Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
This week in home building news! Catch up with Az and a colourful array of guests, to hear about who's killing it, who's innovating, and who's getting into strife in the world of new home construction.
Az (00:00)
welcome back to the Good Builder Podcast. This episode is one and probably the one and only one that I've actually been nervous for. And I'm not gonna I'm I'm not gonna lie on this one. I think I feel like
This gentleman did when he did a project for Havea676, I think it was. That's how I'm feeling right now. today I have a very special guest and I am a huge fan of this gentleman. And I'm not afraid to say it. I it was one of the first guests I actually waited outside for at the gutter, and I'm waiting for him to come so I could usher him to his car park. Red carpet. He's not a builder, but I I love everything that he's about.
he's got a following of about 75,000 across all of his social media platforms, but he doesn't really care for that too much in a way after our first chat. he started off with a bit of a phone propped up on a bucket, showing him how to put a fence in, showing how the world to put a fence in. But the thing I love about him is every time that I watch this gentleman social, you know, it brings a smile to my face. I've heard it from so many of you out there actually that have requested to have this gentleman on as well.
He's a chippy by trade. He was a semi-pro rugby player, which I love about him too. He's got a great business. And I reckon he puts out some of the best content that educates all you out there, entertains all you out there. And I think it's a great example of how to build trust and, put out who you are out on social and create a warm relationship because before he even came,
I felt I knew him and I wanted to know him even more. So we're gonna get to know him a little more on this episode today, and I'm fucking pumped. Jeez, wow, what an introduction, Wait, I got through that. I got through that. What an introduction. So I am welcoming to the Good Builder Podcast. The legend, Evan LaMotta from the LaMotta group. Fuck you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Good. How are you, mate? Yeah, I'm good. I'm really good. How are you? Good. I am I that was no word of a lie, man.
That was probably my most pumped up intro. I don't know, Need some music going. Yeah, I know you're not, and and and no offense or anything. I know you're not a builder or anything like that, but I just love everything you're about. I love everything you do for the construction industry, the way you put yourself out there and the head you have on your shoulders, man. I can just see you're a good businessman, treat your staff well, you love your customers, and you love the industry and what you do, man. Thank you. Appreciate it. Every time I watch your stuff, I get energy husted.
good, that makes me happy. It's weird, man. But anyway. You probably feel a bit weird over there. But yeah, I just wanted to get to know you and if you don't mind, if we might kick off with where did it all start for Evan Lamotta and how'd you get into where you are and this following of yours as well. Well well right at the beginning how I got into fencing was as soon as I finished school like I playing a lot of sport during school, played a lot of rugby and then
Straight out of school, I went straight into playing semi-professional rugby. And I was 17 at the time and I still hadn't worked. my I come from a European background, half Greek, half Italian. My parents looked after me very well. So I didn't have a job through school. So I was pretty lucky. Cool. and yeah, still didn't have a job when I finished school and was playing rugby. And my parents were probably telling, you know, kind of telling me should should get a job. And
We were just at training one day after training, and my coach just said, Does anyone here want a job? And I just put my hand up, said, Yep. And he goes, All right, well, it's what look, the the head coach asked that, but it was actually for the assistant coach. He said, here's old mate's number, give him a call. Gave him a call and he said, Yep, start Monday. This was on a Thursday, so he said, start next Monday. And to be honest,
The reason why I got the job was because he actually didn't have a driver's license at the time. So it was to drive his Ute and drive him to work. And I was I was working for him as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I drive to his house, get in his Ute. Buffett. In this bit like I was driving a little sports car. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got in this old manual clapped out Ute full of tools in the back, rattling around, just driving him to work. So and that's and that's where it started. And massive eye opener. Like I thought I'll like I've been fit my whole life. Yeah. And I thought I was super fit. But
This was a different, different fitness. Yeah. Just the first day we got to this job where we were building a retaining wall and it was an engineered wall. So the holes were the holes were already dug 1.5 meters deep, but he'd left them for so long and it was like storm season and that. So they were filled up with dirt. god. So I had to di I did to clean yeah, dig them all out, clean them out. And then being an old school builder that he was, he had a mixer there with blend and some GP. He goes, All right, we're concreting these.
Hardwood hundred by two hundred sleepers in. So not only was I carrying them full of splinters blisters already 'cause I'd never done it. my god. And then hand mixing. Yeah. No. Yeah. So you went through it the oldest. That was the first day. Yeah. And I was just fell in love with it. Yeah. But still. I was just like, what am I doing with my life? I said, h how does anyone choose to do this? Yeah. Like But yeah, that was the norm for most people. And but yeah, look it look, I just became seasoned to it, like
He also treated me like shit the whole time. So there was almost those on and just yelling at me and those swearing at me. There was almost times I like nearly in tears. Just really I wanted to just walk off. wow. But I don't know. Like I saw him at training ever and the game. Like, you know, so he look, he did look after me. He was he had a good heart. Like bought smoke over me every day. I'd bum smokes off him all the time. He would he was generous. But during the work, and I kind of I hated him for it.
But two things. I hated him for it, but now looking back, I thank him for it because it made me like the worker I am now. And also taught me not what to do, how to treat people like shit. And secondly, it was I secondly, like even though I hated him for it, it all I I can also see now running a business where he was coming from because he was just constantly under pressure, under stress the storm season, like straight into it. He was already delayed by rain, like just trying to
catch up. So he was always on edge. But that's also not an excuse because you gotta remain calm in those and that's a big thing for me. Just trying to as as as sideways as the day can go. if you you can if you can try and just stay in that good mood. It's gonna help you and everyone around you. But you do you seem that way too like I've been through some shit like working for myself of busted water mains. I've cut through live power and had to just fork out, you know, like but it it is what it is.
What do you do? I'm not gonna pull I'm not gonna pack up shop and go home. You just just gotta roll on with it. Let's get it done. So mate. Yeah. I think sorry, a bit of a long answer, but I haven't got it too. No, no, no, not you never have to be sorry, man. I think that was a great answer. And I think I love this is why I love bringing people in here and I said it to you when we're out the back because I get to learn like
Why I like these people so much. And I don't know if that feels very odd me saying that to you when we're sitting in this room alone right now, but we're gonna have a few thousand listeners listening to it. But why I really like it, man, because I could see that in you. you come across as someone that is so calm, having fun on site. Yeah, you can see your workers love it. Your workers love you, man. yeah, they're they would not do those videos that you do if they didn't love you now. no, the we're we're s after hours, we're sending each other reels, this is good, this is a good idea or
Every before when I edit They're invested in your business. Yeah, yeah, no, it's good. And look, you've got to look after it. I I look after them and they look after me. It it works it's a two way street. Yeah. And even before I post something, the the draft, I'll send it to Like, yeah, that's good. Even they'll say, I've sent it into my family group chat. They all thought it's funny, let's let's post it. And so we're all in it together, sort of thing. Yeah. It's good. I love it. No, and and all the pennies are dropping of the man you
become and the business person you've become, when you talked about your apprenticeship and things like that. I think it takes a really I I think that's part of it. Hey, you go through the experience and it takes a really good person to be able to come out the other side from a bad experience with good learnings. Yeah it's gotta be take the good out of it. You know and and I think for me that defines you, mate. Yeah that's all I I I I I know I've only just met you but like that's the feeling I get. I've been following you too. I we I feel like we've known each other. I know it's it's cool mate. Well
Going out on your own. When did you go out on your own? And and how was that? And what were some of the lessons you learned there, Evan? Because you said, you you worked for somebody. Yeah. You could run a business and now you're running quite a successful one. Yeah. So first of all, just to backst just backtrack a little bit. So the the that boss I was telling you I got the job with, he was actually I actually found out like a year later. This so this wasn't an apprenticeship or anything. I just laboring for him. And
I found out a year later, and I thought he was skilled because we're doing everything. Which he was skilled and experienced, but about a year down the track I realized he was actually not qualified in anything. He was doing hi all his work was cash. Like I'm be surprised if he even had an ABN or a tax file number, like or anything. You're getting paid. Yeah, five five hundred dollars cash a week, hundred dollars a day. If I worked four hours or if I worked fourteen hours, I got a hundred dollars cash.
Wow. So five hundred dollars cash a week every Friday. And it was usually paid. And it and it was usually paid in the pokey room. And it sometimes it was a bit short, but yeah, sometimes in full. Or sometimes catch up the next week. So you have been through it now. Yeah. So it it wasn't it wasn't nice, but then I was working, I like, Well, I need to do s something. So I thought like I had to get something more more secure, but
I don't know, I just got comfortable with him because it was easy. I was getting paid the same. and then I had a bad injury playing rugby. Yeah. So I I had to like take some time off. Came back to him and then I kind of got sick of that. So I actually got my own ABN and just started laboring for like other builders doing the same sort of stuff. Yeah, yeah. Shit kicking mainly, but it was all right. I was I was able to take care of my own finances because I was invoicing you know every week.
Whatnot. Had another more than 500. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A lot better. That's cool. And yeah, and obviously something on the books. Then I had another really serious injury. I I fractured my wrist. wow. And then obviously had to tell every had to tell all my clon builders I was working for that I had to get surgery. So no work. Out for my yeah, no work. Fuck. And then when I got back six months I was out because it wasn't healing after the surgery, but it finally did after six months.
Went back to them, they didn't want to borrow me. So I had nothing. I actually end I actually ended up working at the airport for a bit. Just I just needed a job. Wow. Yeah. So I was working just baggage handling. What? Just needed a job. And but it was actually good while I was playing rugby because it wasn't as physical as being in the construction site. Yeah. and then but I was still I went back to working for my old boss part-time because it was like a mining roster, it was like a six on three off sort of thing. In my days off, I was still doing like
fencing and landscaping for old mate, for cash, which is good because I was already on the books for yeah, yeah, yeah. for Virgin I I worked for. Yeah. And but then the time came where I just needed to I just needed to change. my earning capacity was limited. Yeah. I was getting older, had a mortgage and and whatnot. Yeah. So the the builder that I originally first started working for, that assistant footy coach, his brother was an actually established builder. So he gave me a mature age apprenticeship.
which I was forever grateful for. So that's how it kicked things off. Because I said, look, if I want to go back to fencing, I'm gonna need some qualifications and that. So yeah, did my set three in carpentry with him. a bit of RPL, which was good. So I did it quick. So good. I was already experienced, already had my own tools, had a Ute and everything. Yeah. so I think I did my first year in three months, which is good. but yeah, and then I was working for him for a bit, which is good. I learned a lot. We'll we were doing more building work, so getting buildings out of the ground, like more ext like
External. yeah, footings, working with machines, heights, RLs and all that, which I loved. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, getting it to slab and then setting out for the blocky, pouring footings and that. It was really good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. obviously read it being able to read plans, structural plans and all that. It was good. But obviously I always had plans to go back to to the fencing. Fencing side. Yeah. So yeah, my wife my I was still working for that builder. My wife got pregnant and then I was
slowly putting things in motion. while I was a third year, I was I already started my cert four in building and construction. So just doing like the assignments online, like Blue Dog. So I was doing it through that. All online assignments, stuff like that. So I was getting everything in motion. As soon as I could get my QBCC license, I got it. And carpentry and structural landscaping while I was still working for my boss. Set up the company and everything. And I was actually doing jobs. I was actually doing a fence every Saturday while I was still working
For my boss. Wow. And then then my first child came, my son Tommy, he was born. And I had a month off. I was I told him I wanted two weeks off and I took two weeks off, but I don't know. It was just a nice time. Mm-hmm. And I just needed more time off to spend spend with him. So I had a month off. And then I don't know, I think as soon my first day going back as a father, going back to work. I don't know. Yeah, this this switch had flicked and I was just I don't know. I didn't
Look, I everyone's different, everyone's in different careers and works at different companies and that. So that's fine. So I'm not judging, but I don't know. I just this I think I and after eating shit for so long and being a mature age apprentice and like laboring for like people that were younger than me, cleaning up after trades that were younger than me. I don't know. I was just like, I'm not I'm not taking this anymore. Like I'm not taking orders from anyone anymore. I'm starting my own thing. That's freaking cool. Yeah. So I just it's not I just I just jumped into it and I had everything set up.
I was planning to give my boss a month's notice because I felt so bad because I didn't want to leave, you know. but the day before I was going to give him a month's notice, we actually had a big falling out and I walked off site. So that was on a Thursday, and I had four I had four jobs booked in the next four Saturdays for like for La Motta Group for myself. And I walked out on this on the Thursday.
the next day on the Friday, I called all those four customers up and asked if I could move them to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday the next week. And then that was it. So the next week it just started and then I've never had a open week. I've just it's it's been booked out since. And that was five years ago. So it just kept just kept rolling on. So yeah. You did it hard, mate. Yeah. You did it hard, Evan? I didn't realise, mate. that's a that's a hard way to come up and and
It all happened for a reason though, right? Yeah, and I think I I think again, all the pennies are dropping. I think it made the person that you are today. I I I I don't want to talk about how I heard you talk to someone on the phone before one of your workers, but you the respect you gave the way you talked to them, I did notice, mate. Yeah. And and I around trades and builders a lot and I I pick up on how people actually treat their people. Yeah, for sure. And and
Man, you've learned a lot through that whole thing. Well everything those every everything they've taught me, unf like look, unfortunately. Everything they taught me was what not to do. So I've just incorporated all that. And look at your fly, mate. Like look at you now, five years ago, and then you you took that leap and off you go. That is so cool. Crazy how the world works. And look, I was so nervous about starting my own thing and I was so nervous. I I actually had two properties. I had a f our family home that we
bought and I had a an apartment that we rented out as an investment property. And I was so nervous about the business going well that I sold both those properties before I started. Wow. And we moved in with my in laws because I was so scared of I wouldn't be able to make a mortgage payment because if it didn't go well. Look, in hindsight, I shouldn't have done it. I should have kept those two because I'd be fine now, but it is what it is. You don't know what you don't know. And you didn't but Yeah but
That's a r actually that's a really cool story. It's a real phenomenal story the way you you've done it and Yeah. And this is why I love what I do, man, because you've you you spotlight really great people in the industry and you find out what's made them. Yeah. and I those experiences, man. Well you when you started La Motta, you've done it you worked solo for a little while. Yeah. Yeah, I was working by myself. How was that the kickoff of La Motta Group and what lessons? What were the some of the hardest lessons like were accounting?
Cash flow, what were you? Yeah. I've le I learned so much. I had no idea. So I didn't know how I didn't know what you just pay myself? Like what do I like thank thankfully though, one of my best friends, Abby, shout out to Abby. Shout out to Abby. She we went to primary school together. We still and then we caught the same school bus together in high school because our high schools were closed by so we've been friends since we were little kids. And she's a she's a bookkeeper and she's my bookkeeper. yeah. So yeah, anything.
Anything I needed, she was there. We need on the podcast. We do betray. We do. She's good. Yeah. she looks after a lot of tradies. Yeah. Okay. not trying to boast, but apparently I'm her easiest client. But anyway. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. but yeah, look, she just taught me everything. obviously I think, you know, as soon as you start to turn over X amount, you've got to register for GST. And look, thankfully the business was going that well that
Within a month or two we had to register register for GST. Let's go monogro. Yeah, so it w it was good. I love it. Yeah. So we yeah, just kept going with that. And then showed me how to set up paying myself my wage and putting away enough for tax and super. And obviously I got paranoid with that because I saw how my old bosses operated with none of that. So I always put extra always just put away more, was very cautious. So look, I was very cautious from the start. I can thankfully say, like touch wood, I never made any stupid, like
financial mistakes like buying something extravagant on the business or anything. So yeah. It's always been fine in in that aspect. But yeah, just learn everything along the way with QBCC and all that stuff. Like how you had to your licensing and your certain levels and then your annual reporting. It's almost like they're a second bloody ATO, you've got to report to them as well. And stuff like that. Yeah. So I've learnt so much on the way. Like, you know, if you had five hours I could tell you like what they've just been what I've learned. Yeah. How awful I've
Yeah, he's freaking cool. Yeah. We'll make yeah. Well, you're still here five years down and you're flourishing back. Yeah, it's going well. Yeah. Sorry, the question was working on my own. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, sorry. Yeah, no. Well did you did you and working on your own and and being on the tools and running a business? Yeah. Having a young family. So did you have Tommy at the time? You did. Yeah, yeah, I did. I did have him at the time. And he was only only months old. But it was good because my wife wasn't like my
As soon as she went left on maternity leave when she was six months or seven months, whatever, pregnant. She she like she never she well, she hasn't gone back to work since. Yeah. And because we were living at my in law's house. It was a lot easier so she had a lot of help. Yeah. and it was always nice like, you know, we're we're all close with our parents and in laws, so it's all it was a nice time. Like they were always around and that. Yeah. so yeah, it was good. Like like working working by myself, okay, it was fine. Yeah. Like I was
I've I've always been looked after myself like physically in that. It was a lot harder, obviously a lot more steps. Mm. I was the labourer, the tradey. I was doing the invoicing, the quoting. I was going to site visits during qu and and I I actually still do all that. I still do all the invoicing, the quoting. Really? I still do all of that. Every quote I send is from me and every site visit I do is is me.
That's accountability, man. And I think people like that. c residential customers like that because the the guy who's coming to do the quote is the guy that's going to be there to build the fence. Yeah. So it's good. You don't get some sales rep out there that says, Yeah, we can do this, this, and that. And then the operator rocks up. we can't work around that. Like you know, there's then there's conflict and that. So yeah, I think I think people like that. So that's cool. And you know, the other thing I love about you, mate, is when you do like your Friday five minute
A five question Friday. Five question Friday and and and you feed to your wife on there. That's another thing that I really love about you. Well she's been she's been a part of it the whole time as well. Yeah, yeah. It's her business too. Yeah, yeah. No, I I love that about you, mate. And I can see the relationship and the trust of and and you know, you remind me of me and my wife. We're a bit the same and and I love that you kind of s you're a team, yeah. Like and and I know she works in the business and so does my wife, but like they might not be
front and centre, but they do so much behind the scenes. yeah. And to show that, and whether it be in the business or for the family. Yeah. I love how you highlight your family and put out there and and be so thankful. they're it's yeah, they're all part of it, hey. Yeah. Yeah. Again, another reason why I love you, man. all right. So we went through your first sort of solo year. You you got did you get an apprentice on or or or any? So
Sorry. Yeah. So I was working by myself for about a year or so. And then my I've obviously because we're living with my in laws. Yeah. My wife's little brother was still at school at the time and he was like grade eleven or twelve. And you know how you could do like a work experience like one day a week, sort of thing. So he star he just started coming with me. wow. And look, it was a massive weight off my shoulders because say I'm doing like a 30 meter fence. I've got to carry well, first of I've got to demo the old fence, then carry all that into my trailer.
And then carry all the material. I'll dig all the holes and then carry all the concrete bags out, all the posts and that. So he just covered like half my daily steps because he was just obviously doing that. So he was walk everything out for me. And yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's so yeah, that was a massive weight weight off my shoulders. And then after he finished school, he started working for me part time while he was at uni. Yeah, wow. Yeah, which was good. Cool. and then he wanted to like try a few other things. So he went and got a few other jobs, which is fine. Like, no.
No love loss. It was just he just wanted to try something else. He was studying anyway. So fencing wasn't something he wanted to do anyway. and then so I started back working by myself again. And then I just had a bit of a rotation of friends that were at uni or working or didn't work nine to five, they worked like a four on four off for like companies and that. Yeah. And they'd just come work for me on their days off. right. Like all in the books, like as a casual rate, yeah, sort of thing. And it was good because they were all my friends. They were all people I used to work with or people from footy.
I bet you paid them more than a hundred bucks a day, didn't you? Yeah. Yeah, that's don't you give me shivers every time. Yeah. So it was it was good. It was good in that aspect, but sometimes it was a bit inconsistent. Yeah. And and also it didn't line up with my schedule. Like, you know, if there's a day where I'm starting like a 50 meter fence, yeah, and none of those boys could work that day, I'm like, fuck, I need someone on that day. Yeah. So I just thought I'd I feel like, maybe I need someone like a bit more.
reliable, not that they're unreliable, but more available. Yeah. And then so I was really considering putting someone on full time. And then my older brother, he's two years older than me. He was really over his job at the time. And he was working for a company that built like horse arenas. What happened? Yeah, like on rural properties, like big machinery, but always driving like two hour way trips. Yeah. And that's yeah. And so I I I I asked him if he wanted to come work for me full time. And obviously with fencing,
With one operator doing you 30 four forty meter fence, for the time being, it's I it's pretty you're pretty much a trade assistant. You just need someone, you just need a second set of hands and legs. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So he started working with me and that was really good. So it was good I had a full-time employee, and it was my brother, someone I can trust. Yeah, yeah, yeah. and then sometimes we we started to get some bigger jobs. So I actually had another casual guy start with us two days a week. So it was some on some days there was three of us, which was would would lighten the load. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then
My unfortunately my brother suffered an injury outside of work where he broke his arm. wow. Yeah. And I think being a bit older and not used to the physical work, once he recovered, he's st like it was still a niggle. Yeah, and and unfortunately with the line of work we're in, we're not some big company where I can just put you on light duties sort of thing. I said, Lord, it's i look if you can't unfortunately if you it a hundred percent, we can't.
and we we we parted ways like both agreed. It was fine. No no love lost again. Love it. Just went to try something else. Yeah. So yeah, I just went through the motions of having part timers again. Yeah, wow. Yeah, so it was just a big it was fine. Some days I was by myself, but sometimes because I did it, I was so used to working by myself. I love training by myself, or running by my e everything. So some do sometimes after three days working with someone, it was nice to work by myself. Yeah, yeah. If that makes sense. Yeah. So it was it wasn't too bad.
Yeah. And then one day I went through I I went through about a month patch where I had no one and I was like really needed to and I've always had someone work for me that I knew. Yeah. My god, is this the time we have to put someone on that I never met? Yeah, yeah. And I just put a little ad on my Instagram story. This was before content. So I had about two thousand followers. Wow. And I s I just put up a story. Does anyone want a day's work tomorrow? Just carrying palings for me and leaning them up because it was already post and railed the job. I'd seen as put the palings on.
And then this this kid just hit me up and said, Hey, I can w come work for you tomorrow. And that was Jim, who works full time for me now, who had just called me before. I love Jim. I love Jim. I love Jim. He's cool dude. He's all part of it, the conte everything too. Yeah. He's a freaking cool dude. Yeah. So he c he was, he worked for me part time. And then he was he's from Gove in Northern Territory. So he was he boarded at school in Brisbane. And
He worked for me part time and then he actually left and he moved back home. Which was a bit sad because he was good and like we started to get come pretty close and he was working for me like pretty much full time. Yeah. But on a casual rate. But like, you know, day off here and there, 'cause he was at uni as well. And then he left. And then I went I went back through like having people part time. My wife's little brother came back, was working for me for a bit too. He still works for me part time, which is good. Harry, he's twenty two now. Yeah. and he's got a young young kid now too. So it's good.
and he look he's still uni still works for me three days a week. Wow, that's so good. And then I was just like, you know what? I'm just gonna contact Jim and say, how's it going up there? he was working a good mining job and good money and whatnot. And I just said, look, if you ever want to come back here, I'll put you on full time, buy you a U, kit it out, everything full time. This is what I'll pay you, blah, blah, blah. And he came down and a couple months later. And that was September last year. So he's been full time since then.
Soon as he came down, we went to we went and bought a brand new, just a brand new single cab ute. Yeah. Put a toolbox on it, got a twelve piece Makita kit, put it in there, and then now we got two Utes running. Which has also been a massive loadoff because now we don't have to get deliveries under 40 meters worth of fencing because we got I got my trailer, he's got his view. Yeah. So it's good. Yeah. And now he could go out like while we're here, he's he's out working with my I've got a school based apprentice now, obvious as well.
Who works every Wednesday, so they're together running around while we're here. So that is so cool. That's so cool. And you know what that shows me, Matt? Good leadership. Yeah. Good leadership and like to pull someone out of the mines that, to come and work for you. Move state. Yeah. Obviously enjoyed working with you. Yeah, yeah. And and that that's good leadership. And still here and still there. mate. And as I said, participating in the bad video. Yeah. By the way, too. And he does a freaking great job. That's yeah. And he's all and the thing is he's all in on
You know, you see some of the content out there and sometimes they're normal. Let's go. Well, if he he was actually the creator of Five Christian Friday. That was his idea. really? Yeah, now we're up to we've done it every week and we're up to episode twenty six. Yeah, I watched every episode. Freaking lovely. good. Well, talking about like your your presence and and and that sort of thing, like I I think like I said to you out the back maiden I'm not afraid to say it on the podcast, I think you
Do whatever you want. I think you're a you're a great operator, you're a weapon of a bloke. Jim's a weapon, your wife's a weapon. you got some you got some stuff going on. Very grateful. Yeah, you got a great team and and a great way of of of doing business and and you know, just putting yourself out there and all that stuff. And you can see your customers love you as well. Yeah, they do. But they're freaking jump on your videos, but yeah, well it's good. And it's good with the content because they it's like they know us. I know. So there's a big trust there. Yeah. It's really good. And it ev I swear to God, every
Every Friday that we've worked, the customer goes, All right, boys, where's your five question Friday today? What pub are you going to? Or what are I'm like, shit, you watch it? mate, there are there I I told you that when you do things like you kinda go, we're gonna do this video and when you were doing that one, how much do you make? And you kind of did that first little reel, yeah, I was hanging for the full reel. Like everyone just I think everyone just waits on Instagram and it's like bang the monitor. That was cool, now we saw it. But talking about all that, like and I know that, you know, not bigot is always not.
And and we preach that. you gotta build the business that you wanna build. Yeah. You've got to operate it the way you wanna operate. Hey, Evan. Yeah. how come you d you you wanna, not grow so much and you've mentioned that you wanted to stay not you're not small, mate, but you w you you where you wanna be and and why is that, mate? I don't know, I I'm just a big believer in like if it's if it's not broken, like don't fix it. Like I don't know, like there's this massive expectation and stigma about with construction.
trade businesses that you just need to scale, scale, just keep going, keep growing. It is. It really is. And I don't You don't feel it? No, I don't feel the need to. I love being on the tools all day every day. I'm 36 and if I wasn't on the tools every day, I'd blow out. I'd m I'd put on weight. I don't know. I just I just love it. I still I'm still in there digging holes by hand and, carrying stuff. Sometimes I like to swap with the boys. I said, I'll start carrying the stuff. You, you do you do this. Like I don't know. It's just
I don't know if it's just been instilled in me, but yeah, I don't it it it works at the moment. Yeah. there's there's less stress because I'm the owner operator, I'm there. We we start one job and we finish one job. Yeah. I never have two jobs going at once. Yeah. We get in there, we start it, and we finish it, and we move on to the next one. Start, finish, send the bill. Start, finish, send the bill. And we've just kept doing that. I just feel it works.
a couple of times a week I'm sending an invoice. So there's always something coming in. I'm not waiting on big drawdowns if I was a builder, stuff like that. So yeah, it's fine. And days like this and we're doing sm like a few small jobs, Jim can go do whatever. sometimes I ask him, Do you want the day out? Do you need to do s because he still studies he's works with me full time, but he studies online. So works out well. Yeah. If he's got assignments or whatever, he'll take an annual leave day or whatnot. sometimes if I go on a week's holiday, he'll just take it off too.
And some people you should keep him working. But yeah, well, if he wants to take a week annual leave too, you know what? While I'm away, I'm not getting phone calls from him with shit that's gone wrong. Mm-hmm. I can enjoy my holiday. Yeah. So yeah, look it's benefits. Yeah, that's it. And look, we work hard and we all we all make enough. And it's a if if it's enough to pay my mortgage and look after my kids and for my wife to stay home with the kids, then why not? Yeah. No. And look, we're always looking to improve like we do look, every year
We our turnover does slightly go up. Yeah, yeah. Even though we're doing the same thing with the same amount. Yeah. But I think it because our job's so repetitive, every year we get that little bit more efficient and find quicker ways and more efficient ways how to finish the job. So we're we're just doing more jobs. Yeah. With the same amount of same manpower. Yeah. So it's it's a great philosophy, mate. you've built a lot of trust.
in the moder group. You really have. And and if it were the old men, and I'll be really honest and and I had your business, yeah. I'd scale it to the moon because because I'm like, you can man, you've got the greatest reputation. And but you know what, someday I'm look, I'm what I'm answering now is how I feel right now. Okay. Mm. I might get to forty five and I'm like, what am I doing? I need to get off the tools and put a few more guys on. That might happen. But I'm not I'm not stressing myself out to look that far into the future. If things are good right now and
I can look towards maybe the next year or so and if things are looking good like that, then we'll just keep it that way. But yeah, look, I might I might scale one day or and Jim's mentioned to me a couple of times he wants to, take more initiative and that, so which is good I'm letting let him do more stuff on his own and go go do some quotes and stuff like that. Very cool. Yeah, so yeah, all all in good time. Yeah, I'm not I'm I'm a I'm actually s believe it or not, I'm actually a very simple man. So if it's if it's enough and it works.
No, the more I get to know you, the more you you kind of are. And and I don't need I don't need much. I mean it's cool. Like yeah, and and like the way I stood out on the gutter and was a fanboy. yeah, I like, I have this. Do you know what I mean? And and stuff like that, and you're like, Hey man, I'm just like a normal dude So good, let's just chat. Yeah, for sure. But you are, you are and and yeah, you know, my my the place where my sort of question and I guess my thing came from, honestly, Evan, was that like
I trust you, mate. Like it and I I would get you to do anything for me. And I know the thousands of people that follow you do too. And I know the thousands of people that follow us and talk about you to us about you would too. and you've just got this great opportunity and you've built this great reputation and and and it's I and but I think it's very cool. There's a few things that you've said to me and we we don't need to talk about all. But there's a few things that you've said to me off air as well that just
you're very focused and you know what you want to do and you and you know how you wanna run the business and you're very particular and and you care for it. Yeah so you're not just copping out like I was saying to you back there, I was like, Hey Evan, I've got these dudes that sponsor us. I was born to you and you're like, Well, you know maybe mate, but just ch chill for a second and I have a thing about it. You're not all you're not in it for you know, the notari
for sure. And looking shit brand deals. Yeah, exactly. And you know what, to get something straight, I'm I'm a I'm a fence builder, a gate contractor, whatever you want to call it, a business owner, father, husband, whatever, all that I'm that before way before I'm a content creator. Yeah. That's the last thing on my list. Yeah, it breaks up the day and it's fun, makes videos, gets my name out there. And like you said, another thing with trust, like my face.
And my details are plastered all over the internet. Yeah. So if I'm not it's probably impossible for me to do a runner or or ghost someone, you know you know what I mean? Like so it's and so I I don't mind doing that because I hold mys hold myself accountable. Like I'm not gonna do anything bad to someone or do do the wrong thing by someone because it's my reputation online, my face and details are plastered everywhere. So nowhere to find me.
Which I'm not afraid of because I'm I because you do a freaking great I know. And again, I'll I'll shut up about it. That's what I think opportunity for you're a legend and like I said, there are a few brand partnerships that I'm gonna put you in touch with. Switch, you're Calibon. Leanne, I'll be putting you in touch with this legend here. And I know you Calibon guys like good fences and you gotta focus on fencing. Remember my fence that you did for me. Well, the thing with brands is like Colourbon. That's something I'm gonna use. Makeda. That's the tools I use. Like
I can't I'm not an actor and I'm I'm not gonna lie to someone. Like a su a product I've never heard of or never used or I don't plan to use, I'm not gonna take that and say, Hey, this is unreal. Go check out. Like So much integrity. I don't use it. So yeah, I'm not an act. If I if I'm gonna do that, I'll become an actor and go on T V and to do ads. Yeah. But that's yeah. You're probably good. You're a looking voice. So I reckon you can do it. All right.
Now we'll get more into the social, but yeah, I I really love what you're about, love what you produce. Everyone does, mate. So thank you for Thank you, appreciate it. And the other thing I love about you is now that I know you a little bit more and how you talk about you're a content creator last, which I I do think some trades put first. Yeah. and that's happening on what day to day now, which is which is quite interesting. Yeah. And I do have to check myself sometimes, I will admit, when I when I get home, I feel like I have to edit a reel and
My kids are here there, wanting to play, I'm like, all right, hang on. Yeah, chill. Gotta put the phone down. Yeah. Or I'll do it while I'm in the car still or do it when they go to bed or if they're at Kindy. That's cool. You you gotta obviously yeah, for sure. It's not or but sometimes it's good because they wanna see it. Like my because Tommy's five now, so he's like, can I see that video? He's like, what's Jim? Why did Jim say the F word or So it's good, it's good to find. He's involved in it now. So I love it.
I pretty love it. Well, okay, well, I know you're not wanting to be a content creator, but you do great content and why you've got such an amazing. look, I do enjoy it. Yeah. But where where did it all start? I know I sent you a weird email about the bucket video. The bucket video. Maybe that's not where it started, so we don't have to talk about that. No, no, it's why did you sort of start doing the content then? Yeah. I s I s I started the Instagram page when I started the business in 2021. So I've had it for five years and I all I did was post, you know.
go open up my photo grid app, post the before photo and the after photo and just to show people. And look, that was good. It went well. People even told me then, it's so satisfying, you know, like see the before and after and whatnot. I was doing that for a couple of years. Sometimes I'd post a reel, but it just me going with the fence. Or me going like that, press the button, the gate would open or which was still people still liked it. I still got nice comments on it, stuff like that. But and then
Phil, my content creator, which I'll I've been friends with for years as well before all this. Shout out to you, Phil. Wilson Media Co., his Instagram is. Phil. yeah, he like obviously we're friends and then I realised he was doing like videography. So I contacted him and thought, like, you know, can you come and
well first it was can you just go to these addresses and take nice professional photos of the fences? So it wasn't even me in it and it was still just photos of fences. Yeah. Which obviously from a photographer it looked unreal. Yeah. And also drone shots and stuff like that. So it still wasn't me behind the camera. And then I don't know, I just we just stopped doing that for a while. Got busy, so I just stopped getting him out there. And we'd we'd always talk. We still talk occasionally. And he said, look, maybe you need to start getting in front of the camera.
Some different content. And I saw he was doing a lot of work with builders, that sort of stuff. And I was like, no, I don't want to do that. And a few months went on. I'm like, maybe I just need to grow a set of balls and just get behind the camera. And I was gonna get behind the camera and talk, but I still couldn't do that. I was so I was just working on a job and I was working by myself a few maybe over a year ago, about three months before Jim started back with me full time. I was doing a fifty-eight meter fence by myself.
And I demoed it all and I'm just digging the holes. And I was just sat down for a bit and scrolled through. And I saw this product where you know, it it braces the posts for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you pour you all you gotta do is pour the concrete. And I'm like, look, no disrespect to that, and I don't want to bad mouth, I don't know, didn't even know the name of the company. But I'm like, what the fuck around? You gotta do that to every post, pour the concrete in, take it away. All I used to do was I'd I'd get it plum up to the string line and just lean my shovel on it and then just pour pour the concrete in. But then I'd
Once it was firm, I could still plumb it up. Still fine. Still working. Absolutely. Absolutely. So I you know what? I'm just gonna do a video on that. Me digging the hole, me concreting the post in with the hose, pull the rapid set in, stuff, And I just lent my phone up on a bucket, just film myself doing it. And then just had a caption, no fancy tools required, just me, myself, and whatever. It was cool. And I had two thousand followers at the time and just all organ like raw, just people followed me just for, my before and afters. And
I remember posting it and then a couple of hours later it had ten thousand views and I didn't know anything about reels or insights or anything. Really? And I was like, ten thousand, that's more than my followers. So that that means people aren't following me look at it. how does that work? I'd had no idea. And then people were commenting and Phil might he was the first comment, more of this, but without a shirt, just been joking around sort of thing. And and then it honestly it started it just started from that. And then two days later, I was
Putting the rails on by myself. And they're four point eight meter long rails. They're usually easier for two people, one end, screw it in. Yeah. you showed how to do it. Yeah, well, I just did it by myself. on the on the third post I just screwed battenscrew in about ten mil in, all that, and then so I can lean it up. So that was my second set of hands doing that. And that was my next video, and it got about twenty thousand and a few negative comments about I don't know, people from America or Victoria like about not notching your post or what are you doing like this.
Whatever. So that was my first few negative comments, but I didn't I didn't look into it too much. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. And then it just started from there. Then I was like, maybe I post a funny one or or something. And I then I posted a a funny one. I think it was it was because obviously I I was working six days a week. So I posted a photo of like a before and after, like a get ready with me. I'm like, this is me in my work clothes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I like put my hand on the camera and this is me in my weekend clothes. And it was like the same clothes because I just live it live in my work clothes. And
So many people resonate so many other tradies, like service-based business owner, sole traders that would just work by themselves, they all related to it and it just blew up. And I was like, let's I'll keep going with this. So was that the one that blew you? Yeah. You reckon? Yeah. That's so cool. Yeah. And then I was just relatable, mate. It was just so relatable. Yeah, well, everything relatable. People ask me now, and ninety percent of my mates are tradies or self-employed. And it's like, how do you how do you think of that stuff? And I said, I I honestly don't.
If something we're doing on site happens, Jim's like, that's something we could make a video on. Or I'm like, let's make a video on that. And I'll just quickly get my phone out, write it in my notes, and just put it away. And then sometimes if we've got a slower day where we just gotta do a few gates or whatever, in between that we'll I'll look at my notes. I'm like, All right, we can film this one, this sometimes we go a week without filming, and then sometimes in one day we film ten. Wow. So there's always drafts and stuff ready to post. So fascinating. Yeah.
No, because I I it's become a th a big deal now. we're right into it. No pressure on you, Matt. No, I don't want you to feel any pressure, but the world does wait for some of you to post and like they really freaking do. And like you said, like I I'd laugh about that, but it's funny you say because some people do have come up to me at Bunnings and be like, I've got notifications on, so when you post a reel and the story not about that. I thought of I was actually gonna say that. But anyway, they do. But what about your story about like getting the fencing?
and and you Jim had to come up was it Jim had to come up here to grab some stuff here and they were like, Well I'm monitoring you. Yeah. my god. Yeah, I just sent we were doing a concrete sleeper retaining wall and we were one sleeper short and my supplier just didn't have them in stock and we needed them that day and I found this place up the coast and he Jim went there and he he he got back and goes, Jesus, you should have seen they nearly rolled the red carpet for me. They were like, hey, it's you guys, like we follow you all your stuff and Yeah so and yeah, that was it's crazy. Yeah.
And the the other bits that I love about you like like I said, entertainment, education. You build so much trust, but you never really take shots at the industry either. I don't You're never really negative man. I refuse to. There's some look, there's I'm not gonna lie, there's sometimes I see something. Yeah. And I'm like, I wouldn't have done it like that. But I just leave it at that. Probably the council yeah. That was that was wild. See, I watch all your content. And see, that was another thing where that went super viral.
Channel seven rang me and they wanna Yahoo News they wanted to do an article on it and everything. I was like, is it slow news day or what? this is just a fucking tells you. Yeah. But anyway, I wasn't gonna I was gonna take a I took a video of that and photos of it, and I was gonna leave it at that. And Jim's like, You gotta post that. I'm like, I might put on my story. And he's like, No, no, no. You need to post that as a reel. Yeah. I was like, I don't know. And I did it, I posted it that night, woke up, five hundred thousand already. Yeah.
them was me. I was loving it. It blew. I think I shared it. I think I put on my stories, on the Good Builder stories. It was some 80-year-old guy. No one's gonna find him. They actually asked me where it was. I'm like, I'm not telling you guys. Nah, like that's Australian. Wouldn't you be doing that? Yeah. Yeah, but yeah, going back, I I'll never comment. No. I'll never comment like something negative about someone's work. No, you don't these people that build their hope.
whole profiles around them. yeah, burner profiles. Some some comments I click on the profile and it takes me to a profile. No profile picture, no followers, no following. And it literally says in the bio, hey, did I trigger you? Like, cause they know it was just the comment that I'm like, I actually laugh a bit inside. I'm like, yeah, you got me. But like, yeah, it's it's crazy. And look, those those negative comments
They don't affect me one bit because I know they're just a nobody. They got no, nothing. Doesn't affect me one bit. What if I'm not gonna lie, what triggers me and still does trigger me now and actually gets to me and I take to heart is when another, another trade business comments on my page something negative. And I'm like, are you fucking serious? Like we're in this together. Like you've got a small business as well as mine. And like
You've just commented on my public forum where there's potential customers that are gonna see this saying that hole doesn't look like it's deep enough. you fucking stupid. Like sometimes I reply, I'm like, mate, do better. Like you're in you're in exactly the same boat as I am. Could you imagine if I did that to you? Yeah. Like I couldn't I couldn't believe it. No, you we don't need any of that shit. Yeah. It's probably one of the number one reasons we start the good build.
Yeah. we are in this together. And that's why we got you on. I know. I've met so many good people on on social media. there's really good there are some good people out there. that's why we we got you on the good builder and and as I said to you when we're at the back, you'll probably but from the good builder want me on the boat. Because more people should be like you now. Yeah. no matter if you're a fencer, no matter if you're an electrician, no matter if you're a fucking concreter.
We're all in it together. That construction industry gets a reputation from whatever we fucking build. So support each other. Yeah. And help each other. For sure. And and if you think the hole's too small, which it isn't, yeah. Write a DM and say, Hey, did you check that, mate? I do it this way. I feel like and and and the video was a time line. I don't even think. So it was it was two hundred times sped up. Like how how the fuck could you say like I was just and but like even if you could tell, like why say that? Not not that I
I don't think that trade business has any business. That's why. And it was actually a landscaping company. So similar industry. I was just like, what the fads have to do. I I was st yeah, so getting back to that, stuff like that still irks me. I'm not gonna lie, it still triggers me. Still still pisses me off. And I I restra I'd really r restrain from yeah t saying how I really feel. Things like that. I've worked
the things like that piss me off when it's about our work. Yeah. I've had people say, this guy looks like he smoked about fifty bongs. Well, I'm half fucking Chinese. of course I do. But number one I squint when I smile too. I don't know if you know. But no number one, like what what's the purpose of what was the comment what what did you get out of saying that? Of doing that. Yeah. Like and it doesn't affect me. But like don't pick on the work like if it's constructive criticism, yeah. Do it in a in a professional way. Yeah. I'm with you, A.
I've I've ever I've I've only ever done one constructive criticism, but I DM'd them and I was only doing help. I said, look, and it was a builder. That's what I mean. A fence contractor built a fence for him. So it wasn't even his work. I said, Hey, just letting you know this the span between that looks a bit big, just makes just ask him, is that Yeah. And he's like, thanks for letting me know. It was fine. That's it. That's the only time I've ever done it. But you what, having back, I probably wouldn't have. Yeah. But I just But all they're doing is trying to leech your.
And you've got a great following, so they probably think, a lot of customers are gonna look at this. I might steal with a stupid comment. Yeah. You know, yeah, that's real interesting. I was wondering how you handle the haters and all that because you've got a big following, and yeah, you know, for 75,000, you get a lot of comments. I don't see how you even you should almost have a social media manager that does your profile. You know what I mean? Like you've got that many followers and like shares. It's it's funny though, because some negative comments, like, look, I'm all for banter.
And sense I've got I've obviously from my videos, I've got a massive sense of humor and all that. So and so does Jim, all the guys that work for me or have worked for me all have a footy background, construction background. So me and Jim, we hang shit on each other all the time. Yeah. So some negative comments are actually really good that we've actually laughed at it. Like, you know, one guy's like, my son's also named Evan. I'm glad he's not a a fucking dickhead as well. I'm like
Like we love like Jesus Christ. Like just stuff like that. Yeah. wow. And like well we're like, that's good. Like some saying it like I look like I've got down syndrome in some videos. I'm like, what the fuck's this coming from? No, I get so Anyway, cut that out if you want, but like I I don't know. It's just like people are weird. Yeah. I don't yeah, it's I don't know. You keep doing what you do, mate, because we fucking love you. And everyone but like ninety nine point nine percent of people love you and the point
one percent of fucking burner accounts. Yeah. And they're just eating it. See what I mean? And Or the odd the odd boomer. Yeah. But it shows the the following you have, the support that you get through everything that you do, mate. you got so much love out there. Yeah, it's good. It it is good. It's a good little community. It's reflection of of of you, mate. thank you. And what she put out there. I'm just go to quick drinks. Yeah, all good.
Now on the content, Evan, for do you have any tips for builders or tradies out there on content? For content. Like how how to do it. Because it was really interesting to find out how you actually do them. I thought you know you're quite I thought you were quite strategic and things like that, but it sounds like you're pretty much at the moment. Along the way I have learnt like strategically, but then after after thought after thinking I did know a few things strategically, I now I know it's
Bullshit sometimes because I used to think posting at a certain time mattered, the certain hashtags and whatnot. I'd personally think it doesn't doesn't mean anything. It's the content. If it's gonna pop, it's gonna pop. That's what I reckon. Yeah. I'm sorry with you. And that's why I'm a big believer in now is if you're hesitant about posting a certain video, just post it anyway. It's the worst that can happen. Yeah. Delete it later if you don't like it. Just just post it. So now I just post anything and everything and
It usually goes off. Sometimes I spend two hours editing something and it flops. Then I'll post something I posted about six months ago, just me reloading nails into my nail gun. Thirty million no, sorry, twenty million views. Seven seconds. Wow. And then I I did one where I was trying to lip sync my dogs talking. It took me hours to edit. 15,000. So yeah, I could it's
You can't pick it, but yeah, sorry. my God. I've been talking Your company is out for a year exactly. It's so cool. I always try to try new things. But yeah, sorry, back to your question was I forgot what the question was. build is starting out content. yeah, what would you do? I don't know. Like I'm not a big fan of trying to sell on your videos. Like, if you need this, reach out to us. You never do that. I wouldn't yeah, I wouldn't start like that. I'd start maybe if you're gonna post like your first ever video, I'd probably do a 30-second video of
Introducing yourself and who you are and a bit of your background and what you do. And then maybe at the end, so if this is something you're into, please don't hesitate to DM us or whatever. But I'm my name's Evan. I'm a 36-year-old, you my young, I'm a young dad, just started our family business. We've got 20 years experience and whatnot. And then maybe the next one is of your first job. hey guys, we just completed this job, come take a look. And the details into it. Not if you want something like this, you know. I love it. Yeah. So I reckon that. And then
Once it's warmed up a bit you can, do a few insights like, we're when do digging this hole here, we've just run into an obstacle, we're gonna do when do you show your personality? When do you show you w what's the right time? It it's a question that I have too. I d I don't know, and I don't know if there is a rot time, when did you let the real heaven out and your humour and your and your stuff like that? Because do you think if you let it out earlier, 'cause you're a great bloke.
Yeah, it would have resonated earlier or Yeah, I think so, but I I I just had to be ready for it. I just wasn't ready. Just comfortable in yourself and in front of camera. Yeah. And that and that comes like anything. Practice. just practice, practice and just repetition. Yeah. We get better. Just like how I said before with building our fences. Yeah, I can build one in my sleep, but I've been doing it and we don't do it every day, repetitive, repetitive, and then for some reason we just find a new way and become quicker at it, more efficient. And it works. Yeah. With everything really. Have a shot at it. Do it.
Yeah, just have a crack. Yeah. I said, I thought to myself, it's gotta grow up hair and get in front of the camera. Just do it. And you can you can tell when there's a builder that has no experience and no desire to post any content and they just grab some agency with all the filming crew and just they're just told what to say. And they actually look really awkward talk talking. Yeah. And sometimes those ones actually get a lot of engagement because people are sharing them to each other. look at this guy, he looks like he's about to
start crying or whatever. So they get shared for the wrong reas reasons, but they still get exposures, which sometimes any exposure's good exposure. Yeah. So yeah. Yeah. So yeah, that's what I I'd start with. Nah, that's great advice. And thank you, Matham, because yeah, yeah, you're great. I know, like you said, you're you're a content creator last, but you're a great content creator. And I know that's not what you're about. Yeah. look, don't me g don't get me wrong, I do love doing it. But yeah, it's just it's not it's not, you know, the primary. Yeah. It's not big priority. Yeah. I was well, I was thinking if this
podcast went that you were gonna say I'm retiring from thinking. I'm like, hey, why don't you come do the good builder? Why don't you just grab the cameras here or I grab the cameras and film you and you come up with all the shit 'cause I think your shit's better than their shit. And I really do. And I like I I just love the way you go about the the whole thing. There's it's like a really nice balance of yes education, as I said, entertainment. There's all that fun in there. There's behind the scenes stuff. There's yeah dogs singing, there's all sorts of stuff going on. It just shows that
And the personality side, I think that's from me, like I said, I felt I knew you when when you came in, it just that connection, man, that you've created through social and and the person you are, man, I think it's exceptional. thank you. yeah, that was the whole podcast is not just about the content creation side of it, it's about La Modder Group, but you there's some valuable lessons for builders and trades out there and how you do it. good. So anyone who doesn't follow the modta, we wouldn't have somebody on our
following that wouldn't follow LaMotta. But if there is one out there, there's probably one. I don't know what your name is, Tom. go and follow Go and follow La Motta group and and and get some real entertainment because they're fucking great. And yeah, you know, but yeah, real love what you do, mate. Thank you. Appreciate it. I I really could talk to you all day and I've only got one question left for you which sucks, but I want to bring you back on and if you don't mind I'll I'll, you know, come out and do a bit of
Content with you. Yeah, of course. Always welcome. Sometimes you might not have to hold the camera. I'll be behind it and hold it for you. But our last question, and it's our signature question, Evan. Pretty hard one too, mate. you know we're called the good builder. What do you think makes a good builder, Evan? look, not telling anyone what to do, because obviously I'm not a builder. Yeah, but I obviously I've grown up working for builders. And look, I think I've I'm
I could say all the cliche ones, good communication and stuff like that, which which obviously is very important. But I would say look looking after your employees is a big one because they're gonna look after you. So if something goes wrong or pear-shaped or whatever, if they're looked after, they're gonna stay positive, come up with a solution, because they're gonna be loyal to you, because you look after them. Yeah. So I think that's a big one. as a builder though, I know certain builders at certain volumes have like certain commitments.
where they're not on the tools or they're always in the office or they're always running around meetings and that. But in my opinion of a builder, you shouldn't be you shouldn't be much of a boss. You should be a leader. So, and like obviously playing team sport growing up, I always relate how I've lived my life back to playing a team sport. So like playing footy and rugby all my life. You'd you want to be the captain of the team because you're
with the team and you're in the trenches. So you you don't wanna you don't want to tell your guys to do something that you've never done or aren't willing to do, because that's unrealistic. So you you'd want to be the the team captain in the trenches with them, getting doing all the work. You don't want to be so for example, instead of a captain, you don't want to be like the coach or a spectator on the sideline that have never been there. You wanna be in there. You want to be in there. Yeah. So I would say be part of the team, not
the boss of the team. So yeah, l and and doing that, you're leading by example too. Like I said with the boys, I'm the I'm the oldest and I'm the boss, but I'm not gonna lie, I'd still like to think I'm still the hardest worker. Yeah. Physically, mentally, everything. I like because I'm I'm still in there in the trenches. And the boys, what I've asked them to do, I don't think I've ever heard them say no, because they know I've done it and I can do it and I'll be in there with them doing it. So
Yeah. Sorry, I get a bit deep there. No, mate, that one that one gave me a bit of goosebump. But I'll honestly say that was one of the coolest answers we've had on a good building. We've done over three hundred and sixty episodes. It doesn't even matter. But you you have just given one of the coolest answers ever. Actually reminds me my father in law is a Britney in Bundaberg, or he just retired, right? He retired at seventy. Jeez. But
He w he's been in the trenches with his team since up until he was seven. Yeah. You real. And he was the same. He was like and I actually went out and worked with him once. Yeah. And he was probably sixty five, five years ago. He was like, I am the hardest worker and I couldn't keep up with him. he's a monster. Yeah. Yeah, I wanna be I don't care if I'm the boss and you you're getting older, get off the tool. No, I I will be the hardest worker. And and you know what? They are the most revered and best re
reputation of bricklayers in the Bundaburg region. Yeah. And and builders love what they do. And and I can see it in you. You're the same man. You're the same dude that is in the trenches with them. Yeah. Leading by example, being a good leader, creating a good culture, and doing a fucking great job. Thank you. And I think that is what mad respect to bricklayers, by the way, because I don't know, from from what from an outsider's point of view, I feel it's a bit of a dying trade. No one wants to die. No one. Yeah. No one. And you know what? For the the young guys out there,
Become a blocky or a brickie because look, not trying to sound out of line, but I reckon in the future you'll be able to charge what you want because they're a dying breed. Like mate, great advice. I think to finish the pod. We need more brickies. I think I think you're right. I think bricky's gonna be the next millionaires. Yeah. A hundred percent. And you know what? Like I know I know it's one of the hardest trades physically, but mate, it is really satisfying. They got some skill. Yeah, they
Yeah, those old designer ones too with their arches and curves and yeah. Unreal love watching it. And how Bricky's like in the old days used to lead the they used to lead the site. They were the they were the people that everyone worked. Well they were the builders almost. But yeah. And their grip strength. and their hands just one giant callus. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Mad mad respect to them. Yeah, yeah. Big shout out to Gordon. You're a freaking legendary. Yeah, he really is. And and then nah you're completely right, but he he has
He managed his business over the past he'd been doing it since he's twelve. Wow. So he'd been doing that the whole time and he managed his business like you talk about. And I love that. You've got that old school work ethic, but you've got that new school, how you should build culture. Yeah, for sure. All that sort of stuff. Culture's a huge thing. I c I couldn't work with people all day every day that I couldn't talk to, hang shit on, or have a laugh with because you spend time more time with these people than your family sometimes. Yeah. Gotta be able to get along with them, gotta have to
respect each other. So Wow. Well mate, that was probably one of my favourite pods. I probably can't say it's my favourite 'cause everyone gets disappointed. But it was just definitely that was definitely one of my most fav favourite podcasts I've ever done. Thank you for all your insights. You were freaking amazing. I could sit here all day. We have to do another maybe episode two or something. Everything you talked about was super cool and
In real life, like I don't sound like that's a pleasure to be on here. No, it doesn't sound doesn't sound weird at all. I think social is important. Yeah. Then you meet them in person, man. Yeah, the same dude. Well, look, just if we just got one more just if we got a few more minutes, just one more message about like, you know, you kept telling me you're nervous and and whatnot. One thing I also learned playing sort of semi-professional rugby, and then obviously playing in that level, going up against professional, international level players. We're all the we're all in this together, we're all human. Don't put anyone up.
anyone else up on that pedestal. Because they're not a level above you. We're all we're all human. Thanks, man. So don't don't ever feel nervous or whatever. Like, you know, I felt nervous but when when I was going to collab with Javier, but as soon as I met him, nice guy. He's just another guy. Yeah, he's got millions of followers, but he's just another good guy. Yeah. We're all in it together. No, that's yeah, no pedestals. Yeah. Fuck, what else can I say? I feel better now. All right. But I will say
That I did prep harder than ever for the contest. That's why I didn't miss a beat and you we won't have to nailed it. Good. Thank you, Evan. No worries. Mate. Thank you. One off the buck list, everyone. And I'm gonna put all his socials below. Like I said, you're probably following, but we'll put all his details below. and yeah, this is Evan. Freaking awesome. Thanks for watching, guys. Pleasure to be here. Mate, that's it, Evan.