What does it really take to build a successful business when there are no guarantees?

In this episode, Mick sits down with Mark Deacon to unpack the often unseen side of growth resilience, uncertainty, discipline, and the long stretches where effort comes long before reward.

This is not a story about overnight success or shortcuts. It's a practical conversation about staying in the game when outcomes aren't guaranteed, and why that mindset matters deeply for builders and business owners navigating pressure, risk, and responsibility.

Connect with Mark Deacon:
Website: https://archix.ai/en & https://www.canibuild.com/en-us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canibuildapp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canibuild/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@canibuild2020

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/Pr0nKE7kzho

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

In this episode, Mick Hawes is joined by Rebekah Tucker, CEO of Sandler Training Australia & New Zealand, to unpack why sales feels so difficult for builders — and why it's rarely about price, confidence, or closing techniques.

This conversation explores a powerful shift: builders don't struggle with sales because they lack skill, but because they've been taught to pitch instead of listen. Rebekah explains how buyer psychology, trust, and better questions lead to calmer conversations, less price resistance, and better-fit clients.

Connect with Rebekah Tucker:
Website: https://sandler.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandlertraining/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandlertraining/
Twitter: https://x.com/SandlerTraining
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sandlerworldwide

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/hbNVIboC05M

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Mick dives deeper into the real mechanics of pricing with globally respected business author and advisor Andrew Griffiths.

You'll hear why holding prices steady while costs rise is one of the fastest ways to silently destroy profit, and how small, well-explained pricing adjustments can actually increase trust, not reduce it.

Andrew breaks down why customers don't resist price increases — they resist poor explanations, inconsistency, and a lack of perceived value. Through practical examples (including restaurants, professional services, and construction), he shows how builders can reposition their business around experience, professionalism, and certainty rather than price.

Connect with Andrew Griffiths:
Website: https://www.andrewgriffiths.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.griffiths.165
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agauthor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffithsandrew
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewMarkGriffiths1

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/WQSHEaf91MA

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

In Part 1 of this powerful conversation, Mick Hawes sits down with Andrew Griffiths to unpack one of the most uncomfortable and misunderstood topics in the building industry: pricing.

This episode dives into why so many builders stay busy yet financially stretched, how fear-based pricing quietly erodes profit, and why being "competitive" often does more damage than good. Andrew challenges long-held beliefs around price, value, and confidence, revealing why the best clients aren't chasing the cheapest quote — they're looking for certainty, professionalism, and belief.

Connect with Andrew Griffiths:
Website: https://www.andrewgriffiths.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.griffiths.165
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agauthor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/griffithsandrew
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewMarkGriffiths1

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/evAWDqCDOLc

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

Most builders think they've got first aid covered, until something actually goes wrong on site.

In this episode, Mick Hawes sits down with Nick White, Co-Owner of Trade Aid Kits, to uncover why so many first aid kits used by tradies are outdated, poorly designed, and not fit for the real risks faced on construction and mining sites.

Nick shares what he's learned supplying first aid kits to thousands of Aussie tradies and why "tick-the-box" compliance often creates a false sense of security. From eye injuries and deep cuts to burns and remote-site emergencies, this conversation highlights what first aid should look like in 2026 and why upgrading your kit is really about protecting your people, not just meeting regulations.

This is a must-listen for builders, tradies, and construction business owners who want safer sites, stronger teams, and a more professional operation.

Connect with Trade Aid Kits & Nick White:
Website:https://tradeaidkits.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tradeaidkits/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradeaidkits/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-white-b07907171/

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/JPoTDtSvsI8
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard:https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

Most builders don't fail because they're bad at marketing — they fail because the construction industry has changed, and the old way of showing up no longer works.

In this episode, Mick Hawes sits down with Jordan Skinner, one of Australia's leading voices in construction branding, to unpack why builders struggle with visibility, trust, and attracting the right clients… and what to do differently in 2025.

With a decade in his family's civil contracting business and years helping builders build trusted personal brands, Jordan explains exactly how builders can stand out, communicate better, and win work without competing on price.

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Podcast: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/crushing-it-in-construction/

📊 FREE RESOURCES:
✅ Personal Brand Scorecard → https://constructingaleader.com/quiz
✅ Builder's Freedom Scorecard → https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/CVMcriXt-_E

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

Waterproofing failures and compliance issues are costing builders thousands of dollars every year not because they don't care, but because the industry has become too complex to manage on memory and habit alone. In this episode, we sit down with Byron Landeryou to uncover why these problems continue to show up on sites across Australia and how a smarter system can eliminate most of them before they start.

Connect with Byron Landeryou:
Website: https://complibuild.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566831471416

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complibuild/#

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byron-l-b1a95414/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Complibuild

If you want fewer call-backs, less rework, and more confidence in how your jobs are delivered, this episode gives you practical solutions you can apply immediately.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/rEGVQasLCno

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.

What if winning clients had nothing to do with convincing, persuading, or pushing?

In this episode, I sat down with Ari Galper, the world's number one authority on trust-based selling, to unpack a breakthrough idea that transforms the way builders and business owners sell: how to sell without selling.

Ari reveals the moment that changed everything for him, a moment that exposed why traditional sales tactics fail and why trust has become the most valuable currency in business today.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/CUluutHtj14

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToolShedPodcast

Take the free 2-minute Builder Freedom Readiness Scorecard: https://buildersfreedomreadiness.scoreapp.com/

Stay tuned next week when we talk about it. So, don't forget to subscribe to the show to get that episode as soon it gets released. Until then, stay healthy.