Damien Bush walked into a routine check-up feeling completely healthy.

He left with a referral to a cardiologist and was on the operating table the next day.

Damian Bush runs a successful Jim's Mowing franchise in Hobart, Tasmania.

He coaches junior football, hits the gym three times a week, and dropped from 104kg to 80kg over his time in the business. By every visible measure, he was fit.

Then a follow-up blood test showed his resting heart rate sitting at 137. The cardiologist told him it had been like that for months. He had no symptoms. No warning signs.

His body had adapted to the danger.

In this episode of the Jim's Mowing podcast, Damien shares the story he wants every franchisee and small business owner to hear. He services his machines, his vehicle, his gear.

He never serviced himself. Now he is facing heart surgery at 49 with no family history of heart disease.

The conversation then moves into what franchisees can do right now to build a stronger business through winter, including retainer packages, Google reviews, local area marketing, and the 30 doors a day rule one Tasmanian franchisee uses to fill his book.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Why a high resting heart rate often shows no symptoms
The personal income protection cover every franchisee should consider
How to turn one-off mowing jobs into year-round retainer customers
Why Google reviews now matter more than ever for local search
How sponsoring a local team beats most digital marketing for trust
The upsell approach one Tasmanian franchisee uses on every job
0:00 Why Damian wanted to come back on
1:43 The cardiologist visit that changed everything
3:30 A resting heart rate of 137 with no symptoms
5:49 The ablation surgery and what comes next
6:23 The franchisee mindset that delays medical checks
9:25 Income protection for self-employed franchisees
11:48 Preparing your franchise for winter
12:30 Selling customers on a full-year garden retainer
14:24 How to get off leads with a full client base
19:07 Setting personal standards for your business
24:42 What's working for new Tasmanian franchisees
27:14 The Google reviews incentive that drove growth
36:21 Why local area marketing still beats digital
40:05 Sponsoring local sport as tax-deductible marketing

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Jim’s Mowing is Australia’s #1 lawn and garden franchise with 2,000+ local owners. Founded in 1989 by Jim Penman, we’ve become one of the country’s most trusted names in home services.

Here’s why people choose Jim’s:
✅ Fully insured and police-checked franchisees
✅ Backed by the Jim’s Workmanship Guarantee
✅ Local family businesses supported by a national brand

And we do more than mowing. Our team can help with hedging, pruning, landscaping, rubbish removal, and complete garden care.

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