Episode 17 - Honest Hard Work with A.K. Gardening & Maintenance, Batemans Bay

Self Starter

Arron Kidston and A.K. Gardening & Maintenance is the case study that underpins what Self Starter is all about. Creating the business, 10 October 2017, Arron started small and with very little experience apart from some guidance from his father.

Buying second hand equipment and hitting the footpaths to do flyer drops, talking to the local community, Arron has taken a simple and periodic approach to building his business from the ground up.

Within months of getting started, Arron has built steady clientele, expanded his services (listening and meeting the local demands) and has been honoured through the local Rotary community group. This early success has built a reputation of reliability and trust in the area which will lead to future return business.

Arron’s story is the type of inspiration I had behind creating Self Starter. It’s the perfect example of creating your own desirable lifestyle with the tools you have at your disposal. Starting small, being patient and simple taking on that Self Starter attitude of taking action/giving it a go.

If you’re in the Batemans Bay area and need some work down around the yard, Arron is your man!

What did you get out of this episode? Here’s what I learnt;

1. Building a network of helpers – Arron has embraced the whole concept of making sure that opportunities are plentiful and available for everybody. He can't be at every place at once so he will pass on particular jobs to other people that do almost the same type of work that he does. Some people might hesitate with passing work onto 'competitors' but when the rolls are reversed, Arron will no doubt be considered when others have too much work to carry out themselves. What a great way to build a strong network who work together rather than against.

2. Never say no – Arron has made a point to never say no to any particular job that is offered to him from a customer. It might be a case at times that he physically can't do the job due to expertise (or point number 1), but he will ensure that the customer gets what they need by coordinating another party to carry out the work on their behalf. By saying yes and making sure that the job gets done by whatever means, Arron is building trust and confidence with customers who will make contact again in future.

3. Learn as you go –I love Arron's honesty when he said that if he doesn't know how to do a particular job he will get online and learn via Google, YouTube, online tutorials/guides. Arron will go to the local hardware store and buy new tools in the hope to build a new skill that he can provide. The continued trust and reputation he is building helps him take action and give it a go. The more he learns, the more opportunities he creates.

4. Face to face approach – When first starting the business, Arron hit the ground with flyers and began a letterbox drop. By getting out and bumping into the locals in the area, Arron was able to build an immediate connection and rapport with others that helped with getting his first few jobs. Many of us get sucked into the online world solely thinking that any older/more traditional methods are of no value. While I wouldn't invest all of your marketing efforts into letterbox drops alone, it is a great added approach to everything else you're doing to ensure that people are discovering your business.

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Batemans Bay, NSW