In this episode, Simon Davis reflects on the challenges faced over the past year, including significant drops in turnover due to severe weather conditions in Australia. He discusses the strategies he implemented to adapt to these challenges, such as increasing prices, diversifying services, and focusing on quality over speed. Simon emphasizes the importance of resilience and the cyclical nature of business, sharing insights on how to navigate tough times and prepare for future opportunities.takeaways

• The last 12 months have been extremely challenging for many businesses.
• Weather patterns have drastically affected productivity and turnover.
• Increasing prices can be a viable strategy during tough times.
• Diversifying services can help sustain a business.
• Maintaining quality is crucial for customer satisfaction.
• Taking a wage cut can be necessary to protect staff.
• Investing in equipment can improve operational efficiency.
• Chasing tenders and following up on quotes can generate more work.
• Resilience is key in navigating economic cycles.
• Understanding your numbers is essential for business sustainability.

Chapters

00:00Back From The Brink: A Year of Challenges

03:28Weathering the Storm: Impact of Severe Weather

06:50Adapting Strategies: Increasing Prices and Tendering

10:22Emerging Opportunities: New Jobs and Future Outlook

13:20Resilience and Diversification: Lessons Learned

In this episode, Simon Davis discusses the challenges of overcoming burnout and rebuilding momentum in both personal and professional life. He shares his experiences with managing stress, financial pressures, and the importance of creating effective systems and routines to alleviate the burden of leadership. Simon emphasizes the need for self-care, resetting priorities, and the value of a supportive team in navigating these challenges.

Takeaways

• Burnout is a common issue that many face.
• Taking a break and resetting is essential for mental health.
• Managing finances can add to stress and burnout.
• Creating systems can help alleviate pressure.
• Letting go of control can lead to better outcomes.
• Rebuilding routines is crucial for productivity.
• It's important to prioritize self-care and downtime.
• A supportive team can make a significant difference.
• Leadership requires a shift in mindset.
• Profitability is a key focus in business.

Chapters

00:00Relaunching After Burnout

04:25Managing Pressure and Finances

07:13Building Effective Systems and Routines

08:49New Chapter

The importance of benchmarks in trades like fencing – and how to use them to measure, manage, and grow your business.In this episode, Simon Davis breaks down why benchmarking is one of the most underutilized but powerful tools for trade businesses. From spotting red flags in your numbers to improving your quoting accuracy, benchmarks offer clarity, consistency, and confidence in decision-making.Whether you’re running a small crew or scaling up, if you’re not using benchmarks – you’re flying blind.Key TakeawaysSpot Strengths & WeaknessesBenchmarks show you where you’re excelling and where you need improvement (e.g., your gross profit margin vs. industry standard).Set Realistic GoalsUse industry data, not gut feelings, to set achievable and informed business goals.Make Better DecisionsWhether it’s labour costs or material use, benchmarks take out the guesswork.Track Progress Over TimeRevisit benchmarks annually to see if you’re improving or just staying busy.Build CredibilityFacts and figures give you confidence with lenders, clients, and new hires.Improve Job Costing & QuotingUse benchmarks to dial in your man-hours, waste rates, and job profitability.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction: Why benchmarks matter00:31 – #1: Identifying strengths & weaknesses01:00 – #2: Setting realistic, industry-aligned goals01:27 – #3: Making informed business decisions01:57 – #4: Tracking long-term progress and Kaizen02:24 – #5: Backing up your business with facts02:51 – #6: More accurate quoting & job costing03:10 – Final thoughts: Benchmarking is your dashboard🎧 Subscribe & Learn More at: www.theprofitablefencer.com📲 Follow The Profitable Fencer Podcast for more insights on growing a profitable fencing business.