When Justin English founded his structural steel detailing business, he was known for his technical skill and commitment to quality. What he didn’t realise at the time was that being a great technician didn’t necessarily make him a great business owner.
“I was a very good steel detailer,” Justin reflects. “But I didn’t know what I didn’t know about business.”
As his workload increased, Justin found himself working harder and longer. He was reactive rather than strategic, consumed by the daily demands of his growing operation.
“I didn’t understand the heartbeat of a business,” he says. “I was stuck in the work and had no clarity about what building a business really meant.”
The Challenge
By 2019, Justin’s business had built a reputation for quality but was running on instinct rather than structure. The team was small—just five people—and the focus was on getting jobs out the door rather than planning for sustainable growth.
“I didn’t have the systems, the structure, or the financial visibility,” Justin explains. “I was making decisions in the dark. And while the business was busy, I wasn’t confident about where it was going.”
Justin wanted more for his team, his family, and himself—but didn’t know how to get there.
The Turning Point
That same year, Justin received a call from Stefan Kazakis, founder of the Business Benchmark Group.
“I wasn’t looking for help,” Justin admits. “But Stefan gave me advice that stuck with me before I’d even become a client. He told me to aim for consistent monthly revenue and to track it.”
Justin took that simple piece of advice to heart. He built a process, implemented it, and twelve months later, he’d achieved the consistency Stefan had encouraged. “That’s when I knew BUSINESS BENCHMARK GROUP was the real deal,” Justin says.
He joined Business Benchmark Group in 2020 and attended his first Flight Plan Workshop—an experience that, in his words, “completely changed everything.”
“I went in with no expectations and came out buzzing,” he recalls. “It made me realise what being a business owner actually means. I felt alive.”
The Solution: Structure, Clarity and Accountability
Through BUSINESS BENCHMARK GROUP’s structured coaching framework, group accountability sessions, and one-on-one mentoring, Justin began to transition from working in the business to leading it strategically.
He learned to set meaningful targets, track the correct numbers, and develop leadership capacity within his team.
“Stefan used to challenge me with goals that felt impossible,” Justin laughs. “He’d say, ‘You’ll hit $130K a month,’ and I’d think, no way. But then we did it. Then $170K. Then $2 million a year. It completely reframed what I believed was possible.”
The Results
With BUSINESS BENCHMARK GROUP’s guidance, Justin’s business has undergone a complete transformation:
- Team growth: from 5 to 24 people, including an expanded team in the Philippines
- Market expansion: delivering projects across Australia and the USA
- Leadership development: Justin created and delivered his own 10-week internal leadership program
- Culture and retention: “We’ve become a company people want to stay with,” Justin says. “We can now pay our team more, offer stability, and create real careers.”
- Financial performance: consistent, predictable revenue and healthy profitability
Perhaps most importantly, Justin has found balance and confidence as a leader.
“I’ve learned to coach, not just react,” he says. “And I love seeing others in my team step up and lead.”
Advice for Other Business Owners
“You don’t have to do it all on your own,” Justin says.
“Like having a personal trainer for your health, BUSINESS BENCHMARK GROUP gives you the structure, accountability, and clarity you need to grow your business the right way. Get curious about what help is out there—it could change everything.”
The Bottom Line
The Business Benchmark Group helped Justin transition from an overworked technician to a confident, strategic business leader.
Today, his company is thriving—built on solid foundations, a strong culture, and a clear path forward.
“Business Benchmark Group hasn’t just helped me grow the business,” Justin concludes. “They’ve helped me grow into the business owner I always wanted to be.”