From Bottleneck to Breakthrough
This fortnight’s theme: fixing the bottlenecks that hold your business back, that’s right from bottleneck to breakthrough.
It’s been a busy few weeks working with business owners who are stuck in the same spot – too much noise, not enough progress.
Being busy but far out – we’d like some more results! Can you relate?
Sometimes it’s a margin issue. Sometimes it’s a people issue. And sometimes, it’s just that the business has outgrown its systems.
Here’s what’s inside this edition:
- Build a business. Not a job – a talk I gave on stepping out of the centre without everything falling apart.
- How to win better referrals – a simple, practical system for trades and construction owners to turn “word of mouth” into something predictable and profitable.
- Sales vs Profit – why “more sales” isn’t always the answer, and how to get the order of priorities right: Margins, Productivity, Marketing, Sales.
And if you haven’t done it yet, try the Bottleneck Scorecard — a 90-second quiz that shows exactly where your business is stuck and what to focus on next.
Take care, keep moving, and remember – sometimes fixing one bottleneck unlocks everything.
Cheers,
Jon Randles
Want To Try The Bottleneck Scorecard? Click here
Most business owners don’t realise they’ve become the bottleneck… until they’re overwhelmed, disconnected from their team, and quietly resenting the business they built.
From Bottleneck to Breakthrough
What happens when your business – or your project – relies too heavily on one person?
In this presentation, I share the hard-earned lessons that came after a life-changing accident forced me to step away from the centre of my own company.
You’ll learn how to break through growth bottlenecks, step out of the “business bottleneck” role, and use a simple framework to build a freer, more sustainable business—without burning out.
Make Referrals a Process, Not a Hope
54.8% of people in the trades and construction industry get over half their sales from referrals.
So it makes sense to get good at winning quality ones.
Most rely on “natural” referrals.
And when they slow, the pipeline dries up.
Here’s how to fix that: ️
️⭐️ Surprise and delight your A-grade clients – on a schedule. ️
⭐️ Keep it simple and related to the job and site.
When More Sales Still Means Less Cash
I hit $1.5m in sales and still finished the year at minus $25k.
Sales were up. Cash was not.
The shift was fixing margins, team productivity, and our message so the right buyers came through the door.
If your sales are up but cash is thin, here’s something to try.
Write a short message that names your customer’s pain, and the result you deliver.
Test it by sending to three customers this week… Learn More