Aussie Painting Contractor January 2016

Create an Amazing 2016!

Ideas for an awesome year

National Paint Disposal Scheme Keep paint out of landfill Save more time at work

More Play at Home Insurance for Painters Finding your Tribe

Decide who you would like to have around you!

www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

EDITOR Nigel Gorman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Caroline Miall CONTRIBUTORS • Caroline Miall • Jack Josephsen • Jennie Gorman • Jim Baker • Justin Barlow • Leo Babauta • Monroe Porter • Nigel Gorman • Robert Bauman • Scott Robertson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER J. Anne Delgado

From the Editor Hi Everyone, Well that’s another year done and dusted. I hope everyone has had a profitable one and have been able to have a bit of a break. Welcome to a new year with fresh possibilities.

It was another massive twelve months at Aussie Painters Network.

Our Membership has now grown to over 600, we have over 100 painting apprentices that we are training throughout the state of Qld. We kept you up to date with all the latest industry information through this magazine, bringing you all the info last year on major licensing changes in NSW, the Victorian licensing review, International Worldskills, and most recently the Paint Stewardship Scheme. 2015 saw the launch of our innovative new Painters Training Wheels, and October marked our 50th edition released to date. Next year there are a few new initiatives being launched that we are eagerly waiting to tell you all about. We will keep you updated as they happen.

There is more news this edition on the proposed paint disposal program we have been covering for some months. Now headed by Paintback® they will aim to divert as much as possible of the 7.3 million litres of waste paint each year from landfill, by making it simple for professional and home painters to dispose of it correctly. The scheme also plans to research better uses for discarded paint; from potential fuels to recycled/reused paints. See inside for all the info.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

We look forward to catching up with many of you, and keeping you across all your industry news throughout 2016.

Nigel Gorman nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au 07 3555 8010

Contents Create an amazing 2016

6

Signs of Success in Niche Trade

9

23

Insurance 10 Tips

35 37

Passion for Patina

27

Peace on the internet

How to Deal with Four O’clock and

Save time at work for

28

Payday Kind of Guys

More Play at Home

Tribes can Change the World

31

Industry Idiots

42

32

Important Contacts

43

National Disposal Scheme

10

High Rise Buildings Needed to Assess Risk of Potentially

13

Surviving the Scorches

Flammable Cladding

Clayton’s Tips, Snap

Looking Back My Articles in Review

16

Epoxy Application Bad Habits!

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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 may incur directly or indirectly as a result of reading Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine.

Reproduction of any material or contents of the magazine without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Just-In Hi Good people,

Merry Xmas and happy New Year.

I hope 2016 brings bigger and brighter things for everyone.

After 12 months of training in partnership with Australian Consolidated Training (RTO no. 31731), we have just had Paul Cowan from TSA Painting in Toowoomba Queensland complete all of his training using our online/mobile training model. Congratulations to Paul for being the first apprentice to complete his Cert. III in Painting and Decorating with Aussie Painters Network, and thanks go to Clint, Paul’s supervisor. Paul changed RTO’s after the Painting and decorating section at Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (Toowoomba) closed its doors earlier in the year. He made a smooth transition from block training to online modules, and displayed a great commitment to his studies. Well done Paul!

A big shout out to Construction Skills Queensland for their great article in their ‘Onsite’ Magazine about the Painters Training Wheels.

CHECK IT OUT HERE. It also has an impressive wrap up of the CSQ Excellence Awards night.

2016 is shaping up to be another huge year in training and the industry in general. I’m looking forward to getting around to our apprentices in the Painters Training Wheels, visiting many Taubman’s Trade Centres and hopefully plenty of other opportunities to catch up with fellow painters. There is the National Worldskills comp being held in Melbourne in October to look towards and lots afoot for us as well.

Until next time, keep safe and have a great start to the year.

Justin Barlow 07 3555 8010 / 0433 724 794 justin@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

CREATE an Amazing 2016 With every New Year, comes renewed optimism.

And while I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions that you’re just going to toss aside when things get busy, I am a fan of creating new habits.

This year, I can help you create 12 new habits for 2016.

They’re some of the most important habits you can create, and with the principles I’ve been honing on myself and thousands of readers, I can help you make those habits stick.

There isn’t any magic involved — you have to do the hard work. But if you’re committed to gradual change, you can change your habits completely over time.

If you’re ready for an awesome 2016, here are some ideas to help you get there.

Ideas for an Awesome 2016

If you follow these ideas for the next year, I think you’ll create something truly amazing: 1. Create habits, not goals or resolutions. Resolutions are like wishful thinking that fade away inevitably as the year’s newness wears off. Goals are great, but it’s hard to juggle 5-10 new goals when you have a lot of other things always going on. Instead, focus on one new habit at a time, and give it your full attention, until it becomes automatic. Then do another new habit.

After a year, you could have 12 new habits, and you’ll be a lot closer to any goals you might have wanted to reach.

2. Be all in. Most people fail at their resolutions because they write them down, start taking action, and then let themselves quit when things get hard. But what if you committed to doing the habit of exercise in January, or you’d have to give up your favourite food for a year? What if you had to pay $10,000 if you missed two straight days of exercise? Would you stick to the habit then? Of course you would — because you’d be fully committed. Find a way to be all in, and you’ll make your habits stick.

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3. Focus on weekly adaptations. Most people try to focus on something that will take a year to achieve, but you lose motivation, and what if things change during that year? Instead, focus on one week at a time. That’s a doable chunk of time — you can do a week at a time, but you can’t really do a year at a time. And each week, see how you can adapt what you’re doing so that your method gets better and better over time. Review how you did, find the obstacles, and plan around them for the next week.

4. Find your crew. You can do great things on your own, but you’re much more likely to get them done if you have a group of friends who are holding you accountable, and who you’re holding accountable too. Hold each other’s feet to the fire. Root each other on. Hold regular meetings to make sure everyone is staying on track, and don’t let your crew fall off track.

“..failure is evidence that things need adjusting. It’s a way to learn.”

5. Fill your year with curiosity and a learning stance.

Many people get discouraged if they fall off their goals or habits, but that’s because they have an all-or-nothing mindset. They see failure as evidence that they can’t do it. Far from it: failure is evidence that things need adjusting. It’s a way to learn, so that you can get better. Be curious about what will work for you, about what this new habit will be like (instead of having a preconceived idea), and about what happens when you make adjustments. See all your successes and failures as learning, not a sign that you are good or not good. With this flexible mindset, you’ll be able to weather out any kinds of disruptions, missteps, obstacles or changes.

Leo Babauta, a successful ‘simplicity’ blogger & author from California, is the creator of top 25 Blog, Zen Habits, chronicling his insights from acting significant changes in his personal and working life.

www.zenhabits.net

8 | Aussie Painters Network

National Disposal Scheme to keep paint out of landfill

amend regulations to allow trade painters to use the same system as DIY painters.

“The trade currently cannot use government-run schemes, which target households, and so to dispose of paint safely they must use commercial disposal services, which can cost as much as $4 a litre,” Ms Gomez said. “The alternative is stockpiling or illegal dumping.”

Australians throw away 7.3 million litres of unused paint every year. Paintback® will aim to divert as much of that waste as possible from landfill by making it easy for professional and home painters to dispose of it correctly.

The ACCC has given regulatory approval for Dulux Group, PPG Industries, Valspar, Haymes and Resene – which between them produce more than 90% of architectural and decorative paint sold in Australia – to add 15c-a-litre to the wholesale price of their products to fund a national collection scheme.

Paint-specific depots initially will be established at existing council-run waste management centres with plans to later establish standalone or mobile collection points in other areas.

“We are working with sites that are set up to safely collect waste paint and are in convenient locations in major population areas,” said Karen Gomez, the Chief Executive of Paintback Ltd, which will manage the scheme.

“We aim to to offer a collection service to 85% of the population within five years. This will be a coordinated, national program, but instead of government funding and running it, the industry will.

It has the support of the Commonwealth Government and of all States and Territories, which have agreed to

Under the new industry-run scheme, there will be no charge for anyone to dispose of paint at any of the designated collection points. Trade and DIY painters will be able to drop-off up to 100 litres per visit stowed in 20 litre containers.

Stage one of the roll-out, which begins in May 2016, will have fourteen sites in the mainland State capitals with Tasmania, ACT and NT to come by end 2016. Stage two will move to major regional centres throughout 2017.

Ms Gomez said there had been a lot of interest about the scheme from the trade and Paintback will ramp up information in the lead up to the launch.

Paintback also will fund research to find better uses for unwanted paint. Typically, waste paints diverted from landfill have been used to replace fossil fuels in energy consumption. There has also been small scale recycling into reusable paint.

“The options are limited at the moment, so it is an exciting opportunity to innovate for better environmental outcomes” Ms Gomez said.

The five companies signing up to Paintback are Dulux, PPG Industries, Valspar, Haymes and Resene. Other companies have shown interest and will be invited to participate.

Karen Gomez M: 0419 818 958 www.paintstewardship.com.au 2016 January Issue | 9

How to Deal with Four O’clock and

PAYDAY KIND OF GUYS

There is an old joke about plumbers that goes like this; all you need to know to be a plumber is that hot water is on the left, cold water is on the right, sewage flows downhill, don’t bite your fingernails, the boss is a jerk, payday is Friday at 4 o’clock and beer Friday is at 4:15. Managing blue collar workers has been and always will be a challenge.

foremen to be better planners, we have to help them understand that the habits and skills they used as craftspeople are not necessarily the same habits and skills they need to succeed at being a better supervisor. You can yell at them and complain but that rarely works. It takes training, discipline and a change in their self-perception.

There are lots of great, conservative working class folks who manage their life and money well. However, there also are a lot of working class folks who have a lot of drama, frequently are short of money and life-plan poorly. Payday equals beer and cigarettes is a more common action than payday and a 401k contribution. Many grew up in households where living from paycheck to paycheck was the norm. Or as Jeff Foxworthy says, “you might be a redneck if you think the stock market has a fence around it.”

Start with training. Most contractors fail to understand the real value of training. They tend to see training as a one day event where we teach someone a skill and then the training is over. You learned it now, we can quit. It doesn’t really work that way. The real value in training foremen is to change their perception of what a foreman’s job is and what it takes to succeed. Having personally trained over 10,000 foremen, I cannot even begin to estimate how many hundreds of times a foreman has told me that the class changed his perception of his job.

So why I am talking about this?

Because contractors tend to take short term thinking craftspeople who rarely plan their lives and then ask them to organize and plan jobs.

Then they become upset when field foremen and lead people do not do a good job. Lack of planning and organization are the number one factor that impacts productivity and job success. Yet we tend to promote people who are not good with these skills. So what can you do to change this?

First, understand that it is all about perception and habit. In order for

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Appeal to their pride: Most foremen were good craftsmen. They took pride in what they built and experienced gratification in the process. They knew if they build something square, made neat clean cuts, left a good looking finished product, had few calls backs, etc., that they were doing a good job.

Clearly identify the skills they need to work on as foremen and help them develop that same sense of pride in accomplishing these skills.

What skills to focus on: The most important skills that impact jobsite

results are planning and organization related. Yes, good foremen need to be good communicators but teaching communication is much harder to accomplish. Communication is an unconscious skill.

We don’t think about how we talk and listen; we just do it based on habit and personality. Retraining unconscious skills is not easy and takes time. However, with planning, it is less of a matter of retraining that it is a matter or developing a new habit or skill. It is much easier to develop a new habit than to try to break an old one. Focus on basic planning habits that impact jobs such as: • Job start up at the beginning of each job • Daily production goals • Ordering material • Making sure the next work area is ready for you • Job close out Work on one of these at a time.

Clearly define these skills as what a prideful foreman should focus on.

Create a discipline that forces the behavior change. Without a discipline you will fail as people’s motivation to learn a new habit fades before the new habit actually develops. Emphasize the behavior and discipline over and over. If your dog can be taught to sit or fetch a bone, you can change foremen’s behavior.

The procedure is fairly similar. You repeat the behavior over and over until a new habit is formed.

We do this with our dog but with foremen, we just explain it intellectually and think, because they know what is expected, they will do it. Remember, craftspeople are disciplined hands on workers, foremen should be disciplined planners. For many craftspeople, working with their hands comes naturally. For few foremen, does planning come naturally.

For example, suppose you have a problem with foremen ordering material in a timely manner. Start a procedure where the foreman is to walk the job immediately following lunch each day and determine the next day’s material needs. Call foremen after lunch each day and ask for the material list. Project managers’ emphasize this every day over and over. In a month or two, you have a new habit created. Repeat the process, work on one skill at time.

New foremen orientation: This same list of planning skills and procedures should be part of the orientation with a new foremen. It is reviewed at a promotion, the foremen is held accountable and coached in each skill until they become habits.

How to train: Half day sessions tend to work better than all day. Let’s be honest, foremen are not used to

sitting in class all day. You can let them start their crews in the am, have a buffet lunch in the PM. If you hire someone like me, the cost for a half day is same as a full day and most folks want the most bang for their buck but honestly the half day works better. When training yourself, try to spread the training out over a period of time. My suggestion is to train 1 hour a week for six weeks. Focus on one skill a week. If need be, have the foremen come in an hour early or stay an hour later.

This allows you to train with the least impact on production. By spreading the training out, you are gradually changing your company culture and keeping the foremen’s perception of their duties alive longer.

In closing, you can’t change “field mentality quickly” but by working on planning and organizational training, you can have an immediate impact.

Monroe Porter is president of a

PROOF Management Consultants.

For consulting or a seminar, just call 804 267-1688 or email him at monroe@proofman.com

www.proofman.com

2016 January Issue | 11

Do you like working outside? Wouldn’t it be good to be out of an office or not on the same site 48 weeks of the year?!

With today’s apprenticeships you can even do your theory without going into a classroom situation by enrolling a course offering online learning. You do all the under-pinning, theoretical part of an apprenticeship on your computer. These videos show how the theory component of painting and Decorating can be undertaken online giving students and employers greater flexibility in training. gr

Protection From Lead Paint Hazards 12 | Aussie Painters Network

E-learning - Quality Apprenticeship Training

Senate Told Audit of High Rise Buildings

Needed to Assess Risk of Potentially

FLAMMABLE CLADDING

• Melbourne’s MFB calls for national audit of modern high-rise buildings, citing widespread use of poor noncompliant cladding.

• Audit of 170 high-rise buildings in the Melbourne reveals more sites using the flammable and non-compliant cladding.

• Developer of St Kilda Road site believes the all material complied with building regulations and was certified as safe.

Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade fire safety director Adam Dalrymple told a senate inquiry that a national audit of modern high-rise buildings is in order, citing that the use of cheap, highly combustible aluminum cladding imported by Asia in the last decade has created cities filled with what he called “ticking time-bombs”. He went on to state the fire at the Lacrosse building fire changed fire-fighting methods and he urged all state building regulators to undertake audits.

A year after Melbourne’s Lacrosse building fire, which engulfed 13 floors of the 23-storey tower in just 11 minutes, an audit of high-rise developments in the Melbourne CBD has found a luxury apartment complex on St Kilda Road containing similar highly-flammable and noncompliant cladding that was found to have fuelled the fire at the Dockland’s in November 2014. More than 300 apartment owners at the Lacrosse building

have been ordered by the City of Melbourne to pay the rip out and replace the cladding at an estimated cost of $20 million.

The building on St Kilda Road was at the centre of a bitterly fought Supreme Court battle between developer Albert Dadon and theatre magnate David Marriner in 2013 when Mr Marriner was sued for allegedly failing to pay $12.4 million for apartments at two developments on St Kilda Road. The audit by the Victoria’s building regulator has been referred to the Melbourne Council’s building surveyor for investigation. A spokesman for the city of Melbourne said the surveyor had deemed the building safe to occupy but the safety of the cladding was still under investigation. Mr Dadon responded to the discovery by saying he believed the material complied with building regulations and that it had been certified as safe by independent surveyor Philip Chun and Associates, who also approved Melbourne’s $250 million Royal Women’s Hospital safe for occupancy before it was recently discovered that it too contained noncompliant and highly flammable cladding.

aubis.com.au

http://aubis.com.au/news/building-construction/senate-told-audit-of-highrise-buildings-needed-to-assess-risk-of-potentially-flammable-cladding/

2016 January Issue | 13

The portable, inexpensive method to prevent paint waste-water polluting the environment.

The Mobile PaintWash can also be used for storage when empty, and has no moving parts or expensive filters. It's ideal for the professional painter who cares about the environment and the health of our planet.

Protect your client's garden, and the environment by using the Mobile PaintWash!

Contact GreenPainters for more information: Ph: 1300 319 790

• • • • • • • for more details, visit our website!

www.paintershrpolicies.com 14 | Aussie Painters Network

CLAYTON’S TIPS

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2016 January Issue | 17

Find out how an App can BENEFIT your business!

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LOOKING BACK

My Articles in Review My first article in Aussie Painters Magazine was back in May 2013. Since then, over 40 have been published!

I have tried to make them interesting and helpful for any business so hopefully you have enjoyed the read. If you would like to re-visit some of them (or for those who may have only subscribed recently and missed the earlier editions), I’ve categorised the articles and dates published, so you can browse through the previous issues.

I will be continuing my contribution of relevant industry information and tips, so if there is anything that you would like discussed or have sourced, please drop me a line.

Look out next month for an article on Workplace Health and Safety in your business.

Date: Page:

The many ways of advertising: Free Advertising that Works May The Importance of Vehicle Signage Sept Google Adwords Jan Creating and Utilising a Client Base July The Value of Sponsorship Oct Promoting yourself: Niche Marketing Competitive Advantage and Unique Selling Points Graffiti Solution A Story of an Immigrant

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Oct 13.

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May 14. 31 June 15. 36 Nov. 15 30

Business expenses: Business Operating Costs Wages – The Hidden Costs

Feb 14.

Dec 14.

Professional behaviour: On-Site Etiquette Happy Client..Happy Life Keep the Customer Satisfied Personality

Jan Apr Feb Sept

Successful operation of a business: Are you a slave to your Business? June Plan for Tomorrow Aug Innovation, Technology and Progress Nov Success – Failure Mar Quick Tips for Business Oct Spam and Scam Oct

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The benefit of apprentices: Apprentices Why Up-Skill A Day with Justin

June 13.

Jan 15.

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WH&S: Workplace Safety

Mar 14.

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Men’s health: Prostate Cancer Prostate Follow Up My PC

Dec 13.

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The beginning of painting: The History of Paint Bygone Era A Brief History of the Painting Trade

And who can forget this classic: The Doorframe Debate

2016 January Issue | 19

It has been a great pleasure to advise and help many painters in their individual businesses around Australia and see them benefit from my information. I know what it is like starting off because I have ‘been there-done that’ but back then there was no-one to ask. It was even an industry I was ashamed of in the early years, but I eventually realised that I was a professional in my trade. I was running a business, employing staff, giving clients job satisfaction, earning a living, supporting my family and holding down a job where my friends in the ‘top jobs’ were being laid off.

If you would like to contact me for a chat about anything I’ve written for the Aussie Painting Contractor, please feel free to do so. There is no charge for this as I am happy to give back to the industry, what I have learnt over my long career.

Happy New Year! I wish you a wonderful start to 2016, and look forward to catching up with some of you in the coming months.

Jim Baker www.mytools4business.com info@mytools4business.com

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2016 January Issue | 21

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Signs of success in

NICHE TRADE

Following our article last month on Signwriting and the venerable old techniques still used in this arm of our trade, I spoke with Belinda Saxon of Saxon Signs. Belinda’s practice is certainly in touch with the authentic origins of her trade, where she has been able to apply her artistic talent and visual arts background. In the trade for 15 years, Belinda still derives much of her income from beautiful, traditional brushwork. Not such a dying art after all!

I asked Belinda about her career journey, the old and new methods, and being a female in the industry.

“I studied a Bachelor of Visual Art at Kelvin Grove in the painting studios and had painting exhibitions in the city but wasn’t really a ‘networker’ so started looking for something else. My partner Luke was working at a spray painting company when I did some sign writing on his Harley. His boss saw the bike and asked me to come in for an interview. I started there 3 days later and was very lucky to be taught under a sign writer who had been doing the craft for over 30 years.

“I also use computer cut vinyl method of sign writing which has become a cheaper and quicker method of producing signs, banners and stickers. A lot of sign writing companies use the computer cut and digital print methods now, very few teach and are taught traditional brush work.

“My sign writing is a mix of both old and new. I hand paint, line and scroll a lot of trucks and prime movers, in the traditional brushwork, using dagger liners and sign writing brushes which are quite old-school. I love the look and feel of traditional brushed lettering, it’s my favourite part of sign writing and probably 7080% of my work.

Some phone conversations began with the customer thinking I was

“When I first started out on my own, contracting to large trucking companies it was a little awkward being a woman in the industry.

the receptionist and them asking to speak to ‘the man in charge of the sign writing’. Occasionally I would get some concerned looks rocking up to a workshop with brush and rest stick in hand, but once I started working on the job it was fine.

These days I have a great working relationship with many large workshops, and I am just one of the workers doing my job.”

Caroline Miall

caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

2016 January Issue | 23

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Passion for PatinaUnique faux finishes and specialised paints There is just something about some finishes – especially those you would describe with the word Patina.

The word has an almost sublime quality that is sometimes difficult to describe, and covers a range of appearances, from aged, oxidised metal to time-worn layers of paint.

Faux Finishing is the art of using painting methods to give an artificial appearance to look like a material such as metal or wood, or to give an architectural or vintage style aesthetic to your surfaces. Perhaps your client is seeking to add some charm or distinction to their bare walls. Consider brushing up on those faux finishes you mastered when learning the trade. They can have incredible distinguishing qualities.

The popularity of faux finish paints — metallic, clay, magnetic, chalkboard, whiteboard paints and the like — may have a sociological basis as much as a desire for something new or flashy, or it’s our continual return to past trends; in looking to the future, we draw from the past.

Shabby Chic, Rustic, Farmhouse, Industrial, Vintage.

Some of the best interior designs frequently look to the past for an age-honed enigma or a rough, raw style that sets them apart from the rest. Patina finishes are aged or distressed or what are referred to as character finishes. These are some of the oldest kinds of decorative effects.

If you or your client is seeking to achieve a unique charmed look, full of personality, look a bit closer at some of the speciality paints available nowadays.

They’ve become easier to use, cheaper and more readily available.

The paint companies have it covered, but the overarching advice seems to be, seek advice and follow the manufacturers directions! If you’re a bit rusty (no pun intended), you can always consult youtube, where you will likely find a wealth info and demonstrations on getting the outcome you’re after. (And no one need ever know!)

Do you have any call for faux finishes and specialty paints in your business? What are your best tips and preferred products?

Caroline Miall caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au 2016 January Issue | 27

Save time at work for more

PLAY AT HOME

Smart phones aren’t called ‘smart’ for nothing. The new mobile technology is incredibly advanced these days, even compared to a couple of years ago. It is absolutely true that tablets and smart phones can revolutionise the way you do business and save you a lot of time.

More and more tradies are embracing new technology to help them streamline and automate their business.

If you’re not doing business the smart way yet, I would encourage you to take the plunge. Just think about it: you can actually utilise your downtime during the day to catch up with admin and office jobs you usually do at the end of the day or even on weekends. It is estimated that tradies have up to two hours downtime as they go about delivering services to their customers.

Whether you’re a painter, concreter, plumber or electrician, there are times when you have to wait before you can motor on. In the past, when you’re waiting for the paint to dry, for the concrete to set or for materials to be delivered, you might have just hung around for a bit and had a yarn, take a break or make a phone call.

Now you can actually take your office on the road with just a couple of tools in your briefcase and do things that you would normally have done when you got home... to the disappointment of your family. Your wife may have had dinner well under way and would love a chat over cooking, while the kids come running to Daddy to play and be with you... they’ve missed you and were looking forward to their special time with Daddy.

I know what I would do, and that’s what most Dads do, they leave the admin work for later... and then find themselves rushing in the morning or working late into the night or on weekends. Either way, you’re the one under pressure. Going mobile can change all that, and you will no longer have to burn the candle at both ends.

A Day in the Life of a Tradie Here’s an example of what your day could look like when you’re doing business out of the briefcase:

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You’ve got a job scheduled for the day and have another one in the pipeline, as you just had aphone call from a new customer. You’ve decided that you would go to the new job location first to have a look at it so you can provide a competitive quote. While you’re doing that you’ve got your team or workers lined up to get started on the scheduled job for the day.

Quoting, scheduling and invoicing has never been easier and are often seamlessly integrated with cloud based bookkeeping programs. So after you’ve assessed the job, measured it up and worked out what it takes to get it done, you grab your mobile,tablet or laptop... but first you want to get your prospective new customer’s email address or mobile phone number.

While you’re sitting in your car or in the shade under a tree, launch your software application and prepare your quote. Send it to your new prospect via email or SMS with a link to your quote. Your new customer will be pleasantly surprised to receive what they’ve asked for right away, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that you’ll already be ahead of your competition by doing that.

Copyright © 2015 Robert Bauman.

A D Hamilton & Associates www.adhamilton.com.au

Trace MY Business Written and Developed by Jim Baker

Trace My Business will keep a record of ALL your clients.

It collects the basic information like their contact details, job description and client notes but the beauty of this program is that it also tracks

• •

Where the referral came from

The quote success and failure rates

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The different advertising campaigns (what works and what doesn’t)

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Suburb comparisons

First projects vs repeat business

New vs existing revenue and projects

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Yearly and overall client revenue

• Growth analysis •

Projects, who referred them, and the referrals they subsequently provided

This is a brand new online product and like my other programmes, it is accessible on any computer or smart phone just by using your email address and password.

I am offering this to you on a 30 day ‘Trial Before You Commit’ price of $1.00. After the trial period and you like the product, the cost on a monthly subscription will only be $14.50.

So for the low cost of $14.50 a month, you will be able to access all your clients and where they found you, monitor what advertising campaigns are working and what are not, but best of all, have these records available to a new purchaser when you want to sell your business.

www.mytools4business.com/tracemybusiness

2016 January Issue | 29

from $45.00 30 | Aussie Painters Network

Surviving the Scorchers Summer 2015/16 is now well and truly underway. We’re such a sun loving country gripped by our great outdoors and sporting pursuits, it’s easy to forget the perils that can lay ahead. Obviously with Summer can come the serious threats of bushfires, storms and floods besieging our neighbourhoods, and we sincerely hope this year these dangers are kept at bay. More often it’s the irritations of a typical Aussie summer that can detract from a brilliant holiday season. Here’s a little listicle (yes, apparently this is what I am guilty of writing sometimes!) of gentle reminders to keep everyone comfortable.

Don’t get fried!

Of course we know the message of sun protection, we being Australians, but each year many of us including myself are caught out, often early in summer. Forgetting to use sunscreen, not reapplying, or thinking we weren’t going to be outside much, and suddenly you’re Rudolf the red nose reindeer just in time for Christmas. It’s still so easy to stuff up especially when, as Choice recently revealed, some sunscreens aren’t actually levelling up to their SPF claims. It’s ten times worse when it’s your child’s little face the sun catches. We feel like a terrible parent, and we probably should. I’m sure no one likes using the stuff and if you’re like me you try to avoid unnecessary chemicals. But it’s clear that the exposure to UV is the greater risk.

Tans are caused by harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and if you have

one, you’ve sustained skin cell damage and the cumulative damage caused by UV radiation can lead to premature skin aging and cancer.

Culture is literally cool

If you’re amidst a heatwave, what better time to take in a bit of culture; that is, escape to the crisp, dry air-conditioning and relaxing ambience of your local library, gallery, museum… you’re paying for it after all! They can be incredible spaces for the kids and it’s easy to occupy a good few hours during the worst of the heat. Go from the museum to the cinema and you’re set for the day.

Kids

A great time for water-play, especially if you don’t have air-con at home.

If you’re up for it with older kids, organise a full scale water fight - It’s now possible to buy water balloons you can fill instantly by the dozens, or get some super soaker water guns. Smaller kids are fascinated with the frozen stuff... try filling balloons with water, big and small for cooling sensory experiences; food colouring for visual too! See some ideas at Brisbane Kids for ice play… really simple, inspiring stuff! http://www.brisbanekids.com.au/ ice-play-activities/

Always carry water

Keep yourself and family hydrated, and get each member in the habit of grabbing their bottle on the way out. Purchasing bottled water on the run is such a waste of money, and worse still, disastrous for the planet. A large number of us are chronically dehydrated and don’t even know it, which can have a disastrous effect on our health. Our bodies are up to 75% water; more in children. Have water available always.

At Home

On really hot days, keep the house closed up until the temperature drops and use air-conditioning wisely. No less than 24 degrees will make for comfort, and help in not overloading your house and the whole neighbourhood’s electricity.

After your home feels more liveable, try the ‘Dry’ setting instead of ‘Cool’.

Often it’s the humidity that’s the killer, and this can be enough to keep it comfortable, while saving on power.

And of course, we are quite sure that we don’t need to remind anyone that nothing with a heart-beat should ever be left in a car. It’s simply lethal.

Have a safe and comfortable summer!

Caroline Miall

caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

2016 January Issue | 31

EPOXY APPLICATION

BAD

Habits!

I talk a lot about the right habits, but what about the bad ones? Identifying the things you do that aren’t particularly helpful is a logical first step on the road to better practices, so let’s take a quick look at these.

First of all, I believe good habits come from proper education and strong mentoring right from day one. If no one shows you how to do something properly and set the right standard, you’ll naturally do what you think is the easiest, quickest or cheapest. If you get away with it, you’ll probably just repeat it until you inevitably pay the price (and it’s often a hefty one at that).

With that in mind, I thought I’d play my part and pass on some pearls of wisdom to help you avoid the pain bad application habits can lead to.

The items below are what can be seen as the pound-for-pound champions of bad habits – five simple things I feel don’t get enough attention and lead to very common, very avoidable problems. Cut these out of your business and I guarantee you’ll notice the difference!

No sample board Sampleboards are the ultimate application tool, yet in my experience very few contractors ever get into the very rewarding habit of doing them.

Why are they so valuable? For starters, they represent the perfect proving

32 | Aussie Painters Network

Lint from budget roller covers ruined the finish of this otherwise beautiful floor ground for the products you use. To be honest, I’m still amazed at the willingness of contractors to learn on the job and I get calls all the time from guys in the field looking for advice because they’re in trouble.

They’ve been handed a new product and jumped straight into application without testing it for themselves; without proving what the manufacturer told them; without getting a feel for how it behaves in the pot or on the floor; without making sure the system they’ve put together actually works. It’s such a big gamble!

Once a sample board has been done and confidence in the product established, the next phase of their value kicks in. This time, it’s all about the client. While it sounds obvious, I’ve learnt the hard way that your average Joe is not an expert and you can’t expect them to know exactly what the finish will look like. If they don’t get a chance to see a sample board before work begins, they could easily have some unrealistic vision in their mind and that can spell trouble. This also includes industrial work because

although these jobs are fundamentally about performance, you can’t assume aesthetics won’t be an issue if they don’t meet expectations.

Budget roller covers I understand that cutting costs in business is often a good thing, but in my opinion contractors simply can’t af ford to be skimping when it comes to roller covers. I’ve lost count of how many floors I’ve seen ruined by loose fibres and the poor contractor has had no choice but to put down an extra coat in order to rectify it. Such a costly exercise could’ve easily been avoided if they’d been prepared to pay for roller covers with much better fibre retention. It’s such a small cost in the overall scheme of things!

If using budget roller covers can’t be avoided, consider only using them for basecoats and de-lint thoroughly by wrapping the roller in masking tape and removing. Repeat this process, fluffing the cover in between until there are no fibres visible on the back of the tape. If that sounds like hard work, you can give them a wash in a washing machine instead (with no detergent of course).

No preparation Sanding concrete is not what I would call preparation; neither is sweeping or hosing. You may be lucky and get away with poor preparation in some instances because the conditions are favourable, but statistically the odds are against you. The ironic thing is that you actually don’t save any time or money by taking shortcuts with preparation. Most people quote to do a job once, so if your preparation isn’t up to scratch you’ll just end up blowing your profits in call backs.

Adding solvent to extend coverage Trying to save a few dollars by diluting your product and stretching out a “skinny” coat isn’t a good idea.

There might be situations that genuinely benefit from adding solvent, such as better penetration for sealing applications or easier handling in the cold, however adding solvent just because you’re trying to make it go 10-20% further is crazy. Quote to do the job once, with the right products applied at the right film thicknesses, and you’ll reap the rewards.

Starting early and rushing This is pet peeve of mine because no matter how many times I say it, I still get ignored! Put simply, if you want

the best possible finish on your job then you should aim to be applying in the afternoon and not the morning. If you apply in the morning when the concrete is starting to warm and the air is starting to expand, you’re increasing the risk of developing bubbles and blow holes in the film. I get that busy schedules and access issues don’t always allow this to happen, but if you’ve only got one job on for the day then you probably don’t have an excuse.

On a similar note to the scheduling of your work is rushing. With flooring in particular, the exit point is the most critical because it’s usually the spot your client sees first. If you have rushed it, spread it thin or not taken care in other ways, it will show and leave a very poor first impression. Take your time and be sure you have enough product and patience to get out the door with a great finish.

Jack Josephsen 0408 877 256

www.epoxyschool.com

Looking for improvements in your business?

“How To Become AReally Successful Painter” can really help you.

A copy of my book is available online jimbaker@notjustapainter.com.au

Watch Business Management for Painters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OczJfZH8M4I

2016 January Issue | 33

www.consolidatedi .com.au Phone: +61 7 3292 1100 | Fax: +61 7 3292 1110 Email: contactus@consolidatedi.com.au I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for referring me to Consolidated Insurance Pty Ltd. I spoke to Scott about our Business Insurance and with little time, Scott emailed me back a comprehensive package for our Business and we saved over $1,000.00. Thanks again Aussie Painters Network for the great referral and all your ongoing help.

Sonya Baker www.bakerbrosmasterpainters.com.au

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INSURANCE FOR PAINTERS

Ten Tips...

Sometimes it seems like insurance companies go out of their way to make things confusing or to ask strange questions. So here are 10 easy ways to get more out of your insurance, or to avoid common pitfalls that could leave you in the lurch.

1. Giving up smoking.

After 12 months off the smokes your life insurance or income protection insurance can become significantly cheaper.

2. Remember your subbies.

6. Accurate Numbers.

By giving an accurate number for your total business turnover and an accurate number of staff you can make sure you’re not paying extra rates for no reason.

7. Protect Yourself.

Most painters these days have liability insurance for their business, income insurance for their health and WorkCover for their staff. If you want to cover yourself or the directors from OH&S breaches or from alleged discrimination, then a management liability policy may be in order.

By telling your WorkCover & Liability insurers if you use sub-contractors & what percentage of your gross turnover you pay them, they will usually give you extra insurance coverage for personal injury to subcontractors, which is usually not covered.

3. Consider what you do.

If you do something special, you should tell your WorkCover & Liability insurers. Things like lead paint removal, handyman work or interior design are not insured by default as they are not considered part of being a painter. Once you tell your insurer they will often improve your insurance to cover that work as well for a small cost.

4. Overspray.

8. Premium Verses Excess.

A common way to decrease your insurance costs is to raise your excess – the amount you opt to pay in a claim yourself – as it shows the insurers that you do not intend to make small or frequent claims.

If you do any spray-painting, check your Liability insurance. Some insurers will limit, charge additional excesses during a claim or not insure spray-painting at all. To see if you have limits on your spray-painting work you can check your business description (eg: Painter excluding spray-painting) or look for endorsements (eg: “Exterior Overspray Exclusion”).

9. Automatic Benefits & Optional Benefits.

5. Working from heights.

There is a common misunderstanding about trailers.

If your trailer is registered, then it will usually need commercial vehicle insurance like a sedan, ute or truck. Tools kept within your trailer can be insured under ‘Tools of Trade’ or ‘General Property’ insurance, but not under ‘commercial vehicle’ insurance.

Many insurance policies will limit your insurance coverage when you begin to work 10, 15 or 25 meters from the ground. If you do work from cherry pickers or from ropes it would be worth making sure your insurance covers you in those situations.

Most insurance policies will come with automatic benefits – benefits that are included for free, and with optional benefits – benefits you can choose to add.

Being aware of these can allow you to claim on many more situations where you experience a loss.

10. Trailers

2016 January Issue | 35

36 | Aussie Painters Network

Peace on the Internet

Can it be?

Painters online lead the way If you spend any reasonable length of time on the World Wide Web, especially if you contribute/participate, you’ll know that there is a barrage of quick tongued typists who are on the ready to pounce on anything and criticise everything that is wrong with you, or what thoughts you’ve expressed. It takes nothing to put someone’s nose out of joint, whether you touch on something slightly political or controversial, crude or risqué, or, it could be your spelling, your punctuation or grammar; or nothing that you did at all really. It is really quite fascinating, and undeniably disturbing, what will trigger the most ridiculous of abusive rants for seemingly no real reason at all.

So, sadly it can be difficult to just get involved online without the risk of dealing with this confrontational and often uninvited attention. There are ways to enjoy your online life with little influence of these individuals, you just have to be careful not to feed the trolls!

Spot the Troll!

The anonymity, it seems, gives some people a dizzying sense of wickedness and there are people who get their jollies from sparking inflammatory debate. Who knows why? Here’s an example that I witnessed just the other day. A festive pic of a Christmas tree at a made from surgical gloves at a hospital was circulating and some of the conversation went like this, only there was a lot more:

A Nurses Christmas Tree This little beauty is rolling around our local hospital

2016 January Issue | 37

Other ‘hot water’ on the net that is only too easy to get embroiled in is the flame war triggered by actual passion and righteousness, sparked for some when they get so enraged at the “wrongness” of someone’s written argument that they launch into a very personal retort… and so it begins. And there aren’t really any winners.

Flame war, lengthy exchange of angry or abusive messages between users of an Internet message board or forum. “when people engage in flame wars, they often do battle from behind the cloak of anonymity” - Oxford Dictionary

The Good News!!

I am delighted to report, though, that the original reason I thought to write on this topic, was the surprise I felt when witnessing the utter politeness, collegiality and fellowship that was present on a number of painter’s forums I subscribe to. In spite of a worrying trend of vitriol and criticism online, our Australian painters seem to persistently display a mutual respect and air of support of one another, even when they disagreed, that seems to be rarely found on the net.

38 | Aussie Painters Network

On facebook, on our own Aussie Painters Network page and group, and the Likeminded Painters group, you’ll find some of the most light hearted banter, jokes and tips. Members of these sites share their thoughts on products and processes, and are genuinely adding to the quality of the communication and community in the industry.

In a world (online) gone mad, I think this is a phenomena worthy of acknowledgement and congratulations!

Caroline Miall caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

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2016 January Issue | 39 www.mytools4business.com/mycostingguide

Tribes can change the WORLD! Who is your tribe? Have you found yours yet?

When in a place with lots of people you do not know, look around for others who look as though they are feeling as uncomfortable as you do. Befriend them with a comment such as ‘you look as though you know no-one either’ OR ‘is this your first time here too?’. By doing this you will make someone else feel at ease as well as yourself and you will then be able to relax.

In general, we all tend to gravitate to people of like-mind whether for fun, business or relationships. For me personally, this has always been easy as I have a natural love of people and being an extrovert does help too. Finding out what makes people tick, where we have a synergy, as Do you want to create your own Tribe? there is usually one if you look hard enough, is what I like to do as quickly as possible.

If you want to create your own Tribe, just set up something small like coffee with friends initially if you do not For some people this is particularly hard … have skills in this area already. Do not get too many especially if they are introverted and find meeting people to the first meeting. If it is only three to six peonew people difficult. I do know many introverts ple that you feel could benefit meeting or who already know each other, this is a good way to start. Or, you who have worked at and studied how to develop could suggest to three people that you get together and these skills and have been very successful as ‘playing the game’ by creating a structure for their each one of you brings a friend. This way you will meet new like-minded people. Dependent on you as to how networking. you go about creating this initially.

There are some simple rules to finding and creating your own tribe. It is all about being yourself – being It is important you are aware of why you want to creAUTHENTIC and REAL. Do not think that you need to ate your own Tribe. Decide who you would like to have be anyone else other than who you already are. Peo- around you. Know what your intention is for creating a ple will pick up on it if you are trying to be ‘something’ tribe and discuss this with people you would like to be there with you. rather than just you.

40 | Aussie Painters Network

Give your Tribe a name and create some guidelines around what you would want and expect so that there are clear boundaries. This of course will be dependent on your personality style initially as these are the people you will attract in the beginning. Once you have created a small group you will find with others introducing others that the personality styles will vary and bring interest to your Tribe.

Discuss with your attendees how often they would like to meet, when, where and how often so that you can all have your needs met. Would you like to have speakers, run workshops or have a get-together Tribe with no expectations? As a result of what you want to create there will then be talk of where to best meet in the future eg. home, coffee shop, office, venue?

Will you be wanting to have a single gender or mixed groups, will age category be important, are children going to be a part as a family group or Mum’s group or a professional group of business people? Maybe you might like to have a dinner group that meets on a regular basis to swap idea on what is your interest for your Tribe.

Are you going to consider if your Tribe will be online or offline only, or both? Do you want to create something that will be global or is it going to be a private closed group of friends?

Building your Tribe will work if the group comes with a ‘givers gain’ approach of support for each other. Dependent on who your tribe is the flow and authenticity will come as people get to know each other and build trust within your group.

I have been creating groups consciously now for thirty years so if you would like some help to make this happen, you are welcome to make contact with me to discuss your outcomes.

Jennie Gorman www.connexionsunlimited.com.au jennie@jenniegorman.com.au 0414 278 344

www.mytools4business.com/myhourlyratecalculator 2016 January Issue | 41

The Industry

Idiots

42 | Aussie Painters Network

Important Contacts Aussie Painters Network www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

Ph. 0430 399 800

National Institute for Painting and Decorating www.painters.edu.au

Ph. 1300 319 790

Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au

Ph. 13 72 26 / Ph. 13 28 65

Award Rates www.fairwork.gov.au

Ph. 13 13 94

Fair Work Building & Construction www.fwbc.gov.au

Ph. 1800 003 338

Mates In Construction www.matesinconstruction.com.au

Ph. 1300 642 111

Workplace Health and Safety Contacts Comcare WorkSafe ACT Workplace Health and Safety QLD Victorian WorkCover Authority WorkCover NSW SafeWork SA WorkSafe WA NT WorkSafe WorkSafe Tasmania

www.comcare.gov.au www.worksafe.act.gov.au www.worksafe.qld.gov.au www.vwa.vic.gov.au www.workcover.nsw.gov.au www.safework.sa.gov.au www.commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/ www.worksafe.nt.gov.au www.worksafe.tas.gov.au

1300 366 979 02 6207 3000 1300 362 128 1800 136 089 13 10 50 1300 365 255 1300 307 877 1800 019 115 1300 366 322

www.actcancer.org www.cancercouncil.com.au www.cancercouncilnt.com.au www.cancerqld.org.au www.cancersa.org.au www.cancervic.org.au www.cancerwa.asn.au

(02) 6257 9999 (02) 9334 1900 (08) 8927 4888 (07) 3634 5100 (08) 8291 4111 (03) 9635 5000 (08) 9212 4333

Cancer Council Australia ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA

2016 January Issue | 43

Standard Membership • Five postcode listings in our online directory • Work, Health and Safety Plan • Risk Assessment and Safe Work Method Statements • Incident Investigation Forms and Incident Investigation Form Register • Instant access to our pricing and estimating guides • Quotation guide to assist you when quoting • Personal service and phone advice • Web Listing for prospective customers to find you easily • Free targeted online marketing & advertising • Back-links to assist you in SEO rankings • Assistance with Debt Collection and Discounted Terms of Trade • Discounts on Courses • Painter Help section if you are looking for work or looking for painters to help