📋 Episode Summary

In 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 Learn

• Why “bad leads” aren’t really bad—they’re neglected
• How follow-up speed affects sales outcomes
• Scaling a tech company without investors
• Using campaign codes and automation for shareable wins
• The importance of faith, gratitude, and service in business
• How to complement platforms like ServiceTitan—not compete
• When AI should elevate your team, not eliminate them

🔗 Links & Mentions

• CHIIRP Official Website
• TradesFormation 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 Plumbing

Greg 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 mistakes
• why Master Plumbers is an employers’ union and the battles it’s fighting on redundancy rules, home‑owner warranty caps, and red tape
• the real maths behind “charging what you’re worth” and how proper pricing unlocks better service, gear, and staff culture
• Culture‑first leadership, and the next five years for trades businesses

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• How under‑pricing starves your business (and sanity)
• The hidden leverage of Master Plumbers membership for NSW contractors
• Strategies for attracting & retaining rock‑star apprentices in 2025 and beyond
• The mindset shift from “best wrench‑turner” to CEO

How Simplifying Marketing Strategy Helped Sell Over a Million Books and Empower Trade Businesses Worldwide

📋 Episode Summary

In 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 Learn

Why simplicity is the most powerful marketing tool

How “random acts of marketing” can destroy your strategy

The importance of a lean marketing infrastructure

Why email marketing is a goldmine (if done right)

How to stand out in a saturated trades market

The value of identity shifts for business and personal transformation

Tips for leveraging AI and automation in your business

What 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 & Mentions

LeanMarketing.com/unlocked – Free chapters + resources

The One Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib

Lean 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.

• The power of obsessive execution and disciplined routines
• Why being unemployable can be a superpower in business
• How Proximity Plumbing leveraged local branding to dominate a market
• The pivotal role of Emily in operations and marketing
• Why daily gratitude and goal-setting fuel success
• The value of coaching and training for business growth
• How to transition from technician to business owner
• Strategic insights on choosing the right customer segments

• "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 Learn

• Why every business needs an exit strategy—even if you never plan to leave
• How to build financial literacy without a degree
• The cost of NOT knowing your numbers
• Key mindset shifts to break through growth ceilings
• How to price for value, not just survival
• How Tom turned a -$1M profit business into $6M profit in 16 months
• Why paying your team well is a moral obligation
• The 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 Scratch

In 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 Learn

The critical role of trust in business partnerships

How clear role division powers growth

Why technical mastery is key to successful sales

The power of investing in team training and culture

How to handle burnout by aligning with your core values

What it really takes to grow a trade business from zero to millions

Insights 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 heart

In 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.

The critical factors for a successful business partnership

How Tonkin scaled from 7M to 25M in just five years

The value of shared vision and complimenting leadership styles

Why training and leadership development is essential in trades

How Tonkin redefined what a "trade business" can look like

Lessons from failed ventures and how they shaped future wins

The impact of data-driven decision making on profitability

Why you need to treat your business like a living, evolving entity

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 Fadini

What 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.

• 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.