What makes a successful tradesperson?
Reading time: 5 minutes
Working as a tradesperson can be a hugely rewarding career if you approach it with the right attitude. And like any other job, if you’re not that into it, it can feel more like a slog….
There are plenty of articles about the skills required to succeed as a tradesperson - whether that’s knowing the right tools for the job to being good with your hands - but there’s less advice about having the right mindset for your business to thrive.
MyBuilder founder Ryan Notz worked as a stonemason before setting up MyBuilder and Carl Goulding has years of experience on the tools. Here they share their observations on the attributes that make exceptional tradespeople stand apart from the rest. Grab a brew and read their seven tips for trade success...
Focus on the long term
Why do you get out of bed in the morning and go to work? If money is your only incentive, you’re unlikely to be motivated to put in the hard yards day after day to become a great tradesperson.
The real business killer is taking a short term mindset when it comes to money. Just like other businesses, you need to invest in order to make gains. It’s important to make good long term decisions, whether that’s the jobs you take on or the tools you buy. When you focus on the short term above all else, you miss out on the bigger picture which is often immeasurably more valuable.
Love it or leave it
Focus on what you do and how that adds value for your customers, and in turn that will become positive for your business. If you get into that frame of mind, where you love what you do and appreciate seeing how your skills add value, good things follow - including income.
Most importantly, it makes you happy and happiness is infectious. If you can look back on a job well done and bask in the knowledge that THIS is why you do it, then you know you’ve chosen the right career.
Do the best job you can, not just the job
When you are dedicated to the pursuit of doing something really well, good things inevitably follow. Dedication is the bedfellow of success and the single most important ingredient for any thriving business.
Dedication is living proof of your belief that what you are doing has real value and of a willingness to prioritise and sacrifice. This drives focus, hard work and excellence...and success usually follows not far behind.
Treat each home like your own
令人惊讶(但并不令人惊讶)的是，这为商人带来了多少倍的红利。工作结束后要好好收拾，多留一段时间完成任务而不是把它拖到明天，把东西放在安全的地方，打开新陶瓷浴缸时要小心，如果它是你的。
When customers can see that you really care, they will reward you with their trust. And they’ll recommend you to their family and friends...
Communicate
Life’s just better when people communicate well with each other. What does communicating well mean? It’s about engaging with someone even when it’s tricky or inconvenient and it’s about being transparent, open and respectful.
记住，可能会有知识鸿沟，客户不一定知道要问的正确问题。
As a business owner, proactive rather than reactive communication will always instill confidence in your clients that you are a professional and that they are in good hands.
When things need to be said, say them. Don’t hold back on delivering a hard truth just because you’re worried about what someone’s reaction might be. And don’t hold back on giving someone praise because you feel embarrassed.
Try your best to share your feelings and be clear about your thoughts, and always do that with respect. Communicating well is a practised art, and as with most things, takes a bit of courage, too.
Own every detail
Be responsible for every last detail of your business, addressing even the smallest issues as they occur. Leaning into and dealing with problems rather than letting them grow into bigger problems will save you time and help you sleep better leading to increased chances of success. This will result in happier customers and a more profitable business as you waste less time and money rectifying mistakes... usually after a complaint.
最终的结果是提高你和你的客户的满意度，从而提高你的声誉，进而导致更多的工作。这既适用于你经营企业的方式，也适用于你处理工作的方式。
Learn to swallow your pride
有时我们都会陷入棘手的情况，不幸的是，我们的情绪反应往往会让事情变得更糟。处理与客户的冲突的最好方法是等到你冷静下来再做出反应。你不应该让自己被利用，但你也不想反应过度或让事情变得更糟。在任何一段关系中都应该有一点让步和让步，陷入总是要出人头地的心态是不健康的。
Instead, seek out mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships with colleagues and customers. Value and respect people by understanding that a win for all is a better long-term resolution than only one party getting their own way.
Like any job worth doing, being a tradesperson can be thoroughly rewarding if your heart's in it. If your passion and soul go into every job you do, then all the rest will follow.
