UpScale - Build your profitable Trade and Construction business

Being great at your trade doesn’t make you a great business owner. They’re two different skill sets, and most tradies find that out the hard way. Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: ⁠@upscalebusinesscoaching⁠ Book a free session with our Growth Specialist: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast⁠ Watch insights and tips on YouTube: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube⁠ Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/application-podcast⁠ Hear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: ⁠Success stories⁠ Live Coaching Events 2026: ⁠upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events⁠ In this episode, Leon and Geggsie sit down to talk about the mindset shift that happens when a technician or tradie starts running a business. Leon studied sport and performance psychology and has coached trade business owners for years, so he brings plenty of lessons from the sporting world and the tools. If you’re flat out on the tools, reacting to every quiet week or busy spell, and wondering why the business still doesn’t feel like yours, this one is for you. What we cover: Why a tradie’s task by task approach stops working once you own the business How to time block your calendar for the work that never finishes, like lead generation, systems and learning Setting clear goals and breaking them into quarterly, monthly and weekly steps Why “potential” can turn into a frustrating word if you never act on it Moving from reactive to proactive, so you stop having that “we’ve got no work next week” moment Using a simple SWOT analysis to look back at last year and plan the next 3 to 6 months How to get ahead of the Christmas rush, protect your cash flow and avoid a rough January Why hiring is a skill you can learn, and what to do when you think there are no good workers out there Building a team culture you’re proud of and holding firm on your standards Spotting your key players and getting clear on roles with an org chart Fixing the weak spots in your business, whether that’s no systems, no hires or work that isn’t profitable Free resource: Grab our free guide, Don’t Go Broke in January. It walks you through what worked last year, what to build on and what to fix, so you head into the new year with a plan. We’ve got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program.

Andy Wells ran an engineering consultancy with seven offices and around 80 people. It was successful, and he was close to burnout at 40. So he stepped back, rented a shed, and started working on Land Rovers. In this episode of the Success Mindset series, we visit Andy at the Adventure Garage in the Northern Rivers, a workshop full of Land Rovers, custom motorbikes, surfboards and a coffee shop out the back. He tells us how a weekend hobby turned into a business with sponsors like Royal Enfield, Motul and Pirelli, even though he had no mechanic’s background and had never run a workshop. If you run a trade business and you’re stuck planning, doubting yourself, or running on empty, there’s a lot here for you. What we cover: Why Andy sees problems as part of the build instead of a reason to stop How he handles the voice that says “give up”, and why he ignores it Stepping back from a business that was burning him out Why he chose to keep his team small and stop taking work nobody wanted to do How he handles the jobs he hates, like timesheets and invoicing, by finding people who cover his weak spots Landing big brand partnerships when you’re still a small business Filming the messy, frustrating days along with the finished product Taking on work that suits your goals once your reputation can support it What 7,500 kilometres on a bike through the Kimberley taught him about getting through setbacks Why failing and learning is the thing that keeps him moving Whether you’re a few years in or thinking about a big change, Andy’s approach to risk, learning and building a team around your strengths is worth a listen. Hosts: @erinaroxx @mitchvan_ We’ve got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program. Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoaching Book a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast Watch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcast Hear from tradies who’ve done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: Success stories Live Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events

In this episode, Erina sits down with Mitch and Brandon Lewis to talk about something most trade business owners feel but rarely say out loud: the pressure to always have it together. Mitch opens up about a tough few months, from taking a step back in the business to training for an Ironman and a marathon, and how the two things collided into what he calls the "Big Dog Effect." The idea is simple but hits hard. Once you reach a certain level as a business owner, people start looking up to you. You don't want to let them down, so when things get tough, instead of leaning on the people around you, you withdraw. Mitch, Erina and Brandon unpack why this happens, why it's often the ones who look most "successful" who struggle the most in silence, and what it actually takes to break the pattern. You'll hear real talk about: Why pulling away from your support network makes hard times harder, not easier The difference between people who work through their problems and those who avoid them Why admitting "I need help" feels so uncomfortable for business owners, and why it shouldn't How to spot the right people to let into your corner, the ones who'll hold you accountable instead of just telling you what you want to hear Why community isn't a nice to have when you're building a business, it's often the thing that keeps you in the game If you've ever felt like you're supposed to have all the answers because you're the one running the show, this episode is for you. Growth isn't a straight line, and the tradies who make it aren't the ones who never struggle, they're the ones who don't go through it alone. Connect with the hosts: Erina: @erinaroxx Mitch: @mitchvan_ Brandon: @brandonlewis.co We've got the tools you need to scale your business, automate, hire, and delegate. Book your call with our team to talk strategy and learn more about our program. Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoaching Book a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast Watch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcast Hear from tradies who've done it: upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories Live Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events

Every trade business changes as it grows, and the challenges never really stop, they just look different. In this episode, Erina (@erinaroxx) sits down with Kaz, her very first hire, to talk about what each stage of business looks like for tradies and small business owners. They start where most of us start, when it's just you wearing every hat, and work through the first hire, getting your processes out of your head, and letting go of the jobs you're still holding onto. They also cover how to build trust with your team, what changes when you step off the tools, and why community makes the whole journey easier. If you're a trade business owner wondering what comes next, or feeling stuck in the "doing everything" stage, this one will help you see the bigger picture. In this episode: What you learn when you're doing everything yourself Hiring your first employee, and why being upfront about the real job matters Why it pays to learn to fire faster Where AI helps your business and where you still need your own thinking Documenting your systems so you don't scale your problems How to build trust and let go of tasks as a business owner What changes when you step off the tools and start looking at your numbers Why business is never a straight line, and how cash flow and lead generation can trip you up Finding your purpose and why you don't need to compare yourself to anyone else Why community matters at every stage Chapters: 00:00 The evolution of business 01:57 The first hire and its challenges 05:54 Using technology and AI in your business 08:33 Building a team and streamlining processes 09:31 Growing pains for business owners 14:12 Trust, training and business changes 18:19 Vision and keeping an eye on your numbers 20:52 Wins and challenges in business growth 25:17 Community and support Follow Erina on Instagram: @erinaroxx: https://www.instagram.com/erinaroxx/ Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoaching Book a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast Watch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcast Hear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: https://www.upscalecoaching.com.au/success-stories/ Live Coaching Events 2026: https://www.upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events

Most trade business owners don't fall short because they lack skills or smarts. They fall short because they don't do what they said they'd do. In this episode, Erina and Mitch get blunt about accountability, honest feedback, and why the people around you need to tell you the truth, even when it stings. You'll hear why a coach who only cheers you on might just be keeping you happy so you keep paying, and how the right questions can help you spot your own blind spots faster than any lecture. They also dig into the money side of accountability. If your business is still small but you're paying yourself like it's much bigger, you could be starving it of the cash it needs to grow. Plus, how to give honest feedback without wrecking the relationship, and why you need to be ready to take it as well as give it. What you'll hear in this episode: Why saying you'll do something and actually doing it are two very different things The difference between people who talk to think and people who think before they talk Why honest feedback beats praise when you want real results How paying yourself too much, too early can hold your business back Why calling people out works best when you're open to being called out yourself A challenge to hold someone accountable this week (nicely) Follow the hosts on Instagram: @erinaroxx @mitchvan_ Need help growing your business? Follow us on IG for daily content for your trade business: @upscalebusinesscoaching Book a free session with our Growth Specialist: upscale-coaching.com/schedule-podcast Watch insights and tips on YouTube: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-youtube Find out where your business stands with our Tradie Quiz: upscale-coaching.com/application-podcast Hear from tradies who've done it, and learn what it really takes to grow a successful trade business: Success stories Live Coaching Events 2026: upscale-coaching.com/upscale-live-events