From a Ute and a Dream: Building Bayside Trees & Palms

The Truth Behind Building Bayside Trees & Palms

When people see the Bayside Trees & Palms truck driving down the road, they see a business.

What they don’t see is the story behind it.

They don’t see the sleepless nights wondering how I was going to pay wages. They don’t see the weekends spent repairing equipment instead of spending time with family and friends. They don’t see the stress of wondering where the next job is coming from or the pressure of knowing that every decision rests on my shoulders.

Back in August 2021, Bayside Trees & Palms wasn’t much more than an idea and a dream. I wasn’t handed a successful business. There was no secret formula and no investor writing cheques. It started with me, a ute, my tools, and a determination to build something that I could call my own.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I don’t think anyone truly understands what owning a business means until they’re living it.

People think you’re your own boss.

The reality is your customers become your boss. Your staff become your responsibility. Your equipment becomes your biggest expense. Your phone never stops ringing, and your mind never really switches off.

I’ve worked in the pouring rain because the job had to get done. I’ve worked through Queensland summers when it felt like the heat would beat me before the day was over. I’ve climbed trees exhausted because there were customers relying on me. I’ve spent nights quoting jobs, answering emails, chasing unpaid invoices, ordering parts, and planning the next week, only to be back on site before sunrise.

There were moments where I questioned whether it was all worth it.

Machinery broke down.

Jobs fell through.

Clients didn’t pay.

Staff left.

Bills kept arriving.

Sometimes I felt like every time I climbed one mountain, another one appeared in front of me.

What people don’t often realise is that business doesn’t just test your skills. It tests your character.

It tests your patience.

It tests your relationships.

It tests your mental health.

There were days where I smiled because I had to, even though I felt completely overwhelmed inside. As a business owner, people expect you to have the answers. They don’t always realise you’re figuring it out as you go.

I’ve made mistakes.

I’ve trusted the wrong people.

I’ve taken jobs I probably shouldn’t have.

I’ve learnt lessons the hard way.

But every mistake has made me a better businessman and, more importantly, a better person.

One thing I’ve never compromised on is my work ethic.

If I tell a customer I’ll do everything I can to help them, I mean it.

If my team is on site, I want them to leave knowing we’ve done a job we can be proud of.

If something goes wrong, I believe in owning it and making it right.

Reputation isn’t built in a day. It’s built over years of turning up, doing what you say you’ll do, and treating people with respect.

There have also been some incredible moments.

Watching the business grow.

Buying new equipment.

Training new staff.

Building relationships with loyal customers who continue to recommend us to their friends and family.

Those moments remind me why I started this journey in the first place.

The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that success isn’t measured by the size of your business or the number of trucks you own.

Success is getting back up every single time life knocks you down.

It’s refusing to quit when quitting would be easier.

It’s believing in yourself when nobody else can see the vision yet.

Today, I’m still learning.

I’m still growing.

I’m still chasing bigger goals.

I’m proud of how far Bayside Trees & Palms has come, but I know we’re only scratching the surface.

If you’ve supported my business over the past few years, whether you’ve booked us for a job, recommended us to someone else, shared one of our posts, or simply encouraged me when things got tough, thank you.

You’ve helped build more than a business.

You’ve helped build a dream.

And while the journey hasn’t been perfect, I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Because every scar, every setback, every win, and every lesson has made me the person and business owner I am today.

This is only the beginning.

Here’s to building something even bigger, one tree at a time.

— Max O’Brien

Owner, Bayside Trees & Palms