17/06/2026
Hi Tradies, memory isn’t that great. You can’t rely on it.
If you want a successful business that gives you more money, time and freedom, you need to act more like a businessperson and less like a tradie.
And that means not relying on fallible memory — yours, and everyone else’s: customers, staff, suppliers and partners.
I see a lot of things done on handshakes and verbal agreements. Instructions, arrangements, agreements. This creates problems, of course - different recollections of what was said or agreed, forgetting to do things or not doing them properly.
The answer, as usual, is systems and writing things down.
I’ll tell you a quick story. I once shared a memory about a friend, Ted, who I thought had spent a week in jail over a dispute with a client. His wife later told me it wasn’t true. He got in trouble, but he didn’t do time. My memory was close — but wrong.
That’s how memory works. Yours is the same. So is everyone else’s.
Here’s where your memory can cause problems in your business.
1 Your Tasks.
Many of you don’t write things down. You trust yourself to remember. You need a system — a diary, phone notes, Outlook, Gmail, and voice notes to your admin. Pick one and use it.
2. Your Appointments.
Too many people don’t put everything in their calendar or don’t check it properly. All meetings and jobs should be in one synced calendar. Have a system to get “See you Thursday at 2” into your calendar straight away and another to remind you to check it.
3. Agreements with Customers.
Quotes, variations, dates, access, rules, changes — if it matters, write it down. Send a confirmation email: “Confirming we agreed…” This is important because if they don’t remember it the same way, you find out now and if they don’t disagree now, that’s the truth. Attach it to the job.
4. Job Instructions to Your Team.
Too often it’s a quick verbal briefing and everyone’s expected to remember it. They won’t. We all forget, misunderstand, and mix things up. Every job needs written instructions, job cards, plans, drawings, and site diaries where needed. These belong in your job management system.
5. Agreements with staff.
Contracts, pay, reviews, warnings, leave — keep proper records (and send email confirmations). Use HR software if you can.
6. Agreements with suppliers.
Same as with clients. Record what you verbally agree - prices, discounts, delivery, terms — confirm in writing and attach to your job management system.
7. The Other S #*t.
Phone calls, site conversations, ideas, things that occur to you. If it’s written down, it’s what happened. Put it in your diary or send it to your admin.
This is part of becoming a businessperson instead of just a tradie. It stops you forgetting things, saves you time, and prevents f #*k-ups.
It’s a game-changer. If you don’t have this in place — for you and your team — get onto it.
Download the ‘Business for Trades: Written Confirmation’ Worksheet - link in the comments
