Job’s
AS PATIENT AS JOB
From the Editor
Hey Everyone,
Welcome to the 151st issue of the Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine.
APN have had a big month with us finalising the Painting Your Career Program, this has been a massive success with us assisting 15 school students into apprenticeships so far. A massive shout out to Matt that has done an amazing job and we are hoping to continue it into the future.
Peter in our recruitment department has had a massive influx of people trialing with employers. We have 38 people trialing with employers looking at becoming apprentices and 12 people have started their apprenticeships this month. Great work Peter, you are making a massive difference for employers!! If you are looking at getting an apprentice reach out.
This month has probably been the quietest month I have had all year regarding travel. I've only been to Warwick for regional training. I have still seen plenty of apprentices at our training facility and a lot of new faces that put into perspective the more people coming into our industry. The end of September I'm heading north again, if you want to let me know, I'll be in Townsville, Airlie Beach, Mackay and Rockhampton.
In the first month, BrushHand has started making a difference to a few business owners. We are still offering the 14 day Free Trial. We are also offering an upgrade for the first 50 people that join. The upgrade includes your staffing needs. Reach out if you would like some more information.
'Til
Nigel Gorman
nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
CONTRIBUTORS
• Anthony Igra
• Fan Yang
• Jake Goldenfein
• James Giesecke
• Jason Nassios
• Leo Babauta
• Nigel Gorman
• Oliver Kay
• Robert Bauman
• Sandra Price EDITOR
Nigel Gorman
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
J. Anne Delgado
Opinions and viewpoints expressed in the Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher or any Aussie Painters Network’s staff or related parties. The publisher, Aussie Painters Network and Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine personnel are not liable for any mistake, misprint or omission. Information contained in the Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine is intended to inform and illustrate and should not be taken as financial, legal or accounting advice. You should seek professional advice before making business related decisions. We are not liable for any losses you August incur directly or indirectly as a result of
or
3 Simple Tips for Organizing YOUR DIGITAL LIFE
One of the things people ask me about very often is getting their digital lives sorted out. There’s a lot of information coming at us, and it can feel like it’s all piling up and like it’s incredibly messy.
From overflowing inboxes and messaging apps, to dozens of browser tabs and files on your desktop, to tasks and information you’d like to keep track of … it’s a lot!
So today I’d like to share three simple tips for getting your digital life organized.
With small steps, you’ll start to feel like things are in at least a semblance of order.
Tip #1: Simplify It’s hard to organize when you have a million things to organize. One of my favorite organizational tips is Simplify Before Organizing. If you’re going to organize your house, it’s much easier to do so if you’ve donated half the crap in your house!
With your digital life, it can help to take a few days to simplify:
Spend 30 minutes going through your email inbox and archiving everything that’s not important or requiring action. Star the items that need action. Give others a quick reply if you can do so in less than a minute. Unsubscribe from marketing emails and newsletters you don’t read. Clear things out a bit!
Take an hour to bookmark and close tabs you’re not using right now. If you’re keeping a tab open because it needs you to take an action, bookmark it into an “Action” folder and put it on a task list.
Take a couple hours to delete things on your computer you no longer need. Put everything else that’s not that important into an “archive” folder.
Once you’ve done a bunch of simplifying, you can move on to organizing. But note that simplifying can still be done as you organize.
Tip #2: A Place for Everything
My all-time favorite organizing tip is A Place for Everything (and everything in its place). In this case, that means designating locations for the things in your digital life.
Use buckets:
Email: Have a folder or label for items that need action (I used Starred in Gmail). You could also have folders for emails that need follow up, and for specific projects, if you like.
Browser tabs: There are so many tabs! I like Arc browser, because it has different spaces where you can keep different kinds of things (i.e. a space for writing, finances, learning, an important project, etc.). And in each space, I have folders that organize different tabs I need to save. But no matter what your browser, you can bookmark your open tabs and put them into folders. If the tabs are important, take the time to find a place for them.
Notes and documents: There’s been a boom in the last decade in different kinds of note-organizing software (Notion, Obsidian, Roam, Tana, Capacities, etc.). My recommendation is not to go down the rabbithole of trying to find the perfect system. Just use what you’re used to (Apple or Google Notes, One Note, Google Docs, Evernote, etc.). But have folders/tags for the info and documents you need to reference. Don’t try to organize it completely, just put things here in rough groups and use the search for when you need to find things.
Computer folders: Same thing with all the files on your computer — put them into some rough categories/folders, and don’t worry about it too much. I have folders for tax stuff, important documents, writing, and some work projects. Throw everything in there, and don’t have it cluttering your desktop.
Tasks: Again, I don’t think there’s a perfect system, and people spend way too much time trying to find the perfect task software and organize everything perfect. You could get away with a couple of lists in your notes app: a master list of everything you need to do (organized by different areas, such as finances and work projects, if you like), and your Today list. Whatever system you choose, keep it simple, and add things from your browser tabs and inboxes that need to be done, so you don’t have to keep everything in your head.
As you can see, I highly advocate keeping your organization simple, not overthinking it, not needing the perfect apps or setup. Don’t spend a lot of time organizing — your time is better spent doing. Or on anything else that’s fun.
The main idea is to designate a place for just about everything in your digital life. Once you have those places, take a little time each week to tidy up and put things where they belong.
Tip #3: Keep Things Focused
Finally, assuming you did the first two things … you have some space to focus. If you’ve simplified and put things in their place, your digital life should be a lot simpler.
The final tip is to focus on one thing at a time. Clear away everything else when you’re going to do one thing.
For example:
When I write, I use a fullscreen writing app.
When you do email, just focus on processing your emails as much as you can in the space you’ve allotted.
If you focus on a task, just have the document(s) or browser tab(s) needed for that task open. Play some music to focus yourself, and don’t switch around.
If it’s time to organize, focus on organizing as much as you’re able to, and then let it go and move to the next thing.
Use site blockers to block out distractions except for times you’re taking a break.
This isn’t about perfection … but if you let yourself focus, your digital life won’t feel like such a mess.
Leo Babauta ZEN HABITS
Becoming a Better Leader by Developing Courage
Fear is a natural, emotional response to distress. The evolution of humanity was dependent upon feeling and responding to fear. Unfortunately for some of us, fear is a stumbling block to unlocking our full potential and becoming great leaders. The good news is, courage is like a muscle and when you exercise courage often it becomes stronger and more natural. Here are a handful of ways to overcome fear, find courage and become a better leader.
Don't lose your sense of direction
If you are struggling to lead in business or manage your employees, it is important to stay connected to your purpose for making the decisions you do. If you lose your sense of direction, the people you are leading may begin to question your ability and authority. When you are giving instructions to someone you are charged with leading, be specific about what needs to be done and why.
Visualize all of the possible outcomes
Visualizing a negative outcome may seem counterintuitive to building courage, however, it is extremely beneficial in most situations to realize that the worst that could happen is not fatal. On the flipside, visualizing a positive and prosperous outcome can give you the bravery you need to occasionally make risky choices and stand behind them.
Be willing to do what other leaders won't
If you are surrounded by leaders that continually play it safe but you are sensing a need to take the road less travelled and make a bold decision, be willing to
do it! The fear of people around you disapproving of your choices can be crippling. But the sense of pride when you carefully calculate your options and make a bold choice that turns out well, will strengthen your sense of courage.
Carefully consider the opinions of people around you You don't need to allow yourself to be persuaded by the opinions of others in any way, but occasionally a fresh opinion from someone with less experience can breathe new life into your business. Don't let your employee's inexperience cause you to overlook the great ideas they may occasionally have. Be willing to bravely do things someone else's way from time to time and your courage will certainly increase.
Make the hard decision and say "no"
As uncomfortable as it can be to shut down someone's idea, it is absolutely necessary at times. Next time someone has an idea that you are completely uncomfortable with, simply respond by telling them no. Often, no explanation is better than a long explanation when you disagree with a person's idea. As a leader, it is alright to go with your gut instinct and override decisions that you do not agree with. Saying no to bad ideas will increase your courage, and even the level of respect your employees have for you.
As you can see, building courage is not a complicated process. Building courage is simply taking a series of small steps in your daily life and choosing to be unapologetic about doing what you know is right. Many leaders struggle with feeling courageous regardless of how long they have been leading. If you are willing to commit to taking the above steps as a leader, you will soon find yourself becoming more confident in your decisions!
Marketing for Painters: Turning Business Growth into Tax-Smart Investment
For many painters, marketing often feels like an optional extra – something you might do if there’s money left over. But in reality, marketing is one of the smartest investments you can make in your business. Not only does it help generate a consistent flow of work, it also delivers measurable returns and comes with valuable tax benefits.
Marketing as a Business Investment
Think about it: every brush, ladder, and drop sheet you buy is an investment in your craft. Marketing works the same way – it’s a tool that drives business.
When you put resources into marketing, whether that’s a website upgrade, online ads, signage on your vehicle, or professional photography of your projects, you’re creating visibility that leads to enquiries and, ultimately, paying clients.
The return on investment (ROI) comes from the extra jobs you win as a direct result of those efforts. For example, if you spend $1,000 on digital ads and that brings in $10,000 worth of work, the return is clear. The real value of marketing is that it doesn’t just pay you back once – it builds momentum over time, strengthening your reputation and referral base.
Linking Marketing Spend to Tax Deductions
Here’s where it gets even better: in Australia, marketing expenses are generally tax deductible. That means the money you spend on promoting your painting business can be claimed as a deduction, reducing your taxable income.
Some common deductible marketing costs include:
• Website development and hosting fees
• Online advertising (Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.)
• Printing of flyers, business cards, or signage
• Vehicle wraps and branded uniforms
• Photography or videography for showcasing your work
• Sponsorship of local community events
By treating marketing as an investment that also reduces your tax bill, you effectively lower the real cost of your campaigns while still reaping the business benefits.
Measuring the ROI on Marketing
To get the most from your marketing spend, it’s important to track results. A few simple measures can help you see whether your investment is paying off:
• Track enquiries – ask new clients how they found you.
• Compare job value to spend – calculate how much income specific campaigns bring in compared to their cost.
• Monitor repeat and referral work – often boosted by visibility and brand presence.
With this data, you’ll not only prove your marketing ROI but also strengthen your position at tax time, showing your expenses were directly related to winning work.
And finally...
For painters, marketing isn’t just about “getting your name out there” – it’s a powerful investment in growth. Combine that with the tax deductions available for marketing spend, and it becomes clear: every dollar invested in promoting your painting business can come back to you in two ways – through more jobs and through tax savings.
The key is to plan strategically, track results, and reinvest consistently. Done well, marketing will pay for itself many times over.
If you have any questions on how to set up systems and processes to measure your marketing ROI and increase your profits, let’s talk.
Book a free discovery call with Straight Talk Accountants today.
Book Your Call Here
Please Note: Many of the comments in this article are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.
Copyright © 2025 Robert Bauman.
Why Every Business Needs a Good Commercial Lawyer on Their Team
No matter the size or stage of your business, having a great commercial lawyer on your team can be the difference between growing with confidence and constantly putting out fires.
Whether you’re starting up, scaling fast, or preparing for a major deal, a commercial lawyer helps you avoid costly legal mistakes, protect your business, and focus on doing what you do best.
At Rise Legal, we work with businesses across Australia to proactively manage risk, safeguard contracts, and stay ahead of changing laws. Here’s why your business should have a commercial lawyer on speed dial, not just when things go wrong, but from day one.
1. Preventing Problems Is Cheaper Than Fixing Them
Getting legal advice early can save you tens of thousands of dollars later. A skilled commercial lawyer will help you prevent issues before they even appear on your radar.
We regularly advise Australian businesses on:
• Setting up the right business structure (company, trust, partnership)
• Drafting legally binding terms and conditions
• Navigating legal compliance with Australian Consumer Law and the Privacy Act
Without proactive legal protection, it’s easy to fall into traps that damage your brand, attract fines, or leave you exposed to claims. The right commercial lawyer for your business doesn’t just fix problems, they stop them from happening in the first place.
2. Contracts Are the Backbone of Your Business
Your contracts define every important relationship in your business. But too often, business owners rely on DIY templates or borrowed documents that aren’t tailored to their operations.
Having a business lawyer review and draft your commercial agreements ensures:
• You’re clearly protected if clients don’t pay
• Your suppliers are locked into clear deliverables and timelines
• Your employees and contractors understand their rights and responsibilities
• Your IP, data, and confidential information are safeguarded
Generic templates won’t hold up if things go sideways. A good commercial lawyer writes contracts that are clear, enforceable, and fully aligned with your business goals.
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3. You’ll Make Smarter, More
Strategic Decisions
Whether you’re buying a business, hiring your first employee, or entering a joint venture, legal strategy should be part of your decision-making process, not an afterthought.
Commercial lawyers help you:
• Conduct due diligence before acquisitions
• Structure deals and business sales the right way
• Understand the legal implications of new revenue models or partnerships
• Protect your brand with proper IP registration and licensing
We’ve worked with businesses all over Australia who almost walked into disaster before they called us. Having a commercial lawyer on your team means your big moves are backed by solid legal advice from day one.
4. Stay Ahead of Legal Changes (So You Don’t Get Caught Out)
Australian laws are constantly evolving. Whether it’s a change to Fair Work laws, privacy regulations, or contract enforcement, what worked last year might not hold up this year.
Having a commercial lawyer who keeps your business up to date means:
• You stay compliant with Fair Work Australia and award changes
• Your contracts reflect current legal standards
• Your privacy policy and website terms comply with the Privacy Act and data protection rules
• You avoid legal disputes because your legals are current and enforceable
Rise Legal helps businesses stay on top of regulatory change so you’re never caught out. We believe legal compliance should empower your business, not slow it down.
5. You’ll Protect What You’ve Worked So Hard to Build
You’ve poured your time, energy, and money into your business. A good commercial lawyer helps you protect your investment with smart legal foundations.
We help business owners across Australia:
Secure their brand and intellectual property with trademarks
Lock down ownership of client relationships (especially important for NDIS providers and allied health businesses)
Set up partnership and shareholder agreements that reduce future conflict
Get paid faster and reduce bad debt with strong payment terms
Good legal protection means fewer disputes, faster decisions, and more peace of mind. At Rise Legal, we don’t just solve problems, we help business owners feel confident and in control.
Don’t Wait for a Legal Problem to Get a Lawyer
The smartest business owners don’t wait until they’re being sued or facing a major dispute before they get legal advice. They treat legal support as a strategic asset, not just a cost.
When you have a commercial lawyer who understands your business, you move faster, negotiate better, and grow with confidence.
How Rise Legal Can Help
At Rise Legal, we specialise in helping Australian businesses get legally protected and stay that way. We don’t bill by the hour, and we don’t speak in legal jargon. Just practical, strategic legal advice designed to help your business grow.
Book a chat with our team today – Free Discovery Call
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified commercial lawyer for personalised ad vice related to your specific circumstances.
aussie painters network
How Do You Quote a Painting Job?
Quoting is one of the most important parts of running a successful painting business. In this video, we break down the process of creating accurate, professional quotes that win jobs and keep your business profitable.
Recruitment in the Painting & Decorating Industry
Finding and keeping the right people is one of the biggest challenges for painting and decorating businesses.
Smoko – What does it really Cost
Smoko isn’t just a break – it’s a tradition in the trades. In this video, we take a look at what smoko means on site, why it’s important, and the stories that come with it.
Work “On” Your Business Instead of “In” It
Many business owners fall into the trap of working in their business rather than on it. At first glance, it may feel productive to handle every detail yourself— answering calls, solving problems, managing operations—but in reality, this approach can keep you stuck in the role of an employee instead of the visionary leader your business needs.
The Difference Between Working In vs. On Your Business
When you work in your business, you:
• Focus on daily tasks that could be delegated.
• Get caught up in operations rather than strategy.
• Work harder, but not necessarily smarter.
When you work on your business, you:
• Delegate and orchestrate the work of others.
• Step back regularly to get a “helicopter view” of your company.
• Create systems and structures that allow the business to run without you.
• Focus on growth, innovation, and long-term sustainability.
The real money and long-term success come from working on your business—not being consumed by it.
Building Systems that Work Without You
New business owners often get engrossed in every detail of their company. While learning the operations is important in the beginning, long-term success requires creating repeatable systems so anyone can deliver the same results. This ensures consistency, scalability, and freedom for you to focus on growth.
Rethinking Your Value and Revenue
Many entrepreneurs undervalue themselves by charging only what they think they’re worth. Instead, look at industry standards and confidently charge in alignment with the market. Beyond pricing, ask yourself:
• What additional products or services can I offer existing clients?
• How can I create value so that customers naturally come to me, instead of me constantly chasing them?
Shift from pushing sales to attracting opportunities by positioning your business as the go-to solution in your market.
Profitability is the Priority
At the end of the day, the health of your business comes down to profitability. Ask yourself regularly:
• Are all expenses truly necessary?
• Can I leverage systems, tools, or people to improve productivity?
• Am I adding enough value to justify premium pricing?
Money should work for you—not the other way around.
Mission Over Commission
Perhaps the most important shift is remembering your mission. When you focus on serving customers, creating impact, and solving problems, the money follows. Don’t get trapped chasing every sale. Stay aligned with your bigger vision, and your business will grow stronger, more profitable, and more sustainable.
Some taxes are inefficient at any level. Even modest reforms will help
Australia’s tax system has come under scrutiny again ahead of the government’s reform roundtable later this month. Economists argue we could raise the same revenue with less economic harm by relying more on efficient taxes and less on inefficient ones.
Our new study offers fresh evidence that two of the most inefficient taxes, stamp duty and insurance taxes, remain harmful even at very low rates.
This strengthens the case for abolishing these taxes altogether, rather than merely scaling them back.
What makes a tax inefficient?
When economists call a tax “inefficient”, they mean it distorts economic activity by discouraging work, saving, investment or mobility. That creates an “excess burden”, a cost to society beyond the actual tax dollars collected. The economic damage inflicted by raising a dollar of extra tax revenue is referred to as the “marginal excess burden”.
To illustrate, if a particular tax has a marginal excess burden of 25 cents, it means for each extra dollar the government raised through this tax, the economy would shrink by 25 cents. The reduction in economic activity comes from disincentives and distortions. The 25 cents is a pure loss: no one receives it.
Broad-based taxes like the GST and personal income tax have relatively low economic costs, especially compared to narrow taxes such as stamp duties and insurance duties.
What we did differently
Past studies have compared the economic damage of different taxes at current tax rates. But major reforms, like replacing stamp duties with higher income or consumption taxes, require large shifts in tax rates, which can alter how damaging each tax is.
Economic damage per dollar of tax revenue generally falls as a tax’s rate falls. This raises a question: could highly distortionary taxes such as stamp duty and insurance taxes become more efficient if they were set at much lower rates?
To test this, we asked: How does a tax’s economic damage change as we raise or lower its rate?
We built a detailed model of Australia’s economy, representing each state and territory separately, with all major taxes included at a granular, regional level. We then simulated how economic welfare changes as revenue from four key taxes is increased or reduced:
• personal income tax
• goods and services tax (GST)
• stamp duties
• insurance duties.
We focused on these four because they are frequently mentioned in Australian tax reform debates, and because national taxes (personal income tax and GST) are sometimes proposed as replacements for statebased ones (stamp duty and insurance duties).
The result: two taxes that remain inefficient at any level
The table below shows the economic damage, measured in cents of lost welfare per dollar raised, for each of the four taxes. In our journal paper, we also modelled a range of different options for each tax.
For example, stamp duty currently raises revenue equivalent to about 1.1% of GDP. At that rate, the last dollar of stamp duty raised causes 76 cents of economic loss. Our results show that even modest reforms will help: reducing stamp duty to raise revenue equal to 1% of GDP lowers the damage, to 73 cents.
However, our results also show that even at low revenue levels – just 0.01% of GDP – stamp duties and insurance duties still impose high marginal excess burdens: 39 cents and 31 cents, respectively.
These taxes have narrow bases and distort behaviour. Stamp duty discourages mobility, such as downsizing property or moving for a new job, and insurance duties discourage insurance uptake, making these taxes poor tools for raising even modest revenue.
This matters. Keeping inefficient taxes but raising only small amounts may seem politically easier, but our results show it still imposes high economic costs per dollar. Narrow based taxes like these should be removed entirely from Australia’s system.
A better tax mix could lift national welfare
We also modelled a revenue-neutral tax swap: abolish stamp duty and insurance duty, replacing the lost revenue with higher GST and personal income tax.
The most efficient mix – 48% of the replacement revenue from GST and 52% from income tax – would deliver a welfare gain equivalent to a one-off payment of about A$935 per household, and lift the economic damage of GST and personal income tax from 24 cents to 25.1 cents per dollar raised. This is much lower than both stamp duty and insurance taxes, even at very low revenue levels.
States could achieve similar gains independently of the federal government. In earlier work, we estimated payroll tax, another broad-based state tax, has an efficiency cost of about 22 cents, similar to
In contrast, the GST and personal income tax cause much less economic damage at current rates (about 24 cents per dollar raised) compared to stamp duties or insurance taxes. While their efficiency declines as their revenue share of GDP rises, they still outperform stamp duty and insurance taxes.
personal income tax and GST. If the states acted together, payroll tax could be used to replace stamp and insurance duties.
The Australian Capital Territory is already phasing out stamp duty and Victoria has abolished stamp duty for commercial and industrial properties.
The path forward
Reform is not simple. Inefficient levies such as stamp duty and insurance taxes fund a large share of state budgets. Eliminating them would create major revenue gaps.
Letting Canberra raise the replacement revenue would worsen Australia’s already high fiscal imbalance between the states and federal government. That would deepen the divide between those who spend and those who tax, and weaken democratic accountability. The alternative, getting all states to raise payroll taxes
in unison, would be just as difficult, requiring complex negotiations.
Still, the economic case is clear: some taxes, especially stamp duty and insurance duty, are inefficient at any level. Replacing them sooner means greater long-term gains for Australians.
Jason Nassios Deputy Director and Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University
James
Giesecke Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, Victoria University
15 Tips for Becoming AS PATIENT AS JOB
In the Old Testament, the story of Job showed a very faithful man whose faith is put to test, and shows an extreme example of perseverance through suffering … but in my mind, whenever I read Job’s story, I am struck by the man’s supreme patience.
While living a very faithful and righteous life, he nevertheless endured one infliction after another without ever cursing God’s name. I think most of us would have lost our patience and become frustrated and angry much earlier in the story.
While Job’s patience is legendary, I believe that even the most impatient of us can learn to be more patient with practice.
Personally, patience is something I’ve been cultivating for a long time. And while I often fail, I believe I’ve progressed over the years, and things that used to get me hot and bothered now just float past me. I still get upset, of course, but not nearly as much as I used to.
Here are some tips that might help you become more patient, with practice:
1. Tally marks. This is the first strategy, if you have real problems with patience: start by simply keeping tally marks on a little sheet of paper every time you lose your patience. This is one of the most effective and important methods for controlling an impulseby learning to become more aware of it. Once you become aware of your impulses, you can work out an alternative reaction.
2. Figure out your triggers. As you become more aware of losing your patience, pay close attention to the things that trigger you to lose that patience. Is it when your co-worker does something particularly irritating? When your spouse leaves dirty dishes in the sink? When your child doesn’t clean up her mess? Certain triggers will recur more frequently than others -- these are the things you should focus on the most.
3. Deep breaths. When you first start to lose your patience, take a deep breath, and breathe out slowly. Then take another. And another. These three breaths will often do the trick, as your frustration will slowly melt away.
4. Count to 10. This one really works. When you feel yourself getting frustrated or angry, stop. Count slowly to 10 (you can do this in your head). When you’re done, most of the initial impulse to yell or do something out of frustation will go away. Combine this with the breathing tip for even more effectiveness.
5. Start small. Don’t try to become as patient as Job overnight. It won’t happen. Start with something small and manageable. Look for a trigger that only induces a mild impatience within you -- not something that gets your blood boiling. Then focus on this, and forget the other triggers for now. Work on controlling your temper for that one trigger. If you can get this one under control, use what you learned to focus on the next small trigger. One at a time, and with practice, you’ll get there.
6. Take a time out. Often it’s best just to walk away for a few minutes. Take a break from the situation, just for 5-10 minutes, let yourself calm down, plan out your words and actions and solution, and then come back calm as a monk.
7. Remember what’s important. Sometimes we tend to get upset over little things. In the long run, these things tend not to matter, but in the heat of the moment, we might forget this. Stop yourself, and try to get things in perspective.
8. Keep practicing. Every time a situation stretches your patience to dangerous thinness, just think of it as an opportunity to practice your patience. Because that’s what it take to become patient -- practice, practice, more practice, and even more practice. And then some more. And the more you practice, the better you’ll get. So cherish these wonderful opportunities to practice.
9. Visualize. This works best if you do it before the frustrating situation comes up. When you’re alone and in a quiet place. Visualize how you want to react the next time your trigger happens. How do you handle the situation? How do you look? What do you say? How does the other person react? How does it help your relationship, your life? Think about all these things, visualize the perfect situation, and then try to actually make that happen when the situation actually comes up.
10. Remember that things can take time. Nothing good happens right away. If you expect things to happen at the snap of your fingers, you’ll get impatient every time. Instead, realize that things will take time, and this realization can help your patience tremendously.
11. Teach. This is something that helps me a lot. I remember that no one is perfect, and that everyone has a lot to learn. Be patient, and teach others how to do things - even if you’ve tried before, it might be the 11th time when things click. And remember, none of us learn things on the first try. Find new ways to teach something, and you’re more likely to be successful.
12. Find healthy ways to relieve frustration. Frustration can build up like steam in a pressure cooker, and if you don’t relieve that steam, you’ll explode. So find ways to relieve that frustration in a healthy way. Punching a pillow, going outside to a place where you’re all alone and yelling, exercise, kickboxing … these are just a few examples. Once you get that frustration out of your system, you usually feel better.
13. Try meditation. You can’t meditate in the middle of a frustrating situation, usually, but often meditation can help you to learn to find a center of calm within yourself. Once you learn how to go to this calm place, you can go there when you begin to get angry. Meditation can also help you to be in the moment, instead
of always wanting to get to the future, or instead of dwelling on the past and getting angry about it.
14. Just laugh. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that no one is perfect, that we should be enjoying this time with our loved ones, and that life should be fun - and funny. Smile, laugh, be happy. Doesn’t always work, but it’s good to remind yourself of this now and then.
15. Just love. Instead of reacting with anger, teach yourself to react with love. Your child spills something or has a messy room or breaks your family heirloom? Your spouse yells at you or is cranky after work? React with love. It’s the best solution.
“Genius is eternal patience.” - Michelangelo Leo Babauta ZEN HABITS
Busting the SALES MYTHS
The sales landscape has changed dramatically, yet many people still cling to outdated beliefs that no longer serve them—or their clients. To succeed in today’s marketplace, it’s time to put some of these myths to rest. Let’s bust three of the most common ones.
Myth 1: The Market is a Level Playing Field
With apologies to fair-trade regulators and competition commissions—no, it isn’t. And it never was. The only way a truly level market could exist is if every competitor had equal resources, influence, and power. That’s simply not reality.
Larger players leverage their size, reach, and budgets to tilt the market in their favor, while smaller competitors must rely on agility, creativity, and innovation to carve out their share. Success isn’t about wishing for fairness—it’s about understanding the dynamics at play and positioning yourself strategically within them.
Myth
2: Your Competitors Will Play by
the Rules Rules? This isn’t Scrabble. Beyond legal compliance, most competitors will do whatever it takes to gain an advantage. Expecting everyone to “play fair” is naïve.
The smart approach is to be proactive. Instead of waiting for others to set the terms of competition, look for ways to tilt the field in your favor—ways that not only benefit you, but also deliver greater value to your clients. That’s where real differentiation happens.
Myth 3: You Have More Information Than Your Client
There was a time when the entrepreneur was the gatekeeper of information. Not anymore. Today’s clients arrive at the table armed with data from your website, reviews, forums, blogs, and social media. They may even know how your product compares to competitors before you open your mouth.
So does this make the entrepreneur irrelevant? Not at all. In fact, it makes the entrepreneur more valuable—if they adapt.
The challenge today isn’t that clients lack information. The challenge is that they’re drowning in it. More data doesn’t always mean better decisions. In fact, too much information often creates confusion, hesitation, and what psychologists call “analysis paralysis.”
This is where great entrepreneurs step in—not as information sources, but as information sorters. By asking insightful questions, clarifying priorities, and cutting through the noise, they help clients make sense of their options and regain the confidence to decide.
The Re-Invented entrepreneur
The era of the “product pusher” is fading. The new, successful entrepreneur is:
• A facilitator, not a lecturer.
• A questioner, not just a teller.
• A trusted adviser, not just a deal closer.
In other words, the modern entrepreneur is no longer the source of information but the guide who transforms information into clarity and action. Far from being redundant, they are more critical than ever.
WHY DO TRADIES… Answering the big questions
What do Australians really want to know about tradies?
Google’s autocomplete function gives us an insight into this question when you start typing “do tradies” or “why do tradies”. So we thought we’d have a crack at answering the hard-hitting questions that show up.
The twenty questions Google came up with are:
1. Do tradies work on weekends?
2. Do tradies get paid when it rains?
3. Do tradies get the ladies?
4. Do tradies work in the rain?
5. Do tradies get good money?
6. Do tradies make good money?
7. Do tradies really get the ladies?
8. Do tradies get a discount at Bunnings?
9. Do tradies need utes?
10. Do tradies get annual leave?
11. Why do tradies start work early?
12. Why do tradies get the ladies?
13. Why do tradies wear high vis?
14. Why do tradies earn so much?
15. Why do tradies start work so early?
16. Why do tradies get paid so much?
17. Why do tradies charge so much?
18. Why do tradies wear fluro?
19. Why do tradies smoke?
20. Why do tradies wear short shorts?
Here at Trade Risk we do insurance. We deal with thousands of tradies, but we’re not tradies. So we can’t promise to answer the twenty question above accurately, but we’ll do our best!
1. Do tradies work on weekends?
Like many different occupations, some tradies will work weekends, and some won’t. If we’re talking about self-employed tradies (like many of our clients) then it’s really down to the individual.
Some tradies are in the fortunate financial position that they can prioritise family time on the weekends and not work, whilst others might not have a choice. And some just love a weekend cashy…
2. Do tradies get paid when it rains?
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, employers are not required to pay workers if they are stood down due to bad weather unless their award or agreement says they do.
“An employer can’t ask their employees to start or continue to work during severe and inclement weather if it’s unreasonable or unsafe. Employers don’t have to pay their employees when this happens, unless an award or agreement says they do. If the award or agreement doesn’t say anything about inclement weather, find out when an employer can stand down employees.”
But what is “inclement weather”. Is a bit of drizzle enough to tools-down and head home? Fair Work does have further information on this.
“Inclement weather is when it’s unsafe or unreasonable for an employee to work because of severe weather conditions. Examples include heavy rain and storms, bushfires, extreme heat or cold, hail or high winds.”
If they’re subcontracting and can’t work due to the rain, it’d be fair to say they won’t be earning money on rain days. But the work still has to be done eventually.
So the answer to this question is potentially no, they don’t get paid, but it all depends on the award or agreement they’re working under, or if they’re selfemployed which changes everything.
3. Do tradies get the ladies?
Probably! According to this article in the Daily Mail, Aussie tradies are hot property and are definitely getting the ladies.
The Daily Mail says this is a result of their high earnings and “their rugged bodies and handsome looks”!
4. Do tradies work in the rain?
It would depend on the type of work and how it is affected by the weather. The Fair Work Ombudsman says they can’t be asked to work in bad weather if it’s “unreasonable or unsafe”.
If it’s an electrician working in a new home that has reached lock-up stage, a bit of rain probably isn’t going to stop them from doing their job.
But if it’s a carpenter putting up a new frame, they’ll probably not be working out in the rain.
So it all depends.
Another major factor is whether the tradie is employed or self-employed. A self-employed tradie is only going to earn money if they can work, so they might be a little more inclined to work through the weather if possible.
5. Do tradies get good money?
Like any occupation, some workers will make great money, and some won’t…
Whether we’re talking about a tradie on wages or a self-employed tradie will have a big impact on this too.
Every year we release our “How much do tradies earn” report. It shows that a few building trades have annual incomes over the national average, but also that some are below.
Electricians and plumbers often top the list, so if you’re wanting to do a trade that does get good money, those might be the ones to consider.
Our report revealed that around 12% of tradies earn over $100k in taxable income, so if you class six-figures as “good money” there is definitely the potential to make it!
And if all else fails, just be like this guy…
6. Do tradies make good money? See above, and the Ferrari below…
7. Do tradies really get the ladies? Apparently they do… See “Do tradies get the ladies”.
8. Do tradies get a discount at Bunnings?
They sure do! Tradies can apply for a PowerPass, which gives them access to trade pricing and a range of other benefits.
We couldn’t find anywhere the actually details what the discount is, and it appears that it might differ depending on the individual PowerPass member?
9. Do tradies need utes?
It would certainly make a lot of sense for a tradie to own a ute, but there are plenty of photos to prove us wrong!
The owner of this Holden Astra would argue that having an appropriate vehicle is totally unnecessary…
Jokes aside, plenty of tradies are moving from utes to vans these days, with one of the reasons being the added security they can offer.
With tool theft being a massive issue, having a more secure vehicle is not a bad idea.
10. Do tradies get annual leave?
This will depend largely on whether we’re talking about an employed or self-employed tradie.
For employed tradies on wages, they’d be just as entitled to annual leave as any other employed worker.
But many tradies work as subcontractors, and as a subcontractor they get paid an hourly rate and there is generally no annual leave or sick leave.
For self-employed tradies there is certainly no annual leave, so if they want to take a few weeks off for a family holiday, knowing they’ll earn nothing whilst they’re away, they need to put some money aside.
11. Why do tradies start work early?
It’s all about the weather we’d guess. Australia is a hot place, and tradies don’t typically work in air-conditioned offices like some of us lucky ones…
Starting the working day early means less time in the hot afternoon sun.
12. Why do tradies get the ladies?
See “Do tradies get the ladies”.
13. Why do tradies wear high vis?
Is this really one of the most common questions people ask Google about tradies?
Why would someone working in a dangerous envi
ronment like a building site want to be more visible…?
14. Why do tradies earn so much?
See “Do tradies get good money?” and “Why do tradies charge so much?”.
15. Why do tradies start work so early?
See “Why do tradies start work early”
16. Why do tradies get paid so much?
So many questions about pay! See “Do tradies get good money?” and “Why do tradies charge so much?”.
17. Why do tradies charge so much?
Presumably this question relates more so to self-employed tradies such as electricians and plumbers.
Ever year we see these articles in the media about tradies “earning” $200 an hour or whatever, simply because they charge $200 an hour.
The articles seem to make out that a tradie charging $200 an hour is making that amount 38 hours each and every week…
The truth is that a self-employed tradie spends many hours every week traveling from job to job, quoting jobs and doing paperwork.
How much do they charge for that work? Typically zero. On top of that they have business expenses to pay, such as insurance. It’s not like that $200 for the one hour job goes straight into the back pocket.
Being self-employed they’ll also have no access to sick leave or annual leave, so out of that hourly rate they have to account for potential time off work down the track when they won’t be earning anything.
So do tradies really charge so much? Probably not…
18. Why do tradies wear fluro?
See “Why do tradies wear high vis”
19. Why do tradies smoke?
What else are you going to do at smoko?
Maybe it’s due to stress…?
According to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in seven Australian adults are daily smokers.
Looking at young males the rate jumps to around one on six.
Considering that many tradies are young males, and statistically one in six is a daily smoker, it’s perhaps no surprise that people think tradies are smokers.
20. Why do tradies wear short shorts?
This seemed like an odd question, but according to a poll run by RSEA Safety, more tradies do prefer short shorts.
The poll results showed that 57% of tradies chose the option “as short as possible”.
Tradie short shorts
One of the reasons is likely to be manoeuvrability. A tradie is going to be twisting, kneeling, crouching and everything else whilst on the job. Longer shorts would likely just get in the way.
How did we go?
We specialise in insurance for tradies, not whether or not they work in the rain or get the ladies!
But we hope we’ve managed to answer a few burning questions. If you’re a tradie and have some better answers for us, please get in touch.
Does AI really boost productivity at work? Research shows gains
don’t come cheap or easy
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being touted as a way to boost lagging productivity growth.
The AI productivity push has some powerful multinational backers: the tech companies who make AI products and the consulting companies who sell AI-related services. It also has interest from governments.
Next week, the federal government will hold a roundtable on economic reform, where AI will be a key part of the agenda.
However, the evidence AI actually enhances productivity is far from clear.
To learn more about how AI is working and being procured in real organisations, we are interviewing senior bureaucrats in the Victorian Public Service. Our research is ongoing, but results from the first 12 participants are showing some shared key concerns.
Our interviewees are bureaucrats who buy, use and administer AI services. They told us increasing pro-
ductivity through AI requires difficult, complex, and expensive organisational groundwork. The results are hard to measure, and AI use may create new risks and problems for workers.
Introducing AI can be slow and expensive
Public service workers told us introducing AI tools to existing workflows can be slow and expensive. Finding time and resources to research products and retrain staff presents a real challenge.
Not all organisations approach AI the same way. We found well-funded entities can afford to test different AI uses for “proofs of concept”. Smaller ones with fewer resources struggle with the costs of implementing and maintaining AI tools.
In the words of one participant:
It’s like driving a Ferrari on a smaller budget […] Sometimes those solutions aren’t fit for purpose for those smaller operations, but they’re bloody expensive to run, they’re hard to support.
‘Data is the hard work’ Making an AI system useful may also involve a lot of groundwork.
Off-the-shelf AI tools such as Copilot and ChatGPT can make some relatively straightforward tasks easier and faster. Extracting information from large sets of documents or images is one example, and transcribing and summarising meetings is another. (Though our findings suggest staff may feel uncomfortable with AI transcription, particularly in internal and confidential situations.)
But more complex use cases, such as call centre chatbots or internal information retrieval tools, involve running an AI model over internal data describing business details and policies. Good results will depend on high-quality, well-structured data, and organisations may be liable for mistakes.
However, few organisations have invested enough in the quality of their data to make commercial AI products work as promised.
Without this foundational work, AI tools won’t perform as advertised. As one person told us, “data is the hard work”.
Privacy and cybersecurity risks are real
Using AI creates complex data flows between an organisation and servers controlled by giant multinational tech companies. Large AI providers promise these data flows comply with laws about, for instance, keeping organisational and personal data in Australia and not using it to train their systems.
However, we found users were cautious about the reliability of these promises. There was also considerable concern about how products could introduce new AI functions without organisations knowing. Using those AI capabilities may create new data flows without the necessary risk assessments or compliance checking.
If organisations handle sensitive information or data that could create safety risks if leaked, vendors and products must be monitored to ensure they comply with existing rules. There are also risks if workers use
publicly available AI tools such as ChatGPT, which don’t guarantee confidentiality for users.
How AI is really used
We found AI has increased productivity on “low-skill” tasks such as taking meeting notes and customer service, or work done by junior workers. Here AI can help smooth the outputs of workers who may have poor language skills or are learning new tasks.
But maintaining quality and accountability typically requires human oversight of AI outputs. The workers with less skill and experience, who would benefit most from AI tools, are also the least able to oversee and double-check AI output.
In areas where the stakes and risks are higher, the amount of human oversight necessary may undermine whatever productivity gains are made.
What’s more, we found when jobs become primarily about overseeing an AI system, workers may feel alienated and less satisfied with their experience of work.
We found AI is often used for questionable purposes, too. Workers may use AI to take shortcuts, without understanding the nuances of compliance within organisational guidelines.
Not only are there data security and privacy concerns, but using AI to review and extract information can introduce other ethical risks such as magnifying existing human bias.
In our research, we saw how those risks prompted organisations to use more AI – for enhanced workplace surveillance and forms of workplace control. A recent Victorian government inquiry recognised that these methods may be harmful to workers.
Jake Goldenfein Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne
Fan Yang Research fellow at Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
IMPORTANT Contacts
Aussie Painters Network aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
National Institute for Painting and Decorating painters.edu.au
Australian Tax Office ato.gov.au
Award Rates fairwork.gov.au
Australian Building & Construction Commission www.abcc.gov.au
Mates In Construction www.mates.org.au
Workplace Health and Safety Contacts
Comcare
WorkSafe ACT
Workplace Health and Safety QLD
WorkSafe Victoria
SafeWork NSW
SafeWork SA
WorkSafe WA
NT WorkSafe
WorkSafe Tasmania
comcare.gov.au worksafe.act.gov.au worksafe.qld.gov.au www.worksafe.vic.gov.au www.safework.nsw.gov.au www.safework.sa.gov.au commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/ worksafe.nt.gov.au worksafe.tas.gov.au
actcancer.org cancercouncil.com.au cancercouncilnt.com.au cancerqld.org.au
cancersa.org.au cancervic.org.au
cancerwa.asn.au
