“As soon as I committed, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.”
One of the things we love most about the Live Life Build community is seeing members who don’t just consume information—they take action.
This month’s Member Spotlight features David Smith, owner of SQ Builders in St Leonards, Victoria.
Although David has only recently joined Elevate, he’s embraced every opportunity that’s come his way. From travelling across the country to attend our Perth Fuel Session, to implementing new systems, engaging his first Virtual Assistant and pushing himself well outside his comfort zone, David’s journey is proof that meaningful change starts with making the decision to act.
We caught up with David to hear more about his story.
Tell us a little about yourself, your family and your business.
I’ve always wanted to be a builder. I actually started an after-hours handyman and carpentry business when I was 19 while still a second-year apprentice. Once I qualified, I went out on my own and built a team of three to five before returning to work for another builder between 2021 and 2023 to further develop my skills and obtain my builder’s registration.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me working on our property, camping or hiking.
My wife Grace and I run SQ Builders, a custom residential building company based in St Leonards, Victoria. We also have an energetic 18-month-old Kelpie who keeps us on our toes!
I started the company at the end of 2023 with two employees. By the end of 2024 we’d grown to a team of 10, and by the end of 2025 there were 14 of us. The growth was exciting, but without the right systems it quickly became overwhelming. Like many builders, we’d built the business almost entirely through word of mouth and had developed a habit of saying yes to everything.
What made you decide to join Live Life Build?
I first came across Duayne on Facebook and was drawn in by the onsite systems and the way he explained his processes. At the time, I honestly thought he was just another builder sharing tips online.
Then I found the Level Up podcast and became completely hooked.
Listening to other builders openly talk about the same challenges I was facing made me realise I wasn’t alone, and that Live Life Build could genuinely help.
My goal was simple: learn how to run the business more efficiently and put systems in place that would allow us to grow sustainably.
What’s changed since joining Elevate?
The biggest change has been my mindset.
I’m motivated again, I’ve got more confidence and, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’ve got a clear direction.
I’m now three quarters of the way through the PAC process and recently had my first PAC proposal accepted, which was a huge milestone.
We’ve started implementing Wunderbuild, engaged The Doing Co. to help us bring on our first Virtual Assistant and, personally, I’ve challenged myself to become more visible on social media. Posting videos and photos of myself definitely doesn’t come naturally, but I’m pushing myself outside my comfort zone and becoming more involved within the community.
What has surprised you most about being part of Live Life Build?
How genuine and helpful everyone is.
Where I live, there’s often a mentality that other builders are the competition, so people keep to themselves. I’d never really been able to have open conversations with other builders before joining LLB.
It’s refreshing to be part of a community where people genuinely want to help each other succeed.
You travelled all the way to Perth for Fuel. Why?
I knew I was in the right mindset to not only listen to what was being shared but actually act on it.
We’d had too much on our plate when Fuel came to Melbourne, so I made the decision that this time I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.
Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
What’s had the biggest impact on your business so far?
Two things stand out.
The first is understanding the importance of having proper systems in place. Looking honestly at our business, I realised our admin was really just organised chaos. It worked… until it didn’t.
The second was understanding our numbers.
At first, I didn’t really understand what Duayne meant by “knowing your numbers”. Then one day the penny dropped… along with my stomach.
You can’t simply add 20% to every job and hope for the best.
That lesson alone completely changed the way I think about the business.
What’s next for SQ Builders?
Right now it’s all about implementation.
We’re moving away from spreadsheets and fully embracing Wunderbuild, building proper systems and scheduling, working closely with our Virtual Assistant to improve everything happening behind the scenes, and getting a much clearer understanding of our overheads so every project is priced correctly.
The goal is to build a business that’s organised, scalable and far less reliant on me.
What would you say to another builder who’s sitting on the fence about joining Live Life Build?
I sat on the fence for quite a while.
But as soon as I committed, it genuinely felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders because I finally had a plan to help get me out of the situation I was in.
If you’re unsure, I’d simply encourage you to attend a Fuel Session and have a chat with the team.
Trust me—it’ll put your mind at ease.
David’s story is a great reminder that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you’re willing to ask for help, back yourself and start implementing.
We’re excited to be part of David’s journey and can’t wait to see what the next 12 months have in store for him and the team at SQ Builders.
