Top 3 Quotes from Craig Patterson
“You can’t steer a boat sitting still. I was always willing to give something a go—and if it didn’t work, just change direction.”
“Business is about trust, and trust is built on relationships. Relationships start with conversations.”
“The thing that stopped the growth of our business—was me. I had to learn first.”
Episode Title:
From Bulldozers to Boardrooms: Craig Patterson on Building a $100M Business From the Ground Up
Episode Synopsis
In this powerful and deeply human episode of Slicing Through the Noise, Craig Patterson shares his remarkable journey from growing up on a struggling family farm to leading a $100 million civil and mining services business with over 150 employees. With candor and insight, Craig reflects on the leadership lessons earned through hardship, humility, and hard work—from succession battles and Aboriginal partnerships to safety culture, strategy pivots, and developing next-generation leaders. Whether you're leading a small team or scaling a national operation, this episode is a masterclass in grounded leadership, values-based decision-making, and the power of staying true to your word.
⏱️ Episode Breakdown
[00:00] Welcome & Guest Introduction
Host Jennifer opens the episode by introducing Craig Patterson and teasing the story of how he transformed off-farm contracting work into a $100M business.
[03:30] Antarctica, Authenticity & Bullshit Meters
Craig reflects on how he and Jennifer met in Antarctica, and how calling out inauthenticity has shaped his leadership style.
[06:45] From Farm to Bulldozers: The Early Hustle
Craig shares how his family’s financial struggles during a drought led to buying a bulldozer to survive—and how he ended up operating heavy machinery at 14.
[11:40] Baptism by Fire: Becoming a Leader at 22
Thrust into supervising 15 men in remote Australia, Craig had to quickly learn how to lead without being the boss’s son who "didn’t know anything."
[15:00] Succession Planning & Family Fallout
An honest and emotional look at the complexities of family business succession—and how a lack of planning damaged Craig’s relationship with his father.
[21:30] Scaling With Help: Mentors, Growth Walls & The Power of "Why"
Craig explains the value of seeking external support and how personal growth was often the bottleneck to business growth.
[27:00] Mistakes, Metrics & Rope Necklaces
From poor delegation to bad data and unspoken expectations, Craig shares hard-earned lessons—and his “rope necklace” metaphor for accountability avoidance.
[33:30] Building Trust in Regional WA
Craig outlines how deep relationships, honesty, and consistent delivery built Centrals' reputation across sparsely populated regions.
[36:00] Aboriginal Engagement & Real Partnership
A highlight of the episode: Craig’s personal evolution in understanding Aboriginal Australia and how genuine partnerships have created generational change.
[46:30] Safety, Complexity & Culture in Remote Operations
Safety isn't about ticking boxes—Craig discusses how real safety culture is built through simplification, communication, and accountability.
[51:00] Strategic Focus: Saying No to Grow
Craig shares how Centrals refined its business model by focusi

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