TradesFormation Unlocked

In this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, I sit down with my brother Julian Fadini — property investment specialist and founder of PRPTY 360 — to talk about turning hard-earned income into long-term wealth.We cover:How to turn today’s wages or profits into assets that pay you back.Lessons from working with high-performing clients, including NRL players.Julian’s personal story of getting sober, regaining clarity, and growing his business by 50%.Why your mindset is the foundation for both your bank account and your life.Whether you’re running a trade business, on the tools, or making good money in any field, this conversation will give you the moves to protect your future and build real freedom.📌 Connect with Julian: https://prpty360.com.au/🎧 Listen to more TradesFormation Unlocked episodes for straight-talking tactics on building a smarter, more profitable trade business.

Don’t let an agency brag about 50 “leads” when they were just clicks.“If the phone hasn’t rung, who cares?” — Matt Jones, Tradie Web Guys and The Site Shed.In this episode, Adrian and Matt tear down vanity metrics and show you how to build a system that gets site visits, deposits, and jobs sold.You’ll learnWhy clicks and “conversions” mean nothing without calls and bookingsThe real leak in your business: weak lead handling and slow follow-upHow AI, SMS, and simple pipelines lift conversion fastWhat to track: Ad → Discovery/Triage → Site Visit → Deposit → Project value“Show me, don’t tell me”: project galleries and proof that closeWork with usReady to build a marketing system that pays you back? Book a strategy session:  https://tradesformation.com.au/book-a-discovery-session/Connect with Adrian: https://link.me/profileChapters00:00 Intro and why clicks aren’t customers02:10 Matt’s background and The Site Shed story12:20 GEO, LLMs, and local three-pack reality17:30 AI, avatars, and answering when you can’t pick up20:15 Follow-up wins: 30 calls if that’s what it takes27:59 “Bullshit reporting” vs phones that ring30:20 Show me, don’t tell me: project galleries that sell46:05 Dashboards, bookkeeping cadence, course corrections49:50 Profit buckets and pricing for growth53:20 Lifetime value over one-and-done jobs56:00 Challenge and next steps#TradesFormationUnlocked #TradeBusiness #MattJones #TradieWebGuys #LeadGen #MarketingTradie

Your brain is your most powerful business tool.In this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, I sit down with world-renowned brain surgeon Dr. Charlie Teo to uncover what really drives resilience, performance, and mental health — both in surgery and in business.We cover:The gut-brain connection and how food impacts focusWhy cardio sharpens decision-making and clarityThe truth about sleep, toxins, and brain fogResilience: post-traumatic stress vs. post-traumatic growthWhy giving is scientifically proven to boost long-term happinessWhether you’re running a crew, quoting under pressure, or leading a business that feels heavy — this conversation will give you the tools to sharpen your thinking and lift your game.Subscribe for more unfiltered strategies on building a smarter, stronger trade business.#TradesFormation #CharlieTeo #BusinessGrowth #MentalHealth #Leadership #BrainHealth

In this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, host Adrian Fadini sits down with Tommy Mello—entrepreneur, visionary, and author—to unpack the mindset, strategies, and execution that turned his one-man hustle into a nationwide empire.Tommy doesn’t sugarcoat it. Success isn’t about luck, and it’s not about waiting for the "right time." It’s about vision, grit, and relentless execution. He shares:Why he sells what people want, not just what they needHow to overcome fear, stay optimistic, and build a high-performance cultureThe role of branding, technology, and ruthless prioritization in scaling fastWhy visualization and reverse-engineering goals is the ultimate competitive edgeThe power of partnerships, CFOs, and hiring the right "integrator" to fuel growthWhy top-grading your team is essential—and why loyalty without performance is sabotageThe Dream Manager concept and how it’s transforming lives inside his businessThis is more than business talk—it’s a masterclass in leadership, discipline, and dreaming bigger than you ever thought possible.If you’re ready to level up your business and your life, you won’t want to miss this conversation with one of the biggest names in the industry.

In this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, host Adrian Fadini sits down with Australian rugby league legend Anthony Minichiello to unpack a journey that’s as much about resilience as it is about results.From a childhood spent tearing around a chicken farm in South West Sydney to captaining the Roosters to a Grand Final win, Anthony reflects on how early exposure to risk and movement laid the groundwork for elite athleticism. But it’s what came after that truly reshaped him: a series of debilitating injuries, and the choice to reinvent himself through food, education, and leadership.Now founder of MiniFit, Anthony is dedicated to helping kids grow up healthy and strong—while also educating business owners and teams on how nutrition, movement, and mindset impact performance. Whether you’re in the trades or on the training ground, this episode will inspire you to fuel better and focus smarter.🧠 What You'll LearnHow childhood freedom builds risk management and resilienceWhy Anthony believes all disease starts in the gutWhat it means to fuel your body like a sports carMiniFit’s mission to help kids thrive in a digital worldThe real story behind Anthony’s spine injury and full recoveryHow he balances hydration, fasting, and consistency for energyWhy mindset is the X factor in sport, business, and health🔗 Links & MentionsMiniFit: https://www.minifit.com.auTradesFormation: https://www.tradesformation.com.auAnthony Minichiello: https://www.instagram.com/minifit_trainingDr. Charlie Teo (mentioned)Gut microbiome testing, methylation, and integrative medicine📌 Episode TagsAnthony Minichiello, MiniFit, Rugby League, NRL, Kids Fitness, Health and Wellness, Gut Health, Corporate Wellness, Nutrition, Hydration, Mindset, Performance, Adrian Fadini, TradesFormation

📋 Episode SummaryIn this value-packed episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, host Adrian Fadini sits down with Ryan Fenn, the high school dropout turned tech founder behind CHIIRP—a sales automation platform pulling in $800K/month and transforming tradie businesses worldwide. Ryan shares how he started with $500 doing windshield repairs, scaled a gas-station side hustle, and built a life-changing automation system that fixes the one thing holding most businesses back: follow-up. You’ll hear about bootstrapping a tech company, lessons from comedy, and how automation doesn’t replace people—it makes them superhuman.🧠 What You'll LearnWhy “bad leads” aren’t really bad—they’re neglectedHow follow-up speed affects sales outcomesScaling a tech company without investorsUsing campaign codes and automation for shareable winsThe importance of faith, gratitude, and service in businessHow to complement platforms like ServiceTitan—not competeWhen AI should elevate your team, not eliminate them🔗 Links & MentionsCHIIRP Official WebsiteTradesFormation Coaching

From teenage apprentice to industry voice: pricing for profit, nurturing culture, and fighting for employers’ rights.Greg McElroy — President, Master Plumbers NSW; past owner of Killara Plumbing & Rose Bay PlumbingGreg McElroy left school in Year 11 chasing a plumbing apprenticeship (and a girl down the street). Forty‑plus years later, he’s sold his business, steered Master Plumbers NSW twice, and champions fair conditions for plumbing employers. In this jam‑packed chat with host Adrian Fadini, Greg unpacks:scaling beyond “one man in a van” and learning from expensive mistakeswhy Master Plumbers is an employers’ union and the battles it’s fighting on redundancy rules, home‑owner warranty caps, and red tapethe real maths behind “charging what you’re worth” and how proper pricing unlocks better service, gear, and staff cultureCulture‑first leadership, and the next five years for trades businesses🧠 What You’ll LearnHow under‑pricing starves your business (and sanity)The hidden leverage of Master Plumbers membership for NSW contractorsStrategies for attracting & retaining rock‑star apprentices in 2025 and beyondThe mindset shift from “best wrench‑turner” to CEO

How Simplifying Marketing Strategy Helped Sell Over a Million Books and Empower Trade Businesses Worldwide📋 Episode SummaryIn this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, Adrian Fadini welcomes back Allan Dib—best-selling author of The One Page Marketing Plan and Lean Marketing. Allan reflects on his journey since the show's launch, sharing insights on simplifying complex marketing challenges and how his frameworks have created a global impact across multiple industries.They dive into how trade businesses, especially those with limited budgets, can cut through the noise with lean strategies. Allan also reveals how to fight the urge for novelty, avoid random acts of marketing, and harness the power of email and customer experience for scalable growth. He finishes by opening up about his own personal transformation in fitness, mindset, and the identity shifts that drive sustained success.🧠 What You'll LearnWhy simplicity is the most powerful marketing toolHow “random acts of marketing” can destroy your strategyThe importance of a lean marketing infrastructureWhy email marketing is a goldmine (if done right)How to stand out in a saturated trades marketThe value of identity shifts for business and personal transformationTips for leveraging AI and automation in your businessWhat makes a unique selling proposition truly stand out💬 Memorable Quotes"People don’t want marketing—they want clarity and results.""The best businesses are boring. They just optimise and follow the blueprint.""If you're at capacity, you market more—not less. That’s when you raise your prices and choose your clients.""Identity drives behavior. When you become a marketer, everything changes."🔗 Links & MentionsLeanMarketing.com/unlocked – Free chapters + resourcesThe One Page Marketing Plan by Allan DibLean Marketing by Allan Dib

In this episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, host Adrian Fadini reconnects with Will Demirdonder, founder of Proximity Plumbing. Will shares his inspiring journey from a one-man van to leading a 20-plumber-strong team in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. He delves into his early days juggling high-rise jobs with private work, the key role of his partner Emily in scaling the business, and the transformative impact of strategic coaching.The conversation reveals how Will’s mindset—marked by obsessive execution, emotional intelligence, and unwavering commitment—became the bedrock of Proximity's success. From rigorous daily training with his team to dominating a local market through focused branding, Will demonstrates what it means to execute without excuses.What You'll LearnThe power of obsessive execution and disciplined routinesWhy being unemployable can be a superpower in businessHow Proximity Plumbing leveraged local branding to dominate a marketThe pivotal role of Emily in operations and marketingWhy daily gratitude and goal-setting fuel successThe value of coaching and training for business growthHow to transition from technician to business ownerStrategic insights on choosing the right customer segments💬 Memorable Quotes"I need to dominate anything that's in front of me.""Your social media isn't for selling—it's for branding.""I want to be a specialist, not a generalist.""There’s no substitute for consistent training.""Don’t try to outsmart logical thought—hire a coach."Business Growth, TradesBusiness, Plumbing Business, Entrepreneurship, Execution, Mindset, Coaching, Sydney Trades, Team Building, Branding, Marketing, Leadership

In this power-packed episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, Adrian Fadini sits down with industry heavyweight Tom Howard for a raw, humorous, and insightful deep dive into business growth, leadership, and the often-ignored importance of having an exit strategy. Tom shares his unlikely journey from a 15-year-old truck cleaner to scaling and exiting multimillion-dollar trade businesses.Now serving as VP of Customer Experience at ServiceTitan, Tom reflects on his entrepreneurial path, detailing the acquisitions and exits that fueled his success. He emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, visionary leadership, and building with intention. This is your ultimate blueprint to future-proofing your trade business.Listeners will discover how Tom used painful lessons to develop financial acumen, why mindset trumps market conditions, and how investing in your team creates massive value. The duo also covers real-world examples of acquisition wins, price objections, and creating a workplace culture that retains top talent. Above all, Tom delivers a wake-up call for trade business owners to think long-term and build with the end in mind.🧠 What You'll LearnWhy every business needs an exit strategy—even if you never plan to leaveHow to build financial literacy without a degreeThe cost of NOT knowing your numbersKey mindset shifts to break through growth ceilingsHow to price for value, not just survivalHow Tom turned a -$1M profit business into $6M profit in 16 monthsWhy paying your team well is a moral obligationThe power of transparent incentives and leadership autonomy💬 Memorable Quotes"Your life has a 100% mortality rate. You need an exit strategy.""Not knowing your numbers will cost you more than learning them ever will.""Stop selling to your customers. Start creating the conditions where they want to buy from you.""If you can't pay the highest wages in your area, it's not your team's fault—it's yours."HowardDeals.com — Tom's acquisitions, podcast, and deal platform

How Lifelong Friends Built a $6M Plumbing Powerhouse from ScratchIn this inspiring episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, host Adrian Fadini dives deep with Ren and Chris, the dynamic duo behind Fix n Flow Plumbing. Starting as preschool buddies and eventually becoming business partners, these two have turned trust and grit into a $6 million plumbing empire in just three years.We explore their story from humble beginnings and shared sacrifice to major wins—including doubling sales performance after just two days of training. The episode is packed with practical advice on building a business, leading with mindset, creating strong partnerships, and developing a culture where team members thrive.Whether you're a technician dreaming of launching your own venture or a seasoned owner seeking new inspiration, this episode will spark motivation and provide actionable strategies.🧠 What You'll LearnThe critical role of trust in business partnershipsHow clear role division powers growthWhy technical mastery is key to successful salesThe power of investing in team training and cultureHow to handle burnout by aligning with your core valuesWhat it really takes to grow a trade business from zero to millionsInsights on mindset, self-belief, and personal sacrifice“Before TradesFormation’s sales training, our techs were averaging $20K–$25K a week. After just two days with the team, that doubled—$50K weeks became the norm. The impact was immediate.”— Chris, Fix and Flow“You can’t sell something you don’t know. Confidence comes from mastery.” — Ren

How Shane Pinner of Tonkin grew a trade business from 7M to 25M+ by merging vision, leadership, and heartIn this compelling episode of TradesFormation Unlocked, Adrian Fadini sits down with Shane Pinner, co-founder of Tonkin, to unpack the incredible journey of merging two legacy trade businesses into a powerhouse of growth and leadership. Shane shares the real story behind Tonkin’s expansion from a local operation into a 25M+ enterprise, revealing the mindset, structure, and shared vision that fueled this transformation. From navigating partnerships to building internal leadership academies, Shane pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to create sustainable growth while staying rooted in community and values.🧠 What You'll LearnThe critical factors for a successful business partnershipHow Tonkin scaled from 7M to 25M in just five yearsThe value of shared vision and complimenting leadership stylesWhy training and leadership development is essential in tradesHow Tonkin redefined what a "trade business" can look likeLessons from failed ventures and how they shaped future winsThe impact of data-driven decision making on profitabilityWhy you need to treat your business like a living, evolving entity💬 Memorable Quotes"If you can't control the numbers in your business, then you're not in control of your life.""We’re not just a trade business. We’re a training organization disguised as one.""Knowledge without action is just knowledge — you’ve got to do something with it."We grew because we shared the vision, not the spotlight."Trades business growth, partnerships in trades, Shane Pinner, Adrian Fadini, Tonkin Plumbing, leadership in trades, business systems, ServiceTitan, training culture, TradesFormation Unlocked, HVAC growth, trades leadership, profitability in trades

🔥 Guest: Phil Filaski – America’s #1 HVAC Sales Technician🎧 Host: Adrian FadiniWhat if you sold $20 million in HVAC… in a single year?This episode is a front-row seat into the mind and method of Phil Filaski, one of the highest-performing sales techs in the US. From $8/hour in sheet metal to $48,000 installs in under 40 minutes — Phil’s journey is proof that grit, belief, and the right systems beat talent every time.🧠 What You'll Learn:Sales Without Sleaze: How Phil closes massive deals without pressure, pushiness, or gimmicks.From Tools to Top Gun: Why techs need to fix it before they sell it — and how that built his unbeatable sales culture.Real Talk on Sacrifice: What it actually costs to be the best — and how Phil balances legacy with hustle.Power of Belief: How to lead others by example and build a team that outgrows you.Simplify to Sell: Why over-talking kills deals, and the art of saying less to win more.Using Current Events to Close: How Phil turns market chaos and weather shifts into urgency.Paper Over iPad: The old-school presentation style that outperforms digital flash.The Flip Game: How his team feeds him warm leads and why options (always 3!) are king.Finance Like a Pro: Why 80% of his sales are financed — and why Aussies need to catch up.The One Thing Aussie Tradies Must Hear: $500K/year is just the start — not the finish line.💥 Favourite Quotes:“There’s no substitute for hard work — you have to out-effort the talent.”“Simplify everything. Two sentences max. Let the silence do the work.”“Most clients will say no once. Stick around — the sale starts after the no.”“Legacy matters more than numbers. I want my crew to be better than me.”This one’s a masterclass — real, raw, and wildly valuable.Don’t miss it. Phil’s story isn’t just inspiring — it’s replicable.Let’s get to work.

🚀 In this episode of the TradesFormational Podcast for Trades, we bring you an absolute powerhouse lineup! We sit down with Ellen Rohr (ServiceTitan & Zoom Drains), Vicki & Scott Erwin (Network Plumbing), and dive deep into how ServiceTitan is shaking up the Service trade industry in Australia.👀 What you’ll discover:✅ How Ellen went from plumber’s wife to a financial powerhouse in the trades.✅ Vicki & Scott’s journey as the first ServiceTitan customers in Australia—and how it’s revolutionised their business.✅ Why real-time data & automation are non-negotiable for scaling your trade business.✅ Insider details on the massive ServiceTitan event in Australia this April—featuring top U.S. and Australian industry leaders.📅 World of Titans : a 2-day event packed with expert insights on marketing, sales, finance, and operations from experts in the field.🔹 Sydney Harbour Cruise for deep-dive convos with the industry's best.🔹 Elite speakers: Business growth secrets from Keith Mercurio, Kathryn Elizabeth, Ismael Valdez & more!🔥 If you’re in plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or solar—THIS is the podcast you need to hear.🎟️ Want to join the event? Get the details & secure your spot now!👉 https://web.cvent.com/event/0a1fa394-a8f8-46ed-b32c-7794a9a2f4d5/summary📩 Let’s connect! If you’ve got questions, reach out—we’ll put you in touch with Ellen, Vicki & Scott.#TradesTransformation #ServiceTitan #LeadGrowProfit #TradeBusinessSuccess

Unleash your sales potential! Join Adrian Fadini and Alan Ferguson in a transformative discussion on mastering sales influence and mindset in the trades industry.

Would you like to improve your team's skills in the residential field with continued education?In this new TradesFormational episode, we have Ken Sutton! Ken has been in the electrical trade for 35 years and created Electrical How To, a platform that specialises in providing training and skills to help tradies in the electrical industry. In this episode, Ken discusses how he got to where he is today and how he allows tradies to improve their business.

Hey Friends!The third part of our interview with Daniel Vigario is here! In this episode, Adrian and Daniel talked about inflation and how to increase your income and create wealth by building passive income with Gold, Silver and other precious metals. If you want to know more, listen and follow us now!

Hi friends!The second part of our interview with Daniel Vigario is here! This is still part of our Wealth Creation Series and how important to diversify your assets. In this episode, we’ve talked about how valuable GOLD, SILVER, and other precious metals will be in the near future. If you want to know more about creating wealth in various ways for you and your family, listen and follow us now!

Hi friends!Welcome to the 1st part of the TradesFormational podcast with Daniel Vigario. He's a London-based South African Chartered Accountant with 15 years of experience in commerce and industry. As part of our Wealth Creation Series in the podcast, Adrian and Daniel touched bases with different factors on effectively creating wealth from your business while factoring in the power of currency and the stock market.

Happy New Year! This week on the podcast Adrian is joined by industry leader and dear friend of TradesFormation, Mark Young. Mark is the NSW Operations Leader for the Reece Group, Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business with over 800 branches across Australia, NZ and the US and more than 5000 employees. Mark has been with Reece for 15 years, having first started at the company as an inwards good storeman at Waterloo branch and working his way up through various management roles from there. He even did a 3.5yr stint in Reece NZ as the Region leader of Auckland!Beyond plumbing, Reece services a large range of trades through their numerous business units including waterworks, irrigation an pools, HVAC and refrigeration, heating and cooling, bathroom life and commercial works. Most importantly, Reece pride themselves as a people and customer centric business that focuses on promoting from within to shape future leaders, and creating customers for life.In episode two of this two part series Mark talks about the importance of leadership, and shares his advice for tradies wanting to further their leadership skills inside within their business and their industry. For more from Reece make sure to head to their website https://www.reece.com.au/ and check them out on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reeceplumbing/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReecePlumbing