Aussie Painting Contractor March 2017

The Queensland Building Plan Consultations Submissions are now in!

Sham Contracting..

Offenders Attracting Big Fines!

Kitchen Renewal Simple steps to a better space

Do you have a Back Up Plan?

For you and your business

www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

EDITOR Nigel Gorman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Caroline Miall CONTRIBUTORS • Caroline Miall • Christine Delongte • Jim Baker • Leo Babauta • Lyle Beaton • Monroe Porter • Robert Bauman Shane Moore

From the Editor Hi Everyone, What a whirlwind month! In addition to business as usual, we’ve attended almost all of the Qld Building Plan’s industry consultations.

Admittedly, it was pretty disappointing to see only a small contingent of the Painting industry represented at these events – concerning when you consider that this could mean the most significant changes the construction industry in Qld has seen for nearly 20 years! We have put up strong representation for Painters, and have made a formal submission. This submission has also been made available to professionals who supported the responses and were invited to put their own names to it and submit themselves. Hopefully we have given it a good enough shot to ensure that changes adopted will be in the best interests of our industry. You still have time to do the survey online, if you want to help make a difference.

This month our #1 training tool - the Painters Training Wheels has been out and about providing free sausage sizzles at Dulux stores and training apprentices across South East Queensland in Bundamba, Oxenford, Lawnton and our offices at Rocklea. Training was undertaken in an array of subjects including wallpapering, decorative finishes, spray painting using the latest Graco HVLP and colour matching just to name a few. We’ve spoken with many painters at all locations and taken their feedback with us when we attended the consultation events with the Govt. Keep an eye out for the Painters Training wheels this month as we travel to Dulux and Inspirations Stores in Maroochydore, Hervey Bay, Underwood and Nerang. Check out the schedule in the mag, come down and see us and let us know your thoughts on what’s happening in the industry and how we can help you.

Until next month, Happy Painting!!

GRAPHIC DESIGNER J. Anne Delgado

Nigel Gorman

nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

07 3555 8010

Contents Don’t Let the EASY ROUTE HOLD YOU CAPTIVE

6 8

Tendering for Government Business Workshop

A Painters Step-By-Step Guide To TIME EFFICIENCY

Do you have a ‘BACK-UP PLAN’

Common INSURANCE 11 QUESTIONS from Painters

Glossary of Paint & Painting Terms

QLD Building Plan

15

Are You and Your Business

17

READY TO SELL? Creative approaches to KITCHEN RENEWAL

20

Sham Contracting Sees BIG FINES

20 23 25 31

International WOMEN’S DAY Cyberspace Safety KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE ONLINE

37 38

Industry Idiots

42

Important Contacts

43

33 When You’re Overwhelmed…

Letting Go & The Zen of Busy

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.

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1800 355 344 07 3555 8010 info@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au www.aussiepaintingcontractor.com

Don’t Let the

EASY ROUTE

HOLD YOU CAPTIVE Being a business owner is a challenge. If not, everyone would do it. Stress and time constraints can often lead us to take the easy way out and down the road, that quick fix leaves us at the mercy of others.

Here are some the more common quick fixes that come back to haunt contractors.

Hiring multiple family members and buddies. It is difficult to find good employees so it can be tempting to hire employee family members. This can be a particular problem in today’s multicultural society, only insofar as hiring multiple people from one family or tight knit community can present an array of different problems.Some problems are obvious such as when one person quits, the whole family leaves. But other issues are not as obvious. All family members are not created equal and there is a tendency for families to protect one another. They also may ride together to work and firing the driver can leave you shorthanded. They also probably talk to one another and share pay information. Too many family members make it very difficult to have a professional HR approach to employment.

Some things you can do to help control the problem is to make sure family

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members go through the same hiring and review process just like everyone else. When possible try not to have family members work together.

Working together can be a particular problem with brothers and fathers/ children. In these situations, a long existing relationship precedes work relationships. In many of these relationships the dominate family member tends to control things and don’t assume that just because they are family that they get along. Pairing father/children can be particularly unfair. When the father retires or dies, it can leave the son or daughter lost and not as skilled as you might think.

If one family member does all the thinking, the other is a helper.

Too dependent on the magic foreman or crew. Companies can grow addicted to a super foreman or a super subcontractor. This can be a particular problem in a smaller company. Strong foreman and subs can be prima donnas and if they leave, you can find yourself in a bind. They can also grow old or simply get hurt. These foremen tend to have strong personalities and many of them are not particularly good at training people. Thinking small and putting all your eggs into one basket is short sighted. Even the best of teams has a backup quarterback.

Having too much volume with one customer. Whether it be new construction and working for a certain construction manager or a private customer like a property manager, year after year having over 20% of your volume with more than one customer can be dangerous. If you are doing 50% or more with one company, you have a job not a business. Even if that customer pays a premium, one day it will all end. They will hire new personnel who want to make changes or are sold, and suddenly you have no work. This can be a hard problem to solve because the customer is great, there is little marketing expense and it is just easy. Denial that the problem exists can be very strong. I actually know of roadbuilding related businesses who expanded when the new interstate highway passed through and wondered why they had too much overhead when the road constructed moved down the road. This one customer problem can be hard to fix but if you are making big bucks from one customer, make sure you sock some of that money away. Be financially prepared when it ends. Next, keep up your marketing and sales effort with other customers. Do your best not to make other work a non-priority.

Allowing aging personnel to let you fall behind from a technology perspective. Many contractors have hard working valuable office personnel who were vital to their success. Unfortunately, technology skills tend to vary greatly, generationally. I had to laugh when one of our customers shared his lack of success in getting his family member 60-year-old bookkeeper to embrace high tech solutions to their ever-growing business. Mature office personnel and bookkeepers are hired to manage details and keep things in order. Some of these folks do not like to change and your business can fall behind technology wise.

Forcing the issue is unpleasant and it is easy to just let it all slide. How do you fix it? This is a case where hiring a consultant or someone tech savvy to help with the project. You would be amazed what a 3rd year accounting college student can get done.

Technology can be easy to use but a pain to set up.

Failure to put non-competes in place with key manager’s and salespeople. Non-compete, or restraint of trade clauses can be hard to enforce and executives do not like to sign them. The best time to put them in place is when hiring, as people

are looking for and need a job. You must always have a local labor attorney advise you in this regard as state laws vary. My perception (and I am not a lawyer, so that is why you need to call one), is that it is easier to enforce people using your customer list and contacts than keeping someone from getting another job. Remember the real deterrent is the cost of the employee defending themselves from your ligation.

Again, seek local legal advice.

In closing, sometimes the easy way out can create problems down the road. In our PROSULT™ Networking

groups, peers tend to help other peers from making these types of mistakes. A good offense can beat a bad defense. Hopefully, the above wisdom can help you avoid future pain in your business.

Monroe Porter

is president of PROOF Management a firm that teaches seminars and runs networking groups for painting contractors. Several Aussie painting contractors travel to the US each year to participate in his programs.

www.proofman.com 2017 March Issue | 7

A Painters Step-By-Step Guide To

TIME EFFICIENCY

‘Time’ is just one of those things that we NEVER seem to have enough of.

I’m guessing if the headline of this article caught your attention, then ‘time’ is as much of an issue for you as it once was for us.

We’ve spoken to hundreds of trade business owners at over 48 live events in the last 7 years and ‘time’ is one of their biggest concerns.

The trade business owners we speak with worry about not having enough time for business, not having enough time for family and worse, not having enough time to make the necessary changes that will get them back this time that they’re missing. It’s a vicious cycle…

When we hear trade business owners talk about their lack of time, the first question we ask them is…

“Do you use your time wisely?”

EVERYONE has the same 24 hours in a day, but it’s how he or she uses those 24 hours that makes all the difference.

What we’ve found is that most trade business owners are driven to work HARDER, in the hope of making more money and eventually reducing the amount of hours they work. However, in reality, they just need to focus on working SMARTER! We’ve developed a simple process called ‘Stop, Keep, Start’. This process

8 | Aussie Painters Network

ensures that trade business owners are making the BEST use of their time.

Would outsourcing to a bookkeeper be a better use of time and money?

To do this, follow these simple steps;

STEP 4 Highlight anything that you are the expert in (and no one else can do it better). These are the tasks you will ‘keep’.

STEP 1 Write down the name and duration of all activities you do for one full week (business related or not). Then, get some coloured highlighters ready. anything that doesn’t business e.g. watching playing on your phone. the beginnings of your

STEP 5 Use the extra time in your day created by your ‘stop’ list to ‘start’ anything that you haven’t been able to do. Many trade business owners will focus on business/marketing strategies, employee training, or time with their family. These are all profitable activities.

STEP 3 Highlight anything you aren’t an expert at. For example, bookkeeping.

If you’re keen to learn more about what business strategies to ‘start’ then join us at our live event ‘The Future Tradie’.

STEP 2 Eliminate help your television, These are ‘stop’ list.

Is the hourly rate to outsource these activities less than your own hourly rate? For example, if it takes you 3 hours to do bookkeeping at an hourly rate of $100 ($300 per week).

Aussie Painters Network has organised 2 tickets for just $47 for 2 (valued at $297). CLICK HERE for details and tickets.

LIVE

You’ll learn…

1) Technology How to automate, systemise and streamline your trade business 2) Marketing How to attract A-grade customers and keep them for life!

3) Finance How to master your money and maximise profit 4) Team How to transform your team to save time and money

2017 March Issue | 9

Public liability insurance for painters, from just $407 - Includes cover for spraying - Unrestricted heights option* - Cover from $5m to $20m - Monthly payment options - Easy online application

Premium of $407 is based on $5,000,000 public liability insurance policy paid annually for a painting business in QLD with one manual worker. * A 15m height limit applies, but can be removed for an additional premium.

Insurance Services Pty Ltd t/as Trade Risk (CAR 422847) is a Corporate Authorised Representative of 10Westcourt | Tradesman Aussie General PaintersInsurance NetworkBrokers Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence No 238447. ABN 81 009 401 772.

Common INSURANCE QUESTIONS

from Painters

At Trade Risk we insure thousands of tradies, including lots of painters.

ing higher than this, your policy will not cover you.

We get a lot of questions each week, so we’re going to answer three of the most common questions we receive from painters regarding public liability insurance.

Some of the more specialist providers do have policies to cover greater heights, which in most case will simply be in the form of no height limit.

Please keep in mind these answers are quite general in nature, and if you have questions about your specific situation we recommend contacting us or your broker.

Is there a height limit on my policy?

As a broker, at Trade Risk we deal with multiple insurers, so the height limits will depend on which insurance policy we recommend to you.

We certainly have access to policies with no height limits for painters, and the cost is not a great deal more than policies with a height limit.

This will vary from one policy to the next, but it’s fair to say that the majority of public liability policies will have a height limit.

The best option is to simply tell your broker if you expect to be working at heights greater than 10m and they will ensure the correct policy is recommended to you.

This is especially true of the policies issued by the mainstream insurers.

Am I covered for overspray?

Many standard policies will have a height limit of 10m or 15m for external work. This means if you’re work-

Overspray or spray drift can be a major issue for painters using spray guns as part of their business.

As with height limits, coverage for overspray varies depending on the public liability policy you have.

Generally, it’s not that claims for overspray are specifically excluded, but rather that the activity of using spray guns is excluded.

So if you are doing any spraying, you simply need to let your broker know so that they can ensure you have the right policy.

At Trade Risk our public liability policies for painters will generally cover spraying, but again, it’s always worth letting us know to be sure.

In terms of claiming for damage caused by overspray, it’s important to ensure it wasn’t recklessness that caused the issue.

If you’ve tried to do the right thing but still ended up with an overspray issue, you wouldn’t expect to have any issues with your claim.

2017 March Issue | 11

But if you were spraying outside on a windy day, and the car right next to you ended up covered in spray, the insurer may see that as being reckless rather than just negligent.

With the cost of public liability insurance for a single-worker painting business being less than $400 a year, it’s certainly worth having your own cover.

Do I need my own insurance if I’m subcontracting to another painter?

Important information

If you’re subcontracting to another painter who has his or her own insurance, don’t count on being covered by it yourself.

The information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your personal needs and objectives. You should speak with a qualified broker before making any decisions about your insurance.

In most cases public liability policies cover only the insured name and their employees, not subcontractors.

Some policies can be extended to cover subcontractors, but the cost is generally a lot higher and there is little incentive for the contractor to take this option.

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---------------------------------------------If you have any questions about public liability or other insurance types for painters, contact Trade Risk on 1800 808 800 or visit their website at www.traderisk.com.au.

2017 March Issue | 13

Do you have an

APPRENTICE?

14 | Aussie Painters Network

Queensland Building Plan In last month’s edition, we discussed what the Qld Government were focussing on with regard to the proposed changes across the construction industry. Aussie Painters Network have represented the painting industry at the Qld Building Plan consultation events from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast and everywhere in between. It has provided a great insight to the considerations behind the reforms the government is looking at adopting.

Interestingly, after attending several of the public consultations, we were already able to observe changes in the discussions when Ministers and other representatives were asked specific questions.

Encouragingly, through attending the multiple events, we could see the that those involved were listening to industry concerns, and that they were already giving it consideration evident in their subsequent presentations and replies.

There are five main areas that we have identified that directly affect the painting industry, as we shared in our last edition. These include Security of Payment, Qld Home Warranty Scheme, Building Certification, Non-Conforming Building Products and Licensing Reforms.

Unfortunately, the deadline for full submissions responding to the proposed plans has now passed, but you can still do the online survey to have your say.

Every bit counts. Go to: http://queenslandbuildingplan.engagementhq.com/areas-for-discussion

2017 March Issue | 15

Insurance for

PAINTERS Are you covered?

Do you want to deal with an insurance company that has the best available, cost-eective insurance for tradies?

Aussie Painters Network has negotiated the best possible cover for your business.

Contact us directly for more information and to get your cover today!

The security for this product is placed via Lloyds of London as well as other Australian authorised insurers.

16 | Aussie Painters Network

Are You and Your Business

READY TO SELL?

Going into business can be a very rewarding experience, and going out of business making a profit can be even sweeter.

However, it is estimated that only 21% of businesses owners ever sell their business. Many business owners believe that when they’ve had enough or are at retirement age, they can sell their business and get a nice little addition to their retirement plan. What they often don’t realise is that they need to get their business sale-ready first in order to maximise the value of their business and have any chances to sell it for a good profit.

The right time to sell The timing of a business sale is very important and it’s best if you can be in a position to determine the right time for yourself and your business.

When you’re forced to sell because you’ve experienced a shock life event that stops you running your business, you might be in for an even greater shock. If you haven’t got a well planned exit strategy in place, you could face a significant drop in sales value or worst case scenario, you might have to walk away and close the doors to avoid incurring more losses.

The right time to sell is when you AND your business are ready. When you have come to a point in your business life where you feel that you

are a slave to your own business and you just want out, it’s almost always never the right time, that’s if you want to make a profit on the sale.

To get yourself ready for the business sale also involves being clear about what you want to do next, be that retirement, a world cruise, or invest in another business, or find a job. You need to have your personal finances and retirement plan structure in order so that you can maximise the benefit of the business sale to you and your family.

After all, you don’t want to give away the profits from the sale to the tax man if you can help it. As an accountant and financial planner, I have had the privilege of helping many of my clients get their situation right first, and help them exit their businesses highly profitably. It takes some thinking through and is not something that happens overnight. If you’re not clear on what to

do, you can start by contacting us at www.straighttalkat.com.au and arrange for a FREE Financial Health Check for your business before making any rash decisions.

How to get ready for a business sale As mentioned before, very few business owners ever manage to sell their business. What’s even more concerning is that most businesses that present to business brokers are sent away again, because their business is not ready for a sale.

What business brokers are looking for in a business, aside from profitability, is whether the owner has implemented robust workflow processes and administration systems.

They will be looking at all your financials and examine the integrity of your record keeping. They will check out how the workflow is and will want to get a sense of your staff culture.

2017 March Issue | 17

So before you even approach a business broker, you need to make sure you are running your business like a well oiled machine, have Profit & Loss Statements at the ready and be confident that when they walk into your business to do their assessment, that they are satisfied with your operations, both on paper and operationally.

Further, business practices change over time, and if someone wants to buy a business for their future, they will be looking at a business that demonstrates contemporary work and management practices in their business.

always within your control because they can be very subjective and particular to the buyer.

However, it’s at this point when most businesses that are for sale are being de-valued by buyers. In the eyes of the buyer, a business suffers a drop in value when they discover that you’re not using the latest online accounting software, have no documented procedures for staff to follow, and that your debtors and creditor processes are out of control, let alone show good cashflow etc.

you are right to expect a financial return when you want to sell your business. You just need to spend a little time working out an exit strategy that will work for you and do your homework.

When you’ve worked hard to build your business from the ground up,

Copyright © 2017 Robert Bauman

Your business needs to be attractive to the potential buyer, before they even decide to perform their due diligence research into your business. Attraction factors are not

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

18 | Aussie Painters Network

If you have any questions on effective ways to create a Business Exit Strategy, feel free to arrange a FREE No-Obligation Meeting with me.

Just visit our new website at www. straighttalkat.com.au and complete your details on our Home page to request an appointment.

Call Us: (07) 3399 8844

2017 March Issue | 19

Creative approaches to

KITCHEN RENEWAL

Simple short cuts to a better space

In the olden days, kitchen was a place where you spent hours sweating profusely and cooking elaborately. Today, when everyone is busy, dinner table conversations have become an important way of reconnecting with loved ones.

A kitchen has become an intimate part of a home where you share a meal and spend time with your family. So, your kitchen has to be big yet cozy and comfortable.

Sadly, not every home has the perfect kitchen that gives happiness to its owner. Is your kitchen tiny? Does it fail to provide adequate space for cooking and storing kitchen appliances? Do not worry. There are

20 | Aussie Painters Network

kitchen renovation contractors who will understand your requirement and build a spacious kitchen for you.

Are you apprehensive about renovating the Kitchen?

Did your friend spend a fortune on kitchen countertop but it cracked months after the renovation work was completed?

Did your neighbour undertake an expensive kitchen remodelling project but now faces problem in selling his house?

Did you colour the kitchen cabinets in a bright colour and now regret it?

Well, stories of kitchen nightmares are common place. And, such stories can become a source of worry for a homeowner who is thinking of renovating his kitchen. Home improvement projects are expensive and taking care of a wrong decision can cost an arm and a leg. But, it doesn’t mean you should go cold turkey on the kitchen renovation plan.

Limited Space creates Unlimited Creativity If you are not ready to commit to a complete kitchen make-over, you can opt for creative renovation ideas that create an illusion of space.

Here’s how an experienced kitchen renovation contractor will help you to create a spacious kitchen without knocking down a wall:

>>The Magic of Colour Choose white colour for walls and cabinets because it will reflect light and create a sense of space. If you are worried that choosing the white colour will give a sterile look to the kitchen, opt for various shades of white and pale blue.

>>The Patterns If you opt for horizontal wallpapers or choose tiles that make the kitchen appear shorter in height, you will not be able to create the desired effect of space. So, opt for geometric patterns and vertical designs to add height to the kitchen.

>>The Light Effect Allow natural light to enter the kitchen because it will help your cause. Also, ask the contractor to hire the best electrician for ensur-

ing the proper combination of task lighting and atmospheric lighting.

utensils that you do not require frequently.

>>Lightweight Furniture

3. Buy corner appliance garage to hide all the appliances when they are not in use.

A large, heavy and intricate piece of furniture has the capacity to attract attention and make the room look smaller. So, opt for slender and lightweight stools, chairs, cabinets, etc.

>>Choose Glass A reflective material such as glass is ideal for a small kitchen. If you have glass doors for the cabinets, it will allow the eye to travel a long distance and help the kitchen look spacious.

>>Eliminate Clutter A small kitchen offers inadequate space for storage. It often results in crowded countertops. In order to eliminate clutter, you can follow the tips mentioned below: 1. Get rid of all the outdated kitchen tools.

4. Install a pull-out pantry and make optimum use of the gap between the refrigerator and the adjacent wall.

5. Buy mounted pot rack and knife rack to save space.

If you have a small kitchen and do not want to opt for extensive remodelling, you have many options to make it look spacious. Consult an experienced home renovation contractor who will find creative ways of creating an illusion of space.

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Christine Delongte Articles Directory Free Articles New Articles Daily

2. Use the top shelves for storing

2017 March Issue | 21

My Hourly Rate Calculator

www.mytools4business.com

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2017 March Issue | 23

Have you watched the Channel 7 TV drama called ‘800 Words’? The main character is an Australian actor (Eric Thomson) who plays the part of a columnist, contracted to write an article every week for a Sydney newspaper. I rarely watch TV soaps myself but this one is quite entertaining (and kind of addictive).

In one of the episodes, part of the story is about George (character name) having a ‘writers block’. He has no idea what to write about.

for you to read, ‘for free’. This is all thanks to Aussie Painters Network’s Graphic Designer, Anne who does all the artwork. Thinking up a story every month is fairly easy, but trying to make it interesting for you to read, is definitely not. So this is the problem that I am faced with at this moment.

Well this’s happening to me right now.

Right now, let me tell you first that I am laying down on a sofa with my laptop ‘in my lap’, writing this ‘article to-be’. Why? Because for the past three weeks I haven’t been able to sit, or stand, for more than 8 minutes at a time. In November (just over three months now) I felt a slight ‘twinge’ in my back. I took it as a pulled muscle and didn’t think much of it. Well after

If you are connected to the same Facebook or LinkedIn pages I am, you may have noticed that I’ve put together 41 of my monthly articles into one magazine (titled ‘My” Business Articles) and is available

24 | Aussie Painters Network

What do I write about this month?

four weeks of seeing a chiropractor, four weeks with a physio, a few sessions with a kinesiologist a CT scan, a cortisone injection, a trip to the hospital, an MRI scan and yesterday a sports doctor, the diagnosis that has finally been suggested is I have what’s called a ‘Traversing Nerve Root’. In laymen’s terms, a pain from my butt to my foot down my right-hand side.

The three lots of pain killers I’m taking each day are just doing the job, but the sports doctor recommended another cortisone injection as apparently, the first one was injected in the incorrect place. This was no fault of the doctor as there were two choices to inject the cortisone and it just so happened he chose the wrong area.

Why am I telling you all this?

Because this is the lead-up to title of my article for this month...

Do you have a

‘BACK-UP PLAN’

It doesn’t matter if you’re self employed or if you work for someone (being Government or private) I’m afraid to say, there is no such thing as a fully secure job. Too many factors are against you. There is redundancy, you (or your boss) could run out of work, a builder could send you bankrupt, there is sickness or even a major accident; there is just no guarantee that the job you are in now will be yours until you retire. I am lucky as the retirement age for my generation is 65-66 so I only have a few years to go, but for the ones born after 1960 the retirement age increases year after year. For the painters reading this, can you imagine yourself climbing ladders and swinging a paint brush at 70? This had been on my mind for many years, so I knew I had to come up with a plan to earn a descent income, with little effort, in the later years of my life.

Training an employee to run my business with little interference from me, was one idea. Fortunately, that employee has stayed faithful to my company and is still with me after 17 years of employment (it does help though when he knows he will take over the business one day). Then by chance (with advice from a business coach) I wrote my first book, which after 12 months of promoting, had the full backing of ‘Dulux Australia’. This divertingly, led me to write another book and the development of three

online business tools, all which can be purchased (see advertisements in this issue).

The next ‘windfall’ has been associating myself with ‘Aussie Painters Network’ and ‘National Institute of Painting and Decorating’. If it was not for them, I would never had considered sitting for my ‘Certificate IV in Training and Assessment’.

Because of this, I am now a part time ‘Online Trainer’ for both companies.

For many years, I have been helping painters in every state of Australia (except the NT for some reason) and even in overseas countries.

What I ‘preach’ is common-sense and it comes natural to me as I have used my ideologies in my own business without second-thought, so when I received a call from ‘Dulux’ recently saying they would like to support me again, I was thrilled.

This time they are helping to grow my ‘Business Coaching’ network and, my ‘online products’.

So, as you can see I’m gradually building up a steady source of income which does not require picking up a paint brush or climbing a ladder.

I must admit though, I have been extremely lucky that things have fallen into place for all this to happen.

Now what about you though. It may be an idea if you could imagine yourself, what your future

would hold if something did happen to you, be it any of the above I have mentioned. My advice to you is at least consider thinking about an alternative, just to be on the safe side. There would be nothing worse than all of a sudden you had to find something else to do in life. A good example is my friend Nigel Gorman who I have known for many years. He had a very successful painting business but unfortunately had a workplace accident which forced him to look for alternative employment. This was when he came up with the concept of helping painters in the industry and hence, the ‘Aussie Painters Network’ was formed.

We always think that ‘It won’t happen to me’ but, unfortunately it can, and does. If you have been reading my articles for a while now, you would know I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2013.

We are not immune to disasters happening in our lives, although we’d like to think we are. Things do, and can happen, so it’s good to be prepared in advance or at least, give it some thought.

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Jim Baker www.mytools4business.com My dilemma now is, ‘What am I going to write next month?’

2017 March Issue | 25

www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

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infor@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

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1800 355 344 / 07 3555 8010

Glossary of Paint

& Painting Terms ABRASION RESISTANCE

Resistance to frictional rubbing.

ABRASIVE BLAST CLEANING

A method of preparing surfaces before painting by the use of abrasive, such as grit propelled either through nozzles by compressed air or from wheels by centrifugal force onto the surface.

ACCELERATED WEATHERING

Environmental exposure can effect almost any material, including plastics, rubbers, composites, paints and coatings, metals, textiles, stone and concrete, and much more. Some effects of weathering on materials includes Haze, Yellowness Index, Color Change, Transmission, as well as effects on physical properties like Impact Strength.

ACCELERATOR

A substance that increases the rate of reaction during film formation.

ACID-RESISTANT PAINT

A coating material designed to resist attack by acids under specified conditions.

ACRYLIC PAINT

A type of synthetic polymer used as the binder for high-performance waterborne paints and sealants.

Some acrylic polymers are used in auto finishes, appliance coatings, etc.

ACRYLIC PRIMER

A coating material, based on a waterborne acrylic resin, used to prime wood, masonry or metal.

2017 March Issue | 27

Glossary of Paint & Painting Terms ACRYLIC RESIN

Refers to a group of thermoplastic materials derived from compounds such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The acrylic derivatives are added to heated plastic to create a material that can be used for many purposes. The material that is created from the thermoplastic acrylic mixture has high heat and impact resistance, as well as good clarity and UV resistance. Not only are the various range of products containing these resins diverse, they are outstanding in terms of durability and now used in many paints.

ADHESION

The degree of attachment between the film of a coating material and the substrate with which it is in contact. The latter may be another film (intercoat adhesion) or the substrate material.

AERATION

The presence of air in a liquid paint.

AEROSOL PAINT

A specially formulated coating material packed under pressure in specially designed cans.

AGEING

Degeneration occurring in a coating during the passage of time and/or heating.

AIR-DRYING

The process by which a liquid paint film is allowed to dry under ambient conditions of temperature and relative humidity.

AIRLESS SPRAYING

Application of paint by means of equipment consisting of fluid pump, hose and spray nozzle to produce atomisation of the paint without the use of compressed air or other propellant.

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ALGICIDAL PAINT

A coating material incorporating special additives to discourage the growth of algae on the surface of the film.

ALGICIDAL PAINT

A coating material incorporating special additives to discourage the growth of algae on the surface of the film.

ALKALI-RESISTANT PAINT

A coating material designed to resist attack by alkalis under specified conditions.

ALKYD

A synthetic resin used in solvent borne paints. An alkyd resin is made by reacting a drying oil with a hard, synthetic material.

ALLIGATORING

Alligatoring results from a lack of elasticity within a paint layer. This happens when the initial coat of paint is applied without allowing the primer to fully dry. Do not let the excitement of completing a project cause you to rush the process. Take your time, let each layer dry. Alligatoring paint can also occur when you use incompatible forms of products.

Glossy paints or enamels do not work well when applied to a latex paint. Sometimes paint alligatoring happens when oil-based paints are exposed to fluctuating temperatures. Oil-based paints provide little elasticity and don’t usually work well in an outdoor environment without proper preventative measures.

ALUMINIUM WOOD PRIMER

A coating material containing a portion of aluminium pigment that is used as a barrier coat to overcome bleeding from resinous woods or timber that have been treated with wood preservatives.

Aa

ANTI-CONDENSATION PAINT

ANIT-MOULD SOLUTION

ANTI-CORROSIVE PAINT

ANTIQUE FINISH

ANTI-FOULING PAINT

ANTI-SETTLING AGENT

ANTI-GRAFFITI PAINT

ANTI-SKINNING AGENT

There are two types Sacrificial and non-sacrificial

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A coating material designed to minimise the effects of condensation of moisture under intermittently dry and humid conditions.

A coating material used to retard the corrosion of metals and, more particularly, anti-corrosive composition specially formulated to retard the rusting of iron or steel.

A coating material applied to the bottom of ships to discourage the growth of anti-fouling composition barnacles and other organisms.

An “anti-graffiti” product or paint is a surface treatment or coating that is used in graffiti-prone areas for the prevention of permanent adhesion of graffiti to the substrate.

SACRIFICIAL TREATMENTS

Are usually clear, thin film emulsions or solutions applied to the surface to be protected. They may be applied directly over the bare substrate, or over other types of coatings. When defaced, the sacrificial coating is completely removed

NON-SACRIFICIAL PRODUCTS

Fall into two categories – invisible surface treatments, or permanent two-pack coatings that normally do not require reapplication after graffiti removal. Non-sacrificial surface treatments do not oved (usually by hot water blast) and a new coating is immediately reapplied

For use against fungi, mould and algae on internal and external surfaces such as masonry and tiles.

Apply by brush or spray.

A finish that replicates rusticated or distressed textures. Produced through mechanical or chemical means to simulate the naturally occurring effects of the aging process on timber or metal Additive that impedes sedimentation of pigments, extenders and fillers by imparting increased low shear viscosity or a small yield value to liquid paints.

Highly efficient antiskinning agent, containing oxime and phenol. Prevents the surface defects like frosting, wrinkles and ropiness.

Any Terms that are identified within the painting & decorating industry as “defects”, images; possible cause; solution and prevention methods are provided.

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Next month, we will feature ‘B’ Glossary of Paint & Painting Terms

Bb

2017 March Issue | 29

Aussie App Store will develop a state of the art mobile app/website to grow your business using our integrated social networking applications.

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Sham Contracting Sees

BIG FINES

A court has fined a company and its director $124 000 over a sham contracting arrangement where a 417 visa-holder was underpaid almost $8 000 for four months’ work after misclassifying him as an independent contractor.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Robert Cameron found Australian Sales and Promotions, a fundraising company, contravened section 357 of the Fair Work Act by making misrepresentations to a British backpacker in 2013, that he was an independent contractor.

The Company had failed to pay the minimum wage or casual loading and required the employee to purchase his own public liability insurance. The employee was paid $50 per day, plus commission, less deductions for PAYG tax, public liability insurance and fees.

The Company had told the employee that he was an independent contractor and therefore, was required to provide an ABN. The backpacker was required to invoice a related company operated by the same director. Judge Cameron concluded that the Company and the director had at all times been aware that a person working in the fundraiser’s circumstances, “would ordinarily be characterised as an employee and not as an independent contractor.”

Australia’s minimum employment conditions and as a result had suffered, serious financial hardship.

Judge Cameron found that the Company intended, “to enjoy the financial benefit of paying the fundraiser as an independent contractor while also enjoying the power and authority of an employer in the control it exercised over him in the course of his work.”

Fair Work Ombudsman v Australian Sales & Promotions Pty Ltd & Anor [2016] FCCA 2804

The employee had been particularly vulnerable as he was unaware of

Lessons learned: • Companies will be penalised for attempting to avoid minimum employment conditions provided by the Fair Work Act; and • Companies cannot enjoy the financial benefit of paying people as independent contractors where they are in fact employees.

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Lyle Beaton

Senior Industrial Relations Consultant

Email: lyle.beaton@iriq.com.au Web: www.iriq.com.au

2017 March Issue | 31

When You’re Overwhelmed…

Letting Go & The Zen of Busy These past two weeks have been hectic and exhausting for me. My wife’s father passed away, and I’ve been in non-stop planning, coordinating, cooking, cleaning, driving around mode.

Yesterday was the funeral, and it was a long, tiring and busy day. Incredibly sad, but busy.

In the midst of this busyness, I’ve been trying to remember the practice of “continual letting go.”

I see it as a Zen practice: whatever you think you know, let go of it.

Whatever you are sure of, let go of it. My mantra is: You know nothing.

The result is that when I remind myself of this, I try to see things from a fresh perspective. I realize that I think I know something but I don’t really, and so I try to see it as if I don’t know.

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What’s the point of this? By continually letting go, we don’t have to be so stressed out. When we realize we don’t know: • We don’t have to be mad when someone is acting in a way we don’t like.

• We don’t have to have anxiety when we don’t know if things will go as planned or hoped.

• We don’t have to have all the answers. We can have questions and curiosity instead.

• We don’t have to get into a tense “No I’m right” battle with anyone else.

• We don’t judge other people as much, so we can be open to who they are and have a good relationship with them.

• We don’t have to control things, but can instead just try to be helpful without controlling the outcome.

The benefit of this is that by continually letting go of what I think things should be, of what I think I know, of needing to have control or certainty … I can just let go and relax. I can do my best, but not stress out about it when things don’t go my way.

I don’t have to be afflicted by anything. I can be busy, but not afflicted by that busyness. I can be tired, but not afflicted by the fact of my tiredness. I can have things go differently than I planned, but not be afflicted by that fact. The first conditions (busy, tired, things not going as planned) are not always in my control. But I can let go of knowing, and so not be afflicted by any of these conditions. Being afflicted by the conditions of life is what causes our real problems.

www.lead.org.au

2017 March Issue | 33

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in my body, and I notice this and try to let go. I breathe, smile, and open up. I see things as a beginner.

It happens again and again, often from one moment to the next, and I try to continuously let go, let go, let go.

So in the midst of tiredness, busyness, chaos … I try to remember to let go, continually.

When someone comes to me with something unexpected, I try to let go of what I thought the situation was. Then I open up to this new situation, with fresh eyes.

When someone is cross with me or grumpy, I try to let go of how I think they should be acting. And then be curious about why they’re acting that way, and love them in the midst of their suffering.

When I’m tired and have a lot to do, I try to let go of the idea that I shouldn’t be tired or busy. Then I look at the situation with fresh eyes and realize that I can do these tasks despite the discomfort, out of love for my family.

And by letting go of what I know, I’m opening myself up to what’s in front of me... This unfolding moment of unexpectedness.

When things are messy or disorderly, not the way I like them, I try to let go of the way I think things should be.

Then I try to see the situation with fresh eyes, understanding that there will always be chaos and mess, and that this too can be loved.

And it is truly magnificent.

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Leo Babauta, a successful

I see that I’m stressed and holding onto the way I want things to be, and so I tell myself I know nothing.

And I let go. Then something else comes up and tightness comes up

‘simplicity’ blogger and author from California, the creator of top 25 Blog, Zen Habits

www.zenhabits.net

Trace My Business Keep a record of ALL your clients • • • •

•

Where the referral came from

The quote success and failure rates

•

Suburb comparisons

The different advertising campaigns

•

(what (wh works and what doesn’t) First projects vs repeat business

New vs existing revenue and projects

•

Yearly and overall client revenue

•

Growth analysis

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

Written and Developed by Jim Baker

2017 March Issue | 35

We are Painters working with Painters to improve the industry. You receive informa�on designed to assist in advancing your business prac�ces and maintaining a high degree of professionalism. We keep pain�ng businesses up to date on the latest government legisla�ve changes whilst assis�ng you in running your business with �ps and tricks to

SAVE YOU MONEY!

36 | Aussie Painters Network

International

WOMEN’S DAY

IWD 2017 March 8 #BeBoldForChange

integrated into our world in a real way, surely a better term then is Humanist…

“For International Women’s Day 2017, we’re asking you to #BeBoldForChange. Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world - a more gender inclusive world.

Submit your #BeBoldForChange action via the IWD website.”

Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, affirms their ability to improve their lives through the use of reason and ingenuity as opposed to submitting blindly to tradition and authority or sinking into cruelty and brutality. wikipedia

provides a comprehensive roadmap for the future of people and planet.

‘Empowering women and girls is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’. http://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/step-it-up/about

Gender equality is good for all humans. We’ve seen that empowering women benefits their entire communities. What will you do this year to Be Bold For Change?

www.internationalwomensday.com

As International Women’s Day draws near, I’m reminded about how often the term ‘feminist’ has been thrown around and revisited lately. I’m not entirely sure what has prompted it to return the surface of the collective conscience just recently, but suspect it is perhaps the shock felt by many, following the election to the so called ruler of the free world, of an individual who clearly isn’t one.

Or.. Perhaps it’s for a far more optimistic reason! We’re discussing the word feminist because it’s becoming, very slowly, a redundant term. After all, surely those advocating feminism are merely seeking equality. Equal rights, respect, pay and treatment. Feminism defends equal political, economic, and social rights for women around the world. Simple. So, in my mind seeking this does not make me want for women more than any human deserves. Once feminist principles are

I’m for all humans, male or female, and have always felt that equality is the principle of the movement.

So really, once equality has been achieved, the term should have served its purpose. Wouldn’t it be amazing if in 50 to 100 years, the very idea of a need for “feminism” was just as absurd as inequality that created it in the first place?

It might surprise some that there has been an actual date set as a firm target for achieving international gender parity! The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and p olitical achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. www.internationalwomensday.com

#IWD2017

2017 March Issue | 37

Cyberspace Safety

KEEPING YOUR KIDS SAFE ONLINE

For many of us the internet has changed the way we do so many things, it would be difficult to imagine a life without the conveniences and connections it affords us. For our children it is a somewhat different story as they will likely never know a world without it. More and more each year, their education, entertainment and even social lives revolve around online activities. Because this is not always a good thing, and can in some circumstances make our children vulnerable targets to cyber-bullies, internet trolls, even pedophiles, parental monitoring and control is vital. Parents and guardians need firstly to understand what access to the World Wide Web can mean for their child, and ultimately how

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to ensure they are appropriately educated and protected. Armed with the right information we can assist our children to understand the risks, and know how to make wise choices when it comes to their online use.

Avoid the Internet in Isolation. It is highly recommended that children do not use the internet for long periods of time on their own in their room; It makes it impossible to keep a subtle eye on with what and who they are engaging with.

Stranger Danger applies! Just as you would have taught your child not to talk to persons unknown to them in the street, the web poses the same risks-and more- given that people can so easily misrepresent who they are and their intentions. No one underage should be initiating any kind of relationship online, so make sure you know who your children are in touch with in cyberspace and they know the person behind the profile.

Apart from the risks of exposure to adult content, your child could end up the target of a vicious bullying campaign on a social media site, or be groomed by a suspect individual and you would never know. During such a crucial and possibly awkward stage of development, a teen can be made to feel very isolated and alone, and therefore vulnerable. Tragically, many suicides and even abductions have occurred as a result.

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Cybersmart is a government initiative bringing together resources online to assist with this minefield of risk. Some resources it provides are: Fun animations for younger children, parents and teachers to guiding through topics of ‘finding stuff’ to email rules, and safe searching: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/cyberquoll/index.html An internet safety resource for secondary school students provided by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Kids can create avatars/characters whilst navigating relevant topics: http:// Limit screen access. Control how much and what your child uses online for entertainment purposes, and teach your children how to use the net as a valuable research tool.

Teach them also to respect the work of others, and how to avoid plagiarizing information they wish to utilize whilst helping them also understand that what they find on the web is not always s reliable.

What goes online, stays online!

Anyone posting info online needs to be keenly aware that what they put up is potentially there to haunt them for the rest of their days!

Teenagers in particular should know that there is no guarantee that anything they send to a ‘trusted friend’ will be confined to that recipient. Information and images can be there to ruin self esteem, reputations, and job applications of the future. Tweets, status updates, provocative photos and personal info should all be kept private.

chat rooms, and perhaps having agreed to guidelines for their use, look into downloads of free internet content filters to protect your family online and ensure your home computer is protected from viruses and spyware.

Leaving your kids to their own (digital) devices is a risky business, so as parents make sure that you understand what they’re up to; familiarise yourself with ’chatting’, blogging, message boards, Youtube, Facebook and MySpace, or you may ultimately be leaving your child’s safety to chance.

www.cybersmart.gov.au/cybernetrix/index. html

“Tagged” is a multi-award winning anti-cyberbullying video for students 14 years and over that has now been translated into 5 languages. An online rumour spirals out of control; the drama touches on Cyberbullying, sexting, filmed fights and resulting police action. http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/tagged.aspx

The Australian Government Initiative Raising Children Network provides further info for parents at: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/internet_safety.html

As well as talking to your children about undesirable content they may come across, the dangers of

2017 March 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

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