# LinkedIn Post 08 — Built by a Tradie
**Campaign:** Founder Story | **Tier:** 🟡 Yellow | **Platform:** LinkedIn
**Audience:** Contractors, workers, construction industry | **Status:** DRAFT — needs Michael's review
**Drafted by:** Herald | **Date:** 2026-02-18

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## Post (174 words)

I've been on construction sites for 30 years.

Steelfixer. Formworker. Now supervisor. I've tied reo in the rain, carried form ply up scaffolding, and poured slabs in heat that buckles your boots.

Somewhere around year 20, I started noticing the maths.

A worker gets $40/hr. The contractor pays $65/hr. The agency in the middle — the one that answered a phone call and sent a text — keeps $25/hr. Every hour. Every day. Every year.

That's $50,000 per worker per year. For doing bugger all.

I didn't build RateRight because I had a startup idea over brunch. I built it because I spent three decades watching good workers get short-changed and good contractors get overcharged — and the only people getting rich were the ones who never set foot on a site.

$50 flat. Per completed hire. Workers keep 100%.

That's it. No margin. No percentage. No ongoing clip of the ticket.

I just removed the middleman. Someone had to.

#construction #labourhire #sydney #tradie #founder

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## Draft Notes

**Voice check:**
- "Tied reo in the rain" — specific, physical, real ✅
- "Buckles your boots" — site language ✅
- "Brunch" contrast — draws the line between startup culture and trade culture without being preachy ✅
- "Doing bugger all" — approved phrase, already in our messaging ✅
- "Clip of the ticket" — Australian expression, natural ✅
- No jargon, no platform-speak, no "innovative solution" ✅

**Michael Test:** This reads like something he'd say on a podcast or in a pub. The specificity (reo, form ply, scaffolding) is from his actual life. The anger is controlled — he's not ranting, he's explaining why he built this. ✅ Passes.

**Tier: 🟡 Yellow (Quick Read)** — This one needs Michael's eyes because it's first-person as him. He needs to confirm the details feel right and he's comfortable with the personal framing.

**Strategic notes:**
- This is the "origin story" post — pairs well after The Receipt (Post 01) has set up the problem
- First-person voice from Michael — establishes authenticity and credibility
- Introduces RateRight as the solution without being salesy
- "Someone had to" mirrors "Someone needed to do the maths" from Post 01 — creates continuity
- Can be repurposed: About page copy, media pitch, investor narrative, grant applications (Harper)

**Posting notes:** Mid-week, morning. This is a longer read — LinkedIn algorithm favours dwell time. No image needed — the text IS the content. Profile photo of Michael on site would strengthen it if available.