True growth in business often starts with personal transformation. By facing his own struggles head-on, from burnout to self-doubt, Shaun Bates became a stronger leader, husband, and father, proving that the most powerful changes happen from the inside out.
Shaun opens up about the messy, honest road to building Elk Electrical into a thriving Gold Coast trade business. He shares how coaching helped him stop drowning in admin, build his ground crew, and gain the confidence to step off the tools.
But more than that, Shaun reflects on the personal battles; at home, alcohol and substance habits, and identity evolution, that quietly shaped his journey as a man and a business owner.
In this episode you’ll learn:
Growth in business only happens when you grow personally as well. Struggling at home and work doesn’t mean you’re failing, it’s feedback. Hiring admin was the turning point that freed Shaun to lead. Alcohol felt like a release but was silently holding everything back. Coaching gave Shaun structure, self-belief and the tools to scale sustainably. You can’t outgrow your problems if you’re not willing to face them.
