When we turned up to interview Josh Nicholls at Platinum Electricians HQ, it felt like we were stepping into a trendy Silicon Valley tech-startup.
It’s crammed with bright, ultra-modern décor; there’s inspirational slogans on the walls, and a buzz of motivation in the room.
It’s a long way from Josh’s days as a young apprentice electrician, facing up to workplace bullying. He now heads up around 300 employees with franchises around Australia, and having a happy and thriving workplace culture is one of his highest values.
In our interview he shares some of the keys to his success – as well as his biggest challenges, how he survived COVID-19, and what’s kept him going strong for close to 20 years. James and Jess then explore some of Platinum’s marketing strategies – like their 21-Point Customer Experience checklist – and share some tips on finding your own USP.
Key Moments in This Episode
04:07 – Leaving school at 15, Josh’s electrical career got off to a rough start – in an apprenticeship where bullying was common. But the experience had a silver lining.
06:15 – Josh’s first day as a business owner – “I’ll never forget the new car smell”.
08:05 – Growing as a business leader – “I learnt to leverage off others”.
12:35 – The difference between Leadership and Management.
17:17 – To grow a business you need to have humility and hand responsibilities over to others.
19:11 – Josh explains his “wow” principle: wowing his customers with “Crazy Customer Service”
21:53 – Establishing your business’s Culture and Values.
25:46 – For Josh and his wife their “Why” is to be a blessing to others, through a charitable Foundation.
28:30 – “The first million is hardest” – Josh explains why.
30:18 – Josh’s toughest times in business, and how he navigated Covid-19.
33:54 – Work life balance – how Josh achieves it.
41:46 – James and Jess discuss how to develop a USP in your business.
Books Mentioned by Josh in This Interview
- The E Myth – Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It – by Michael Gerber – Find it
- Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action – by Simon Sinek – Find it
- Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose – by Tony Hsieh – Find it
Learn More
- More about Platinum Electricians https://www.platinumelectricians.com.au/
- Platinum’s 10 Core Values – https://www.platinumelectricians.com.au/
- Explore all episodes https://theonlineco.net/podcast/#podcasts
