MY ACADEMY SUCCESS STORY

Dan Williams

Mahi Boats and Hybrid Composites

"I learned that I can't do everything. I learned that I shouldn't do everything."

Despite his hard work, Dan, owner of Mahi Boats, felt he was still too much involved in the day-to-day activities of the business rather than working on developing and growing the business.

"I'm still too much of a point of contact for too many people,” Dan says. Dan knew he needed support in scaling his businesses and hiring a General Manager and Ops Manager so he can enjoy more operational time freedom.

“The academy highlighted the help I need at a high level.”

Dan’s turning point came when he attended a Strategy Day in Byron Bay at the Tradies Success Academy. He realised that with the right support, he could turn things around.

“I had an aha moment and it was my idea of a General Manager and an Operations Manager. I learnt what they were meant to deliver to the team. Learning what those roles were, I learned who I needed to fill those roles.”

“A huge lesson is letting go in business and accepting that it might not be 100 % how you do it, but if the end result's the same and you've freed up more of your time, then you gotta take that into consideration.”

On top of owning two businesses, Dan and his partner have two young children and try their best to prioritise precious family time.

Dan says “We can get pretty caught up as business owners in the day to day but it highlights what's really important when one of your kids is sick or when you can walk home and see their smiling faces and everything else just dissolves.” With the help of the academy Dan and his family have achieved operational time freedom by scaling up their businesses. This means more family time AND two thriving businesses.

“The academy taught me the importance of the customer journey. The projects we're doing are multi-million dollar projects and there's an expectation that comes with that.”

Dan's journey with Tradies Success Academy has been filled with valuable lessons. Here are some of the key takeaways that have made the biggest difference for him:

  1. Building a solid team of quality tradespeople and experts in the trade is crucial for success.

  2. Managing multiple businesses requires effective delegation and clear position descriptions.

  3. Knowing your numbers and understanding costs is critical.

  4. Surrounding yourself with the right people and seeking help and support is invaluable.

  5. Balancing work and family life requires prioritising and maintaining personal performance habits.

  6. Acknowledging and appreciating your own contributions is important for self-validation and motivation.

“The academy gives you the tools to know your numbers. Having the coaches there to pick their brains about every single particular thing, whether it be accounting, culture mindset, leadership etc. has been invaluable to me.”

Dan Williams’ journey is a powerful example of what can be achieved with the right support and guidance. Tradies Success Academy has been crucial in his success, providing the training, coaching, and community needed to transform his business and life.

“You can't afford not to work with the Tradies Success Academy. That's the biggest lesson I've learned. You can't afford not to have help along the way. You can eliminate five years of learning in five minutes on the phone to the right people.” Dan says

Dan's story exemplifies the Academy's mission: helping tradies achieve operational time freedom and live their best lives while making a positive impact on their communities and industries.