Phil Kerr was overworked, frustrated…angry. He was running a seven-day-a-week business that had plateaued, barely paying himself, and missing time with his young family. The breaking point? An honest drawing from his four-year-old son: a picture of his dad as an angry man.

That moment changed everything. Phil realised something had to give. He couldn’t just keep working harder; he needed to work smarter and lead differently.

Fast-forward to today and Phil has transformed not only himself but also Minibeasts Enterprises, the business that ships millions of crickets, mealworms, and rodents to pet stores and zoos across Australia every year. With new systems, stronger leadership, and a renewed focus on culture, Phil turned a struggling operation into a thriving, national enterprise.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔨 How uncovering blind spots can transform leadership and decision-making.
🔨 The systems that turn a struggling business into a thriving national supplier.
🔨 Why personal growth is often the key to business growth.
🔨 How redefining culture lifts team standards and performance.
🔨 Why hiring for mindset matters more than hiring for skills.
🔨 How becoming more present creates stronger family and business connections.

Check out the incredible business of Minibeasts Enterprises: https://minibeastsenterprises.com.au/

… 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.

The language we use as parents plays a critical role in shaping a child’s mindset, self-belief, and relationship with challenge.

Every time we speak to our kids, we’re either setting them up to grow or teaching them to avoid challenge. It’s not about being perfect parents. It’s about becoming more aware.

From “you’re so smart” to “you tried your best,” we unpack the unintended messages hiding in everyday praise. Whether your kids are little or already grown, the words you choose today could shape their self-belief for years to come.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔨 Language shapes a child’s mindset more than most parents consciously realise.
🔨 Praising effort builds resilience; praising talent can unintentionally limit confidence.
🔨 Children interpret tone and repetition, not just the words being spoken.
🔨 Avoid labels that suggest fixed ability; highlight perseverance and strategic thinking instead.
🔨 Encouragement should focus on progress, not just outcomes or personality traits.
🔨 Small shifts in language can lead to lifelong changes in self-belief.

… 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.

Too many tradies burn out trying to be everything at once – accountant, lawyer, marketer, and still a hands-on business owner – and it’s costing them time, money, and growth.

The smartest operators build a “power team” of professionals who protect their business, unlock opportunity, and keep them focused on what they do best.

There are two layers of support every growing trades business needs: trusted advisors (accountant, financial planner, solicitor, coach) and go-to specialists (brokers, marketers, IT, industry bodies).

Together, they help you stay compliant, plan ahead, and avoid costly mistakes, and you gain clarity and confidence to make better decisions. Start by auditing who’s already in your corner, fill the gaps, and upgrade where needed.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔨 Surround yourself with experts so you can play to your strengths.
🔨 The right power team turns chaos into clarity and confidence.
🔨 Invest in advice now to unlock massive future growth and freedom.
🔨 Upgrade your team as you grow – loyalty shouldn’t limit your opportunities.
🔨 Free advice from poor sources is often the most expensive mistake.
🔨 Audit your current crew, fill the gaps, and leverage expert support.

… 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.

When something goes wrong in your business, what’s your first reaction? Do you spiral into self-doubt, or ask yourself what you can learn from this? That instant response reveals your mindset …and it’s either propelling your business forward or holding it back.

Today, we dive into one of the most powerful concepts in business psychology: fixed versus growth mindset. It’s not just theory. It’s the reason some business owners thrive while others stay stuck.

We unpack how your mindset impacts your skills, resilience, relationships and results – and what to do about it if you’re serious about changing your trajectory.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔨 Your mindset shapes how you respond to setbacks, challenges, and criticism.
🔨 Mindset isn’t binary – you can be fixed in one area, growth in another.
🔨 Feedback isn’t personal – it’s information to help you level up and grow.
🔨 Setbacks aren’t proof you’ve failed; they’re data to guide your next move.
🔨 Language like “I can’t” or “I’m not good” reveals mindset traps.
🔨 Shifting from fixed to growth starts with awareness of your inner dialogue.

… 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.

True growth in business often starts with personal transformation. By facing his own struggles head-on, from burnout to self-doubt, Shaun Bates became a stronger leader, husband, and father, proving that the most powerful changes happen from the inside out.

Shaun opens up about the messy, honest road to building Elk Electrical into a thriving Gold Coast trade business. He shares how coaching helped him stop drowning in admin, build his ground crew, and gain the confidence to step off the tools.

But more than that, Shaun reflects on the personal battles; at home, alcohol and substance habits, and identity evolution, that quietly shaped his journey as a man and a business owner.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔨 Growth in business only happens when you grow personally as well.
🔨 Struggling at home and work doesn’t mean you’re failing, it’s feedback.
🔨 Hiring admin was the turning point that freed Shaun to lead.
🔨 Alcohol felt like a release but was silently holding everything back.
🔨 Coaching gave Shaun structure, self-belief and the tools to scale sustainably.
🔨 You can’t outgrow your problems if you’re not willing to face them.

… 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.

Join us as we relive the energy, connection, and clarity that came out of Pravar’s recent Lifestyle Mastermind & Awards event on Hamilton Island. We celebrated the real growth – both personal and professional – of the best trades business owners in the country.

For those of you who weren’t in the room, today’s episode is the next best thing. You’ll hear about the awards, the heroes’ journeys, the big moments, and a few surprises too – including fireworks and a hot seat session that’s been years in the making.

It’s more than an awards night. It’s a moment to reflect, to reconnect, and to recharge.

This year, we gave out 5 of our coveted awards:

👉The Community Award was given to Adrian Kowal of Kowelec Electrical. He has been with us for 5 years and has a heart of gold for every single guy in the group. Always there to support others after he himself experienced life-changing support from the group when he needed it. Listen to his episode (Ep49) here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3O033OrjbYCDq73NhZ4rm3

👉The Bevan Award was given to Mitch Copp of Copper Electrical. He went from chaos and confusion to living a life of integration, where each area of his life is enabling growth and expansion. Listen to his episode (Ep65) here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3r6KUtAfxfe5Rm480JLmiS

👉 The Transformation Award was given to Frank Virtu of RFV Property Services. He went from working 60-80 hour weeks to hiring a team, getting an office, quitting smoking, showing up for his kids events, taking a 6-week holiday to Italy and being in the healthiest version of himself yet. Listen to his episode (Ep43) here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oOtC35ImTllZzZ1EVOz9m

👉The Breakthrough Award was given to Grant Hateley from Hateley Construct. He saw a mindset, leadership and business breakthrough in the last 12 months that took him to a $1.36M net turnaround and now calls himself “the confident businessman” now.

👉 The Excellence Award was given to Gerard Ryan from Rycon Construction. He didn’t settle for being complacent and buckled down to go from $3.5M in revenue to $14.6M in revenue, cleaning up at the Queensland Master Builder Awards, getting out of debt and being a role model to his kids.

Congratulations guys!

… 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.

When customers say, “You’re too expensive,” that gnawing temptation to shave a few dollars off your quote can feel irresistible. In markets crowded with lowball offers and shrinking margins, discounting seems like the only way to survive. But, even a small discount can slice a huge amount from your profit.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real maths of discounting – and why caving on price can quietly destroy your bottom line. Because in a race to the bottom, no one wins. If you’re tired of feeling forced to drop your pants just to land a job, we’ll show you there’s a better way.

We encourage you to go back to these three pricing episodes:

• The Most Costly Pricing Mistakes You Can Make in a Trades Business https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UJ8onXmv2NabVnNgPrGyx?si=cabcf5bd4e004b73
• How to Adjust Your Prices as Your Business Grows… Without Losing Customers (Pricing Part 2) https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NYi3paURCiPgGWZCqUSBG?si=4e25928ff523411f
• What You Need to be Charging in Your Trades Business (Pricing Part 3) https://open.spotify.com/episode/11lRyLnIMJ86EMBJ8bvRld?si=90fd4eafc37a40f4

In this episode you’ll learn:
🔨 Competing only on price guarantees everyone eventually loses, including your business.
🔨 Customers often compare quotes without understanding scope differences and true value.
🔨 You must clearly demonstrate capability to justify your pricing with confidence.
🔨 Realign project scope to fit budgets instead of reducing your quoted price.
🔨 Protecting your profit margin ensures your business remains healthy and sustainable.
🔨 Avoid racing to the bottom; educate clients on real costs and quality.

… 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.

You’ve done the hard yards of selling the job to a client. You’ve planned it to perfection and teed up the crew. But just when you think you’re off the tools for good, the phone starts ringing. Again. And again. And again. It’s like you’ve built a business… just to answer questions from your team all day.

It’s not because they’re incompetent. It’s often because they’re missing the full picture. And that missing piece? That’s on you.

Today we unpack why tradies get stuck being the go-to for every little decision and how to finally stop being the bottleneck. It all comes down to four key elements—scope, materials, time, and boundaries. It’s so you can hand over jobs with confidence and win back your freedom.

In this episode you’ll learn:

🔨 Clarity around scope eliminates confusion and drastically reduces unnecessary phone calls.
🔨 Proper handovers transfer knowledge, not just responsibility, to the ground crew.
🔨 Most mistakes stem from missing information, not poor skills or bad intent.
🔨 Without boundaries, the crew defers every decision, creating a bottleneck at the top.
🔨 Time expectations must include both deadlines and realistic, broken-down milestones.
🔨 Vague assumptions cost money – be explicit about inclusions, exclusions, and client agreements.

… 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.