The Trade Den

As we close in on the end of the year, give yourself some space to reflect. Don’t just glance back at what has happened; take the time to dig deep and review the year with intent. Doing so will help you uncover valuable lessons, celebrate the wins that often go unnoticed, and strengthen the confidence needed to move forward.  We outline a clear five-question framework to guide you through the process, helping you to turn challenges into growth, recognise what truly worked, and let go of what no longer serves. Take the opportunity this Christmas to reset, gain clarity, and shape the year ahead with purpose and direction.  In this episode you’ll learn:  🔨 Reflection is a powerful way to create forward momentum and clarity. 🔨 Deep review helps uncover lessons that surface-level reflection often misses. 🔨 Celebrating small wins builds motivation, gratitude, and lasting self-belief. 🔨 Honest reflection turns challenges into lessons and lessons into growth. 🔨 Clarity comes from recognising what worked and letting go of what didn’t. 🔨 Purposeful reflection sets the foundation for a stronger, more focused year ahead.  … Book a free Discovery Call to start your journey toward building a sustainable business and balanced life: www.strategysession.com.au  And if you’re not already part of The Trade Den please come over to our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden  Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fourteen months ago, plasterer Jerry Redman was stuck on the hamster wheel: long hours, tight cashflow, confused on how to break the cycle.  Then he discovered The Trade Den and made the commitment to change.  Today, he runs a $2M+ owner-operator business, is completely off the tools, leads an eight-man high-end plastering crew, has support in the office, and is building a business that actually serves his family, lifestyle and financial future.  In this episode, we follow Jerry’s epic journey through cashflow crunches, pricing overhauls, installing back-office systems, and shifting his identity from a plaster who ‘just works harder’ to a leader who focuses on growth and profits.  If you’re feeling stuck but know you’re capable of more, Jerry’s story is proof of what’s possible when you set clear goals, follow the right roadmap and commit to the priorities that matter.  This might be the kick you’ve been waiting for. In this episode you’ll learn:  🔨 Pricing systems gave clarity, confidence and control over every project delivered. 🔨 Letting go of the tools unlocked strategic thinking and real business growth. 🔨 Strong habits and personal discipline fuelled consistency through every tough stage. 🔨 Community support and coaching accelerated decisions, learning and long-term momentum. 🔨 Empowering a team creates pride, ownership and higher-quality outcomes on site. 🔨 Strategic growth replaced chaos, giving Jerry a business with real direction.  Jerry started making the change from listening to episodes 23, 24, and 25 of The Trade Den. We encourage you to go back and listen to these three episodes on pricing:  23. The Most Costly Pricing Mistakes You Can Make in a Trades Business 24. How to Adjust Your Prices as Your Business Grows… Without Losing Customers 25. What You Need to be Charging in Your Trades Business  Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DcSmeN59hroObrubbwFZ3  … Book a free Discovery Call to start your journey toward building a sustainable business and balanced life: www.strategysession.com.au  And if you’re not already part of The Trade Den please come over to our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden  Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or  https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s that time of year again where everyone’s counting the days to a well-earned break. The last thing you want to hear about is another checklist or another thing to do. But here’s the truth: the businesses that plan their shutdown properly are the ones that actually get to switch off. They come back refreshed, ready, and miles ahead of the ones still checking emails on Christmas Eve.  So before you throw in the towel for the year, take a breath. A clean shutdown now means a stronger start later. We walk you through the simple steps that make the difference between burnout and a real break. In this episode you’ll learn:  🔨 Businesses that plan well switch off fully and start stronger in January. 🔨 Half-finished jobs today become holiday headaches tomorrow, so close them out. 🔨 Communicate early and clearly with clients, suppliers, and your own team. 🔨 Lock away tools and materials before thieves or vandals find your hard work. 🔨 Cashflow slows over Christmas, so invoice early and follow up before you rest. 🔨 Switch off properly, enjoy your family, and reward yourself with a real break.  … Book a free Strategy Session to start your journey toward building a sustainable business and balanced life: www.strategysession.com.au  And if you’re not already part of The Trade Den please come over to our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden  Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or  https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever felt that tug-of-war between wanting to let go and needing to stay in control?  You know the business can’t grow unless you start trusting your team; but the last time you did, something went wrong. A mistake on a job. A quote that blew out. A client that complained. And since then, your grip has only tightened. Fear keeps you stuck. Because without trust, you become the bottleneck. You stop your team from stepping up.  Today, we unpack how to build that kind of trust. It’s the invisible ingredient every great business runs on. In this episode you’ll learn:  🔨 Micromanagement often comes from fear, not leadership or effective control. 🔨 Past mistakes shouldn’t dictate your future ability to trust others. 🔨 Real trust is earned through capability, consistency, and clear communication. 🔨 Letting go doesn’t mean losing control, it means creating freedom and growth. 🔨 Without trust, you become the bottleneck that slows your business down. 🔨 When trust grows, your people step up and your business thrives.  … Book a free Strategy Session to start your journey toward building a sustainable business and balanced life: www.strategysession.com.au  And if you’re not already part of The Trade Den please come over to our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden  Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or  https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most business owners tackle time the wrong way. They cram more in with new systems, apps or hires, hoping it will fix the chaos. But when your cup is already overflowing, adding more only makes the mess worse.  The real fix starts with one question: What should I stop doing immediately?  When you stop, you create capacity. Then you can start the things that matter and continue what’s already working. The simplest and most effective framework for taking back control of your time and your business is: stop, start, continue. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what counts.  In this episode you’ll learn:  🔨 When your cup is full, creating capacity starts with stopping first. 🔨 The first question isn’t what to add, it’s what to stop. 🔨 Eliminating low-value work unlocks time for higher-impact priorities. 🔨 Stopping creates space, starting moves you forward, continuing builds momentum. 🔨 Focus on what delivers value, not on staying endlessly busy. 🔨 Growth happens when you shed what no longer serves your business.  … Book a free Strategy Session to start your journey toward building a sustainable business and balanced life: www.strategysession.com.au  And if you’re not already part of The Trade Den please come over to our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetradeden  Find out more about Pravar Group at www.pravargroup.com or  https://www.instagram.com/pravargroup   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.