is so much more professional. They're getting sent reports to show exactly how the job's gonna be going to be done. Um the quotations are much more professional looking now than before. It was just um I would say no a lot of guys still do, it's just a WhatsApp message or a text with a price on it, and it's just not the way we do things anymore.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Yeah, and like talk about that. So Amy Amy came from outside of like had her own business doing other things as well and came into the business um but had no experience in it. Yeah, but obviously, what everything that we worked on together, like the kind of things we put in place in the business, they allow Amy to take up that role and I well, she's doing it now, she's grabbed it with both hands, she's really drained it on. Like, so talk about that, like what sort of things have we put in place there in terms of like if the phone rang, what did Amy do?

SPEAKER_00 17:51

Yeah, what so I I was initially really worried about this actually, because I was just worried that I I don't know that she would say the wrong things or but that's c that's a control issue, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:59

You're you're handing it over to somebody else, it's natural.

Professionalising Sales And Admin

SPEAKER_00 18:02

But we we had it worked out to tea, like we we gave her like a scri a script, things to say, what the questions that needed to be asked, forms to fill in when she's on the phone, and now it's it's she's picked it up brilliantly. Like, but we we provide her the great information to be able to pick it up so quickly. And um like the the forms that she the details she's picking up off customers when I'm going to jobs, I have everything written down in front of me that I need to know about the job, and I'm going there with information rather than going in blind. Um I've got pictures, I've got information, they've got a budget, what what they're thinking about getting done and stuff like that, and it just makes things so much more simple.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

Yeah, and again, all those things, again, that information I'm gonna say, like give you the credit on that because I provide the guidance of like write down and ask you the right questions, but I'm I'm writing saying that all that information that you knew you needed to do, you you ha you you had it in your head already, you just didn't know how to articulate it or like or how to put it down in a system or a process, like you weren't even familiar with a system or process was, but it is as simple as that. It's like what is everything I go through? Let's get it written down on paper, and and and fairness to me, like we give her the the basics, and now she's she's running with it, like she's natural at it. So, like um a lot of the a lot of the growth and everything, obviously it it's a testament to everybody on board, um, so it's fantastic. So, what about in terms of the types of projects then? Um so obviously you were when you initially came, obviously stress, personal thing was all was a lot of it, and you were sort of at burnout point. But what about in terms of the actual type of projects going from those sort of like we'll don't we'll not talk too many figures here, but they were they were nothing day compared to what you were now. What was what was the what was the change? Was it anything massive with anything drastic or what was it?

SPEAKER_00 19:48

It wasn't like a massive drastic change, it was actually really subtle what we did. It would just made more of an emphasis on including it in our marketing of of what we actually wanted to get. And since the day that we'd done that, yeah, it has just changed like that.

SPEAKER_01 20:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:01

Because before it was, it was just I was t taking on basically everything that it came at me like. Um it wasn't projects that I really really enjoyed. Whereas these big massive projects that we're getting now, the food out the front, food out the back, are projects that I I really really enjoy them. Yeah, they're they're they're great for the business, they're they're enjoyable to do. 100%.

SPEAKER_02 20:22

And the materials and stuff are you working with?

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Yeah, the materials are are are much better spec now that we're doing those bigger projects, we're getting we're getting to use those uh really nice nice materials like porcelain and granite all the time.

Positioning For Larger Projects

SPEAKER_02 20:32

That's it, because like like obviously I'm a tradesman myself and I love like a plumber by trade pipe fitter, but like I used to love doing a boiler, you know, and doing it all on copper and then standing back and going like it's heady, you know what we pay. But like it's like that if you're doing a shit job, it's like the motivating you're like using shit products and cheap stuff, and you're looking back on it going, yeah, it's it's a good job, but like you're just ticking boxes. Yeah. But in terms of like um, it was just you knew you could do it, you were capable of doing it, but all you were showcasing at the time, again, we're not a marketing agency, but it's we do everything in here about marketing and the vision in terms of the business, and we give you the whole vision of where you wanted to go with marketing, we we give you scripts for the marketing, we changed your wording, we changed what was said on the social media, but it was just as simple as it wasn't the kind of projects you were getting because you were showcasing everything you were doing, so you were just getting more of the same thing. But then when we mentioned food garden transformations is what you were specialistness, like I'm I I still have the messages and it was like what the hell? It was it was like a Twitch. You've got a guy doing the socials or does a great job, but again, it was just that wordn't that changed things, and then it just it it just took off from there. Uh but obviously obviously the marketing is one side of thing bringing that influx of and volume of work on those types of projects. But what if if you had that sort of influx of leads and and different things and inquiries for those types of jobs before you came on board, do you think your business could have coped or managed with that workload or that?

SPEAKER_00 22:00

Paper project? No, no. I probably wouldn't have even won the jobs of how long it took me to get back to the people or the the way I priced it, the way I presented myself. The way I presented myself, it definitely wouldn't have wouldn't have filled with filled them with much trust on could this guy complete the project. Yeah. Um whereas now everything's totally different.

Structure, Routines, And Team Rhythm

SPEAKER_02 22:15

Like, yeah, because there's a we're talking about a lot of money on those jobs. Like it's it's bit it's big investments people are making in their homes. Like so on the marketing side of things, so it's it's it's fair to say that yes, you know, the market and everything else will get you to a point, but the business needs to be set up in terms of like there's far more than that. Like what's working, what's not working, and that all comes down to the tracking, analysing everything. And again, like the business has to be built, the structure and foundation, and that's what we fixed first. We sort of realized that where you wanted to go, but we needed to, like you said, in the early stages, we fixed all the things that need to be fixed first, yeah. And then we went for that because it's easy to go for growth, but then again, your stress levels went back up. Everything I you complained about to start with, the personal issues would have just inflated again and been back to square one. So it's important that we we fixed the structure and the foundation first and then moved on to the growth side of things. Okay, so we talked about the systems and processes, different things. I know we use those words quite a lot, but we also talked about beliefs and everything else. So what do you feel personally about you changed first? About the business, maybe, or about the way you think, or what your beliefs are now? Like, what what do you think was like the Dan? Do you think the Dan that was started this D landscapes in the beginning in March 25 to Dan and a s now? Do you think they're the same person? Like, what do you think's changed with all the things that I think?

SPEAKER_00 23:33

It's totally different, and it's it's around that at Switzerland, the the being on the tools tradesman um into the businessman. It's everything that I do now and every decision made is is thought about properly. Um it's calculated through actual data pulled pulled off from jobs. Yeah, um it's just m I'm just thinking much much more better now.

SPEAKER_02 23:53

Yeah. And even talk about like habits because obviously habits is a big one. Shaking habits, shaking the way of operating. Um, you know, that's not an easy process, like we said. So, what was the hardest, what was maybe the difficult, most difficult thing to overcome or habits needed to be shaked, or you know, anything like that in terms of what was being challenging for you? Because even now, in terms of the growth side of things, that's not easy. You know, there's a lot of still things that overcome. Like even throughout our whole you know, time together as mentorship, client, relationship, like it isn't always it isn't always plain sales difficult. So talk about those challenges as well. Like it's not all sunshine and rainbow. So what what things were difficult if you can think of anything, you know?

SPEAKER_00 24:30

But a a difficult pill for me to swallow was probably the way I was pricing stuff, yeah. But uh it became clear on on how well we were tracking the jobs that the way I was doing it before, it just it it wasn't working. Yeah, um it just wasn't working. I I'd spent time on working out how to do it the way the way I used to before, so I was a bit of a p uh pill to swallow to um reinvest my time and just changing the whole way I did it, but it needed to be done.

SPEAKER_02 24:56

Yeah, because what was the fear about changing your pricing?

SPEAKER_00 24:59

Losing work, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:00

And what would you say? Like, because obviously I hear that all the time, speak to a lot of people all the time, and that's a big one. It's like people won't pay that, you know, all those beliefs that you have, and you know what would you say? Like, did you have those beliefs when we were doing that? Obviously, that there was a hesitation there. Yeah. Um talk me through how that felt personally. Like, was there a fear? Did that happen? Did you lose work? You know, maybe you lost a few things, but what what way what talk about that process of the what the work that I would have lost wouldn't have been worth it would have been worth doing anyway.

SPEAKER_00 25:31

Correct? Like if I got if I got the if I got the work at the previous price, it would you would have been kicking yourself when you're doing it because you wouldn't be making the money that you needed to make off it. Um so I'm glad that we made that change. Yes, yes, some jobs um probably have been lost from it, but it's not really a loss if um if you're not having to learn a lesson from it as well.

SPEAKER_02 25:53

And the margins and shit anyway, so what's the point? Do you know what I mean? You're doing it for nothing. Um so what's the difference? Because you touched on it there about being busy, right? What does busy look like now versus busy back then? Like what's because obviously you're still a business owner, yeah. You're still busy, like you're still you're still flat out. So what but what's the difference now? How how is the the busy different?

Communication And Weekly Cadence

SPEAKER_00 26:16

Busy back then at this at the start would have been on the tools Monday to Friday, eight to four every day, um pricing on the evenings, not getting not getting around as many jobs as I can now um within work hours, not getting back to people back then um in time that I'm able to now because I was trying to do everything on evenings and weekends and it was just being put off and put off and put off. Um busy now is everything's much more structured. I know when I'm looking at stuff, um, there's appointments for it. I know when I'm getting back to people so people's um expectations are handled better. They're not constantly sitting chasing me for quotes and you're already doing their heading before you've even letting them down, yeah. Now yeah, nobody's let down, everyone's clear exactly when they're getting stuff um when I'm coming out to view them, and just there's so much less chaos in my life. I get I get I get my weekends free.

SPEAKER_02 27:07

Like and talk me through what so if you don't mind sharing like what give go through your your Monday to Friday now of like because you're really structured, you're a guy, you're you have massive discipline in business and outside of business, obviously with with stuff you do on the outside with hobbies and stuff like that, and and other things you've been through, like your your discipline's insane. So talk me through your routine now, like what's a standard week look like for you now on a standard day.

SPEAKER_00 27:30

Yeah, so the standard week we look like Mondays, always on site Mondays, and and Joey, and Joey to get everyone set up for the week. We can talk through what's happening, what's the plan for the week. Tuesdays is a site visit day. Um I'll be out out looking at work all day. Um Wednesday is the same. Thursday we'll have our team meeting on Thursdays and I'm there on site all day. It lets us um sort of talk over any issues that are continually coming up and get them nipped on the bud straight away so it don't happen again. And then Friday is Friday's when I when I price the work that I've looked at during the week. So everything's much more structured now. Um I'm able to keep myself accountable on getting the stuff done because I'm off on the Friday. I get it done on on that week. It's out in my head for the weekend, and the week's closed off properly.

SPEAKER_02 28:14

And what about the team? So you mentioned your team there. Obviously, you have a small team. That growth happened with the current team you have because we just streamlined everything, made things more efficient. But talk about the team, what was their sort of got Amy on board, that everything was new for her, the way like she has a totally different person now, like that the business is different, everything about it's changed. So talk about how the team took everything that we were doing, implementing on board. How did how were they impacted by that? Were were they were they bought in an SD? What was what was the cracker?

Community, Calls, And Shared Learning

SPEAKER_00 28:44

They actually were. I think the b the biggest holdback was probably me on my thoughts of what everyone would think about the way stuff was was being changed. It was it was me that was probably holding stuff back because everyone's took to it really well. Like um, the days that I'm not on side, I get a detailed, a detailed walkthrough of the job at the end of each day, yeah. So that I'm kept in the loop about everything. I know if maybe I do need to nip over to to drop something off so nothing's held up, then that's that's fine. Um they love our Thursday meetings too as well. Yeah, they actually they'd be on to me if if I hadn't done if I hadn't done it yet. Yeah. So it'll be on to me about what about the Thursday meeting. So they love that too, and it's it just everyone's runs much more smoothly now.

SPEAKER_02 29:23

And what would you say is the biggest difference, sir? So about the meetings, what I know I kind of know the answer to this, but I want to see I'm gonna say kind of put you on the spot. So what do you think that is that makes the difference between the connection between you and the team? What is the one thing that's improved it?

SPEAKER_00 29:36

Communication, 100% being able to communicate things between each other, yeah. Rather than letting stuff build up and build up and build up, which has happened before when stuff builds up, yeah, it just it it never works out. But see if you something can get nipped on the butt straight away, you can be talking about it gets sorted there and then, and everyone's a lot happier.

SPEAKER_02 29:51

Yeah, you've done your own work and talk about talk about the the the Tuesday calls as well. Obviously, that's a big part of your week. Yeah, you're a guy again, you're a guy of routine, you never miss a call. Uh, there's times I've had to change a call you haven't been happy about. But like that's infer like you're a guy of routine, but talk me through the Tuesday call. So obviously, you have your plan in the programme that's bes totally bespoke, tailored between me and you. That changes all the time. You come to the Night Day, we change it and everything else. Talk about the Tuesday call and they touch on maybe the community, but what were the calls first? So, what how do you benefit from that or what do we sort of go to?

SPEAKER_00 30:27

The Tuesday calls is usually stuff that uh gets brought up that I didn't re what that I might not have been aware of. That was that was an issue. That's usually when that comes up, because it's not something I specifically came to mark the to try and get guys or to try and get help with. It's something that he's bringing to us that maybe somebody else has had an issue with, and you're helping them through it, and then you realise okay, I actually need help with that too. So that they're brilliant, like they're brilliant at helping me realise stuff that I didn't realise were issues and need work done. Yeah, um, so they're really important. A lot of the time um it can be something that maybe I've brought up brought up recently as well, and then that gets highlighted. During the call you go in the call talking about me.

Family Life, Headspace, And Calm

SPEAKER_02 31:06

Yeah, they're not they're not done by accident, yeah. There's a lot of work was into them. Yeah, so like yeah, so you enjoy the Tuesday calls. What about you touched on hearing what other people are going through? So obviously, there's uh on top of again of what the the one-to-one stuff is there's a community there of guys. So when we do meetups, we're gonna be doing more meetups this year, more regular stuff, obviously, as as the community grows. But talk about the guys in the programme. Obviously, even do work with some of the guys, you said you know you've built good relationships there off that. So talk about that if you don't mind.

SPEAKER_00 31:35

Yeah, no, the community's great. Yeah, it's all it's all just business owners in the same position that I was in at different stages throughout their business, and it's it's great to see. Like everyone cut everyone talks can talk about their problems in there too, and you get other ideas of other two other people. And then I've actually done work for um I've got I've got work off one of the um Mark's clients in there too, and we're starting to build a relationship with another client about doing projects together in the future.

SPEAKER_02 31:58

Yeah, 100%. Um, and in terms of that, like that guy, people as a hesitation of people in a community where it's like other tradesmen that see it as competition, but in fact, there's other people in the program who have the same landscape and business garden, like you know, and it couldn't be more from the opposite of competition. Yeah, these are actually working off each other and helping helping each other out that way. So that's that's what that community was sort of all about because there's a lot of a lot of again, it's all about beliefs, standards, attitudes, behaviours, and especially in in this country, it's you know, people are very guarded, people are, and like I'm sure like you've had those challenges yourself about sharing things and everything else, but obviously the community is very different. Have you ever felt like there's anything you couldn't share or you had to sort of hold back from anybody or anything? No, that's classic, and because that's one thing I always get that sort of feedback of is uh like a concern of competition or anything like that, but like we do things so differently in here, and there's obviously so much more thickers, there's enough to go around everybody, you know. I mean everybody can win and playing off each other, like so almost that sort of cliche saying that you're stronger together, and it it is true, like you are. Um Okay, so talk about personally again. We'll just sort of start to wrap it up then. What impact we talked about the team, we talked about you, the business owner. Talk about um, and you again you've already touched on it, what impact has it had on family life, what impact has it had on you know outside of the business and everything else? What's the what's the biggest difference? Does anybody else notice a difference in you personally or what's well I'm I'm about a bit more instead of saying you're van driving down the road?

SPEAKER_00 33:34

Yeah, and uh I don't well that it that's it, yeah. Yeah. Well I know for me, like for me a lot more relaxed too as well, because I'm not I'm not every week I'm not thinking about all the stuff that I haven't haven't got done. Yeah, do you know what I mean? All the people I need to get back to you. Everything's everyone's so clear in front of me because the system's process in place. I've got Amy on the book as team, I know what needs done when, rather than just flicking through a notepad going, I haven't priced that one yet, and then Tim Hell again.

Identity Shift: Tradesman To Owner

SPEAKER_02 33:58

Yeah, I know because like that's what I'm saying, I've been there, so it's like you're busy and then you're home, but when you're home, you're not really home, your head's in a different planet. Do you know what I mean? And being able to have that off switch, where do you think now I can't well you already touched on it there? Where do you think now that you you're able to actually turn that switch off? Like, what do you think is testament to that?

SPEAKER_00 34:17

Where do you think it's so it's all the systems and processes that we've put in place to keep everything in line and keep everything within those work hours and stuff? It's funny, I remember when I was talking to you the first time um about coming on, and you were talking systems and processes. I couldn't tell you what systems and processes was because there was none, they were non-existent.

SPEAKER_02 34:32

Yeah, I know, and it's a common that we do have I do have a bit of a the onboarding process. It's even changed since you've been on board, it's constantly evolving. But but whenever I ask people questions, what about this? Do you have no, no, no, and like, but that's it's the norm. Yeah, that's not like a a criticism. That's like that's why people are coming to me, and that's why you know, especially in this country, like it's um like where we are, even in North Ireland, Northern Ireland, UK wide, like there's very few of this going on, it's just everyone's sort of stuck on their ways. Um, so looking over this, we'll sort of finish off in a few bits. Looking over the last year, again, tough question for some people to ask. You'll you'll be used to getting asked this question now on our reviews and stuff, but what are you most proud of yourself personally? So there's no point in me saying how great you are. Like, what are you most proud of? The outcome of what you've done so far, because we're only still in the middle of the journey.

SPEAKER_00 35:19

It's hard to put in a figure on exactly one thing, like it just how how much we've actually changed. That's what I'm most proud of, is how much we've actually changed as a business. It's it's a business now, it wasn't a business before, it was it was a job for me. It was a full-time, really stressful and frustrating job before, and and it's not anymore.

SPEAKER_02 35:38

Like, yeah, but even like now you're you're going through a rebrand, you know, like you're you've changed everything away the business.

SPEAKER_00 35:46

But like everyone's transformed so much that we're we're changing the look on the business.

Handling Problems And Ownership

SPEAKER_02 35:50

You've even grew out of your logo, like it's everything has changed. That's insane. Um but uh if one um what would you say? Obviously, there's a cost associated with the investment and everything coming on board. So you were with me for six months initially, you've signed up again for another year. I have no doubt that that'll just continue on. And the reason for that is because, like, what do you oh I'll just sort of I don't know whether you want to change that around or not, like but what would you say? Obviously, we went through the whole process. What more is there to do? What would you see the biggest benefit is now in having that support there? So, like wake to wake, day to day, what do you see the biggest benefit from it as it stands now? Obviously, we've talked about the whole process of you've completely outgrew what what you know the person you became and the business increasing. But what about now, just as sort of like a more of an ongoing process? What's the biggest benefit you see from us working together now?

SPEAKER_00 36:44

Is it is it continued support because in in business you're you're never done dealing with problems that do come up, no matter how great everything is, there is going to be issues that come up, and it's just it's great to have that person to bounce ideas off and and ask for assistance on how how to go about certain things. Yeah. Because there's things that have come up that I've maybe never experienced before. Um, like as I said, it was just like a lot of people a lot of people like me are just guys who were on the toes and then they've accidentally accidentally made a business. And um it's knowing what to do in those situations and be able to get the advice on them is why I continue staying on and what to do in an unfamiliar territory, like when I when I've when I've got I've got these teams of subcounters com coming out, like how to just how what process to have for them.

SPEAKER_02 37:28

Something I've never had, even putting the contracts in place and things like that, it's just you know everything's there. What about even the smaller stuff? Like I know again, like you mentioned, this is construction, a phone call, somebody not turning up, changes everything. Like talk about problems before you had that support network there and being on board. Do the problems now? Do they like maybe even the same problem then, like even something we touched on yesterday, or a problem so a problem what it would be then, the same problem now, is does it have the same impact on the business? No, yeah, and what's different about it, maybe like because obviously you come up to me with a problem, but have a conversation, nine times out of ten, you came to me like in a panic, and then is the problem never like a sort of bad or whatever it seems to be.

SPEAKER_00 38:15

And a lot of what we we do look look at as well is how like how to look at problems and realize that they're they're partially your fault or maybe entirely your fault. Ownership, yeah. Ownership taking ownership of the problems, and because if a problem keeps happening, it's it's more than likely probably probably you that's that's the issue here. Like there's a way to get around around it so it doesn't keep happening.

Who This Programme Is For

SPEAKER_02 38:35

Yeah, and a lot of that times it is just that sort of digging deep enough, and I'll say to you, you know, sometimes like you'll come to me with an issue and it's like this is the problem, this is the problem. Damn, what happened here? Yeah, but then it gradually just gets quieter and quieter, yeah. Okay, you know, I think it's my fault. You know, and like that's again, that's just business. So look, we'll wrap it up. So just do a bit of like reflection on this. So I think it's obvious, but do you feel you made the right decision on coming on board? Yeah, 100%. So sign up in another year. That's that's a person to put what would you say to um well? Let's ask a different question because they're kind of obvious questions. Who is this program for? And then another question, who who is not suited to this program? Because not everybody comes on board, not everybody should be on the program. So yeah, what kind of person is this right for?

SPEAKER_00 39:26

Somebody who feels like they're they're stuck in the same the same stuff day to day, they're not progressing their business anywhere, they're unhappy with the amount of time that they have. Um they just want to get it to a healthier position, it's more more enjoyable and more suits their lifestyle better. Brilliant, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 39:42

And who's it not right for? Because obviously, we talked about like we have those tough conversations all the time. Um, the reason for your success is because you implement everything so well. Who is this not a fit for?

SPEAKER_00 39:53

Somebody's not willing to put the work in. Um because there is at the start when you're when you're bringing on all these systems and and and things you need to implement in your business, you it does get almost more work at the start that they implement it, but then it pays off instantly when it's implemented and when it's worked out. But you do have to put the work in to um to develop each thing for your business.

SPEAKER_02 40:12

And even like to have that open mind, like one thing that you take on, like there's many people I would give the same advice to, and you know, they're hesitant, but you know, having an open mind is absolutely crucial. Yeah, what would you say to somebody then um sitting where you are a year ago listening to this right now, if who's maybe sitting on the fence or unsure of like maybe even coming on board, or maybe they haven't spoken to me yet, or you know, they've been engaging for a long time and they're they're they're struggling with those things you say. What what would be your advice to that person?

SPEAKER_00 40:41

I I came on the programme when there wasn't any of these interviews around anything about no no no proof, no planned feedback, nothing. Yeah, and I I I took the risk for you.

Results, Recommitment, And Close

SPEAKER_02 40:51

And was it a good decision? Yeah, it was a great decision. Absolutely fantastic. So, look, to close this out, everything we set out to achieve inside the blueprint has been earned here. So, like to summarize that, like the the pillars that we that I preach all the time time, profit control, like you've achieved them, and all we're doing now is is just doubling down on that and just really going and just getting more and more out of the business and life. So, again, you've moved away from the small jobs you didn't enjoy into the higher quality projects, you've built structure around the business, you've reclaimed your life, your time, you've improved your profitability, and most important, you're in full control of business because you're sitting here in a studio and I talking to me, and the business is is is operating, the phone's not ringing, and you know, so look, fair play to you. But look, again, you came in with a six month as a six-month client, you made the commitment, you've signed up for another year. That decision probably tells you more than anything else. Um more than numbers are recruited or what I'm telling you talking to a camera, but it isn't hype, it's not quick wins, it's not motivation. Uh, it's about building the foundations properly, earning the outcome. And like Dan, fair play to you, like I say, you done the work. You you came to me, you knew exactly what you wanted. Well, even then, you kind of had an idea of what you wanted. We mapped it all out, but you're the guy that executed it, and uh, look, credit to you. You're you're you're one of the best achieving clients we'll have on board, and that that comes down to you. So, look, appreciate you coming in and sharing the journey. And uh yeah, get back to work. Thank you.