In an industry often judged by its worst headlines, it is easy to overlook the quiet operators who are lifting standards from the ground up.
Not with slogans.
Not with shortcuts.
But with discipline, systems, and a deep respect for people.
That is why Core Painting founder Will Smith stood out immediately to Aaron when the two sat down on The Good Builder Podcast.
“He kind of sets the tone for a lot of trades,” Aaron said early in the conversation.
“No shortcuts. Discipline. Raising the standard. Providing a great experience for the client and the builder.”
At just 24 years old, Will is not only running one of the fastest-growing painting businesses on the Sunshine Coast, he is articulating ideas about service, leadership, and culture that many business owners do not arrive at until much later in their careers.
And that is precisely why his story matters.
Learning the Trade Where Standards Were Non-Negotiable
Will’s approach to business did not come from books, podcasts, or branding exercises. It came from working in an environment where mistakes carried consequences.
Raised in northern England, he entered the painting trade through his father’s business while still in his teens. The work was not cosmetic. It was restorative.
“In England, you could be transforming a property that’s 200 years old plus,” Will explained.
Heritage homes. Stone walls. Timber sash windows. Freezing temperatures. Long drying times. Heavy preparation. No room for shortcuts.
In that world, quality is not a preference. It is the minimum requirement. And accountability is not optional.
“If it wasn’t done properly, you were back fixing it,” he said.
That early exposure shaped more than Will’s technical skill. It shaped his mindset. Preparation mattered. Detail mattered. And if something went wrong, ownership mattered most.
Australia Revealed the Real Gap
When Will arrived in Australia after COVID, he travelled the east coast, worked across different companies, and saw the industry from the inside.
Some businesses impressed him. Others confirmed what many builders already know too well.
“I break our industry into two things,” Will said.
“Everyone thinks we’re painters. The service is what we provide.”
It was a simple statement, but it cut straight to the heart of the problem.
Most trades can do the work. Fewer can run a service business that builders and clients can rely on. Communication, scheduling, follow-up, and ownership are still treated as secondary skills, when in reality they are the product.
Aaron recognised it immediately.
“That’s usually something people figure out much later,” he said.
“You’re 24.”
When Service Becomes the Differentiator
Core Painting’s growth has not come from undercutting, aggressive marketing, or chasing volume. It has come from being predictable, responsive, and professional.
Builders are not chased. They are checked in with.
Timelines are clarified early.
Issues are raised before they become problems.
“We’ll call and ask, ‘Are you still on track? When will the internal be ready?’” Will said.
In an industry where subcontractors often wait passively for instructions, that level of initiative stands out.
Builders notice it.
Clients feel it.
Reputations spread quickly.
“It’s a privilege to be trusted with good projects,” Will said.
“You earn that.”
Mistakes Are Inevitable. Avoidance Is Not.
One of the most telling parts of the conversation centred on mistakes. Not whether they happen, but what happens next.
Will’s philosophy was inherited directly from his father.
“If we made a mistake, we fixed it. No questions asked.”
There was no defensiveness in how he described it. No justification. No blame-shifting.
In an industry where disputes often begin with avoidance, that approach builds trust fast.
Aaron put it plainly.
“People would rather you own it than cover it up.”
That mindset has helped Core Painting establish credibility unusually quickly. Clients do not expect perfection. They expect honesty and action.
Respecting the Money Behind Every Job
Perhaps the most understated, yet powerful, insight from the episode came when Will spoke about pricing and client expectations.
“People save extremely hard for this,” he said.
“You’ve got to respect people’s money.”
In a climate where labour costs are rising and margins are tight, it is easy to forget the personal weight behind every quote. For many clients, a painting contract represents months or years of effort.
That awareness shapes how Will approaches work. Overpromising is avoided. Delivery matters. The relationship matters.
“You treat it like it matters,” he said.
“Because it does.”
Culture Before Control
While many businesses talk about productivity, Will spoke about something more fundamental: culture as risk management.
He avoids hierarchical language entirely.
“There’s two words I really hate,” he said.
“Employees and boss.”
Instead, Core Painting operates with shared direction, regular check-ins, open feedback, and clear pathways for growth. Issues are addressed early. Performance is recognised. Expectations are transparent.
“Nip it in the bud straight away,” Will said.
The result is not just morale. It is stability. Retention. Consistency. And fewer problems making it to site.
So What Actually Makes a Good Builder?
At the end of the conversation, Aaron asked the defining question.
What makes a good builder?
Will’s answer reflected everything he had shared.
“The level of service you provide pre-work and post-work,” he said.
Not the logo.
Not the size.
Not the awards.
Service.
The same applies to trades.
“We’re all service-based businesses,” Will said.
The Good Builder View
This story is not about painting.
It is about a shift happening quietly across the industry. Builders and trades who understand that professionalism, communication, and ownership now define quality more than tools or titles.
Aaron summed it up as the episode closed.
“When good people build good businesses, we make a good industry.”
At 24, Will is still early in his journey. But the standards he is setting already point to where construction needs to go next.
Less noise.
More responsibility.
And a lot more respect for the people on both sides of the contract.
0 Comments