The Mentor with Mark Bouris 6,200 NSW Businesses Went Insolvent in 2025: Lessons From When It Doesn’t Work Out with Dean Boyd (Episode #512)
Jan 12, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Dean Boyd, founder of Living Timber Co. and furniture maker, shares his journey from crafting unique pieces in his parents' garage to navigating the challenges of rapid growth and eventual liquidation. He opens up about the pressures of scaling a business too quickly, the burnout he faced, and the crucial lessons learned. Dean emphasizes the importance of mental health, accountability, and treating failures as stepping stones. With newfound clarity, he reflects on future ambitions and plans to embrace a slower, more sustainable path.
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Humble Garage Start
- Dean Boyd started Living Timber Co in his parents' garage and built it from $26 in his bank account into a functioning workshop.
- His first paid job was a $900 dining table for his cousin which bought his first set of tools.
Two-Person Production, Massive Output
- Dean and one employee manufactured major projects like Tullamarine Airport archways while working extreme hours.
- He averaged 16–18 hour days and worked seven days a week during that growth phase.
Hire To Protect Your Creative Role
- Hire an operations or admin lead so the founder can stay in the creative role and avoid becoming a full-time manager.
- Let that person own the business processes and financial controls rather than micromanaging them yourself.
