The Puzzle Factory: Real Talk for NZ Electricians and Trade Businesses

Mikey Smith from Guardian Smith joins The Puzzle Factory for one of the realest conversations we’ve had yet.
From growing up around mechanics and rental cars to building a finance business with nearly 50 staff, Mikey breaks down the brutal realities of business, trades, property investing, recession fears, and what’s really happening in New Zealand right now.
We get into:
• Why trades have been undervalued for decades
• The harsh truth about starting your own business
• NZ’s property market and whether housing is still worth investing in
• Recession fears and the current economy
• War, oil prices, inflation and what it means for Kiwis
• Why most people fail in business
• Customer service lessons from dealing with chaos
• The mental pressure of growing a company
• Why “working on the business” changes everything
• Townhouses, regulation and the future of NZ housing
• Why there’s always opportunity somewhere
This one goes deep into entrepreneurship, mindset, financial pressure, trades, politics, and modern New Zealand culture.
Powered by NZ Trade Group.

We’re back for Season 3.
This season goes deeper.
Business, money, mindset, and the real stories behind it all.
Better guests. Bigger conversations. Less fluff.
If you’ve been following from the start, you’ll feel the difference straight away.
If you’re new here, you’ve picked a good time to jump in.Subscribe and stay close. This coming in like Artemis II get ready for SPLASHDOWN!!

This bonus episode of The Puzzle Factory features a conversation with Braeden from Voltsy, exploring one of the most unique career paths in the electrical industry.Braeden shares stories from his upbringing, including how he would approach builders directly on the street to find work and get his foot in the door. We dive into his time working with advanced technology in Sweden and the highly structured culture that he describes as almost cult like.We talk about the early development of Voltsy, the mindset behind building a brand that stands out in the New Zealand electrical space, and what the future holds for the company as the industry continues to evolve.A genuine and insightful conversation for any electrician or trade business owner looking for inspiration and fresh ideas.The Puzzle Factory Real Talk for NZ Electricians and Trade Businesses.

In this bonus episode, Alex sits down with Les from Standup Recruitment to unpack the wild early days of his career, including cold calling off fire escapes while working as a commercial painter, chasing down leads on job sites, and the moment he realised he hadn’t invented recruitment after all. Les shares his honest take on the industry, building trust with tradies, and why standing up for the people you place matters more than anything.If you enjoy real stories from the trades, hard-earned lessons, and a few good laughs along the way, this one is a beauty.

This episode of The Puzzle Factory is a must-listen for any tradie wanting to grow their business in the digital age. We sit down with Stanley Henry, founder of The Attention Seeker, to unpack his journey and get his raw take on what tradies are getting wrong (and right) when it comes to marketing.Stan breaks down what he would do if he owned a trade business today — including exactly how he’d build a social presence, why most flyers are a waste of time, and what kind of content actually gets results.We also dive into the difference between sales and marketing, and we literally prove the power of word-of-mouth networking live on the pod — this one’s full of gems and practical advice.
https://www.theattentionseeker.com/