Business Growth

From Ideas in Your Head to a Business That Can Run Without You

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One of the biggest parts of succession planning is turning what you know as the business owner into something the business itself can use.

For many established business owners, there are years of knowledge, ideas and experience sitting in their head. But if the business is going to grow, operate with less reliance on its owner and eventually be passed on or sold, that knowledge needs to become plans, processes and systems.

That’s something I’ve worked on with Chris Beretta from D.A. Beretta, a long standing Geelong plumbing and civil works business.

When Chris first came to me, he already had plenty of ideas. What he needed was help getting those ideas down on paper, building plans around them and, importantly, actually implementing them.

Since then, we’ve worked on future growth, goal setting and streamlining systems within the business. Chris has also successfully developed a new traffic control arm within D.A. Beretta, turning what had previously been a cost to the business into another source of profit.

As Chris explains in the video, one of the biggest benefits of coaching has been having someone there to help move those ideas from his head into action.

That’s also an important part of building a business for the future.

Succession planning isn’t simply deciding who will take over one day. It’s about creating a stronger, more organised business with the systems, plans and people in place so everything doesn’t continue to depend on you.

Watch Chris’s story below to hear about his experience working with me and the changes they’ve implemented at D.A. Beretta.

Thanks
Hugh

Succession Planning Starts Earlier Than You Think

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When most business owners hear the words succession planning, they think it’s something to worry about when retirement is just around the corner.

In reality, that’s one of the biggest mistakes I see.

The businesses that achieve the best outcomes don’t suddenly become valuable in their final year. They become valuable because of the decisions their owners make over many years.

In this short video, I explain why succession planning is really about creating options. Whether your goal is to eventually sell your business, pass it on to family, install a management team or simply step back from the day to day running, it all starts with building a business that isn’t completely dependent on you.

I also share some of the key areas I work on with business owners, including developing leaders, documenting systems and increasing the overall value of the business.

If you’ve never really thought about succession planning, or you’d simply like to understand what makes a business more valuable, I encourage you to watch the video below.

Because succession planning isn’t just about leaving your business one day.

It’s about building a business that’s stronger, more profitable and gives you more freedom long before that day arrives.

Reach out if you’d like to start your succession planning.

Thanks
Hugh

Back From Goa With New Ideas for Local Business Owners

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Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to step away from the day to day and spend some time overseas.

Before heading to the annual ActionCOACH Global Conference in Goa, I spent a week exploring Sri Lanka. From the stunning views at Lipton’s Seat to seeing wild elephants in Udawalawe National Park, it was an incredible experience and a great chance to recharge.

Then it was on to Goa for one of the biggest events on the ActionCOACH calendar.

Each year, coaches from around the world come together to learn, share ideas and collaborate on what’s working in business today. It’s an opportunity to see how businesses are overcoming challenges, improving performance and helping owners create businesses that are more profitable, more enjoyable and less dependent on them.

One of the proudest moments of the week was being recognised as the Global GrowthCLUB Coach of the Year. Receiving this award was a real honour. GrowthCLUB has always been one of my favourite programs because it gives business owners the time and structure to step away from the daily chaos and focus on planning their next 90 days. To have that recognised on a global stage was incredibly rewarding.

One of the biggest focuses at this year’s conference was the continued rollout of ABOS (ActionCOACH Business Operating System).

Every successful business relies on systems. The businesses that continue to grow aren’t relying on memory or hoping everyone knows what to do. They have documented processes, clear accountability and systems that allow the business to perform consistently, regardless of who’s on the tools or in the office.

ABOS brings those proven frameworks together into one practical operating system that helps businesses improve communication, leadership, management and operational efficiency. It’s exciting to see how successfully it’s already being used by businesses around the world, and I’m looking forward to introducing more of these concepts to the businesses I work with here in Geelong.

Another highlight was seeing the success of ActionCOACH’s management development programs being delivered internationally. It’s a proven ActionCOACH training program that’s used internationally to help business owners, supervisors and managers develop the leadership and management skills needed to build stronger teams. Seeing the consistency of the results across so many different countries gave me even greater confidence in the value it can deliver.

That’s why I’m excited to be facilitating the 12 Week Management MasterCLASS here in Geelong, starting on Tuesday 11 August. Over 12 weeks, I’ll guide participants through the program, sharing practical tools and strategies that can be implemented immediately. If you’re looking to strengthen your own leadership skills or invest in the development of someone in your business, it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from a system that’s already helping businesses around the world.

Please reach out if you’d like some more information on anything mentioned.

Thanks
Hugh

June GrowthCLUB: A Day of Planning, Sales and Business Growth

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting our June GrowthCLUB workshop, and once again I was reminded how valuable it is when business owners take the time to step away from the day to day and work on their business rather than just in it.

The focus for this quarter’s workshop was Sales and Planning, two areas that have an enormous impact on business performance. Throughout the day we explored sales processes, objection handling, goal setting and strategic planning for the months ahead.

One of the highlights for me is always the discussion that happens around the room. Business owners from different industries sharing ideas, challenges and solutions. Often the best breakthroughs come from hearing a different perspective or learning how someone else has tackled a similar challenge.

The Hot Seat sessions were particularly valuable, with participants openly discussing their biggest business challenges and receiving feedback and ideas from other business owners. It’s amazing how much knowledge exists within a room full of people who are all committed to growing and improving their businesses.

We also spent time reviewing goals, measuring progress and creating practical action plans for the next quarter. Having a plan is one thing. Having clear actions and accountability is what turns plans into results.

Of course, no GrowthCLUB would be complete without great conversations over lunch and the opportunity to connect with other like minded business owners who understand the challenges and opportunities that come with running a business.

If you’ve never attended a GrowthCLUB workshop before, I’d encourage you to consider joining us at one of our upcoming events. These workshops are designed to help you gain clarity, build a practical plan and leave with actions you can implement immediately in your business.

The next workshops are already scheduled and I’d love to see you there. Sometimes taking just one day out of your business can create results that impact the next three months. Yesterday we saw the majority of goals set by participants at the previous GrowthCLUB had already been achieved!

Please reach out if you have any questions about my future GrowthCLUB workshops.

Thanks
Hugh Bowman

The Number One Thing You Need to Increase Your Income

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Many business owners tell me they want to increase their income.

The interesting thing is that when I start talking to them about their goals, I often discover they’re thinking too small.

In this short video, I explain why bigger income usually starts with bigger goals.

When we first discuss what someone wants from their business, the answers are often fairly modest. But as we dig deeper, we uncover the things they really want, whether that’s paying off the family home, buying an investment property, upgrading their lifestyle or creating greater financial security for their family.

What I’ve found is that the business owners who consistently grow their wealth have a clear vision of what they’re working towards.

Their goals give them a reason to grow their income, improve their business and create better financial outcomes.

In the video below, I share why your dreams and goals play such an important role in business growth and how having a bigger vision can help drive higher income and long-term wealth creation.

Take a few minutes to watch the video and ask yourself: Are your goals big enough?

Thanks

Hugh

The Process of Quarterly Planning for Small Business

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One of the most valuable exercises I encourage business owners to do is quarterly planning. Over the years, I’ve seen a clear pattern: the businesses that stop, review, and plan every 90 days consistently achieve more than those that simply keep pushing forward without a clear direction.

 

In this video, I walk through the quarterly planning process I use with my clients. It starts by reviewing the previous quarter, looking at both the wins and the challenges. Understanding what has worked well, and what hasn’t, gives you the clarity needed to make better decisions moving forward. From there, we look at the numbers because your results will always tell a story about where your business is heading.

Once you’ve reviewed the past, it’s time to reconnect with your longer-term goals and decide what needs to happen over the next quarter to move closer to them. One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make is trying to achieve too much at once. Instead, I recommend focusing on a small number of meaningful goals and identifying the key actions required to make them happen.

Quarterly planning creates accountability, direction, and momentum. It helps you stop reacting to whatever comes your way and start proactively building the business you want. If you’re not currently planning every quarter, I’d encourage you to start. The clarity and focus it creates can have a significant impact on your results.

If you’d like help implementing a quarterly planning process in your business, feel free to get in touch. I’d be happy to have a chat.

Hugh Bowman
ActionCOACH Geelong

How This Tradie Doubled His Business

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Running a trades business can feel like a grind.

You’re busy, you can see opportunities, but things still feel harder than they should.

That’s exactly where this local tradie was before working with Hugh.

He knew there was more out there for his business, but didn’t have the structure or know-how to make it happen.

Since getting coaching, his business has doubled, expanded into new services, and now runs with a lot more clarity and control.

Instead of chasing the business, he’s now leading it.

Watch the short video below to hear his story and what changed.

Is It OK to Poach Employees? I say “Hell Yeah!”

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Is it actually okay to poach employees from other businesses?

It’s a question that comes up all the time, especially when good people are hard to find.

In this video, I share my honest view on it, and why the way most business owners think about hiring might be holding them back.

Because the reality is, the people you want in your business are usually already working somewhere else. And if you’re serious about building a stronger, more profitable business, you need to be thinking differently about how you attract them.

This isn’t about doing the wrong thing. It’s about understanding what it takes to build a great team, and why the best businesses don’t leave hiring to chance.

Watch the video for my full take on this and what it means for your business.

If you want to chat about how to bring the right people into your team, feel free to reach out.

Thanks
Hugh
0409 402 474

Business Systems for Tradies – What and Why?

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In this blog I want to talk about why business systems are essential for tradie business owners and the most common ones every growing business needs. Systems make it possible to delegate tasks effectively, improve consistency, and increase the overall value of your business. Without documented systems, you end up repeating the same instructions and struggling to grow. Having the right systems in place allows you to step back from the daily grind and focus on the high value activities that move your business forward. 

Here are the key systems I believe every business should have documented and working well: 

Job Management System
Quoting & Invoicing
Accounting System
Scheduling
Customer Service
Sales Process
KPI’s and Reporting
Team Meeting Agenda
Equipment Maintenance
Return Materials 

Each of these systems helps create structure and reliability. Whether it is using a job management program, setting up a clear quoting and invoicing process, maintaining high standards in customer service, or running team meetings that keep everyone aligned, strong systems make everything smoother and easier to manage. 

Understanding what systems your business needs is the first step. In my next blog, I will cover how to create and implement these systems so they actually work in your day-to-day operations.

NEXT BLOG: How To Document Business Systems

Reach out if you want to chat about your systems.  

Thanks
Hugh.  

Struggling to get Google Reviews?

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Best way to ask for a Google Review

In this video, business coach Hugh Bowman from ActionCOACH Geelong shares practical advice for tradies on how to effectively get more Google Reviews. He explains that while some trades like maintenance plumbing offer frequent opportunities to ask for reviews, others like building may have fewer chances—making it essential to get the timing and method right.

Hugh emphasises that the best time to ask is when the customer is most impressed—typically at the end of a job, when the issue is resolved or the project is complete and enjoyable. He advises against asking at payment time or waiting months, as the impact fades quickly.

He also outlines the most effective methods:

  • Asking in person is the gold standard (10/10 effectiveness)
  • Phone calls are far less effective (4/10)
  • SMS and email are rarely successful (1/10)
  • Adding a request to an invoice is virtually useless (0/10)

The key, he says, is to make it easy—by sending a direct link to the review page or using a QR code on a business card. He suggests setting the expectation early in the job and then following through at the right moment.

The takeaway: Ask in person, ask at the right time, and make it easy—and tradies will see far better results with Google Reviews.