Bust and Beyond

Robin Hayhurst
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Failure is a part of life and business, and I experienced the failure of a business in 2015 that my father had started in 1969. The effect it had on me emotionally was huge, yet the outside world knew nothing. I kept it to myself. I learnt so much from that failure, and it made me determined to support other business owners in the construction industry to avoid failure and flourish. As I started to speak to business owners about failure, I learnt just how many had suffered from mental health issues and harmful thoughts. This drove me to start my podcast to educate and let people know how to avoid failure and know if they are going through failure, they are not alone, but more importantly, there is life and success after the failure of your business. 

  1. NOV 10

    E41 Coaching, Mentoring, And Mindset

    Send us a text If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a coach or a mentor—or why so many promises in the coaching world fall flat—this conversation gets honest about what really creates change. We unpack the practical difference between coaching (drawing out your own answers) and mentoring (handing you a proven path), then show how a thoughtful blend of both can unlock momentum when your calendar and your nerves say otherwise. We walk through the roots of the industry’s bad reputation—low barriers to entry, recycled slide decks, and glossy guarantees—and contrast that with a process built on clarity, accountability, and measured progress. From peer “boards” with AI-minuted action points to open team scorecards, we share tools that move owners from agreement to implementation. The thread underneath it all is mindset: how beliefs quietly keep you on site instead of leading, how time becomes the new excuse when funding removes cost, and how small wins compound into confidence and identity shifts. Beyond business mechanics, we tackle the world outside the office: social media’s manufactured envy, the pressure to perform, and the way grief and loss can reset a life’s direction. You’ll hear candid stories about failed companies, family bereavement, and the silver linings that power purpose. Growth means discomfort—giving the speech, running the first workshop, scoring performance in the open—and then turning that discomfort into a habit. If you’re tired of firefighting and ready to work on the business, not just in it, this is your map for choosing a trustworthy guide, demanding a transparent process, and doing the work that actually changes results. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with someone who needs a nudge out of their comfort zone, and leave a quick review with your biggest takeaway—what will you act on this week?

    46 min

  2. NOV 3

    E40 From Burnout To Blueprint

    Send us a text If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder and getting nowhere, Dan’s story will hit home. We sit down with the owner of a Manchester-based building firm that went from “just crack on and hope” to a confident operation built on systems, accountability, and a sharper client experience. The change wasn’t magic. It started with one decision: stop winging it and build repeatable habits that protect profit, time, and trust. We unpack the pivotal shifts. Delegation gave Dan the space to overhaul his quoting process, clarify scope, and respond faster without cutting corners. A defined client journey—with a simple brochure, pre-start checklist, and two strategic stop points—reduced snagging and removed that frantic rush to handover. Gantt scheduling and better communication across multiple sites brought order to moving parts. Live cost tracking delivered visibility without bloated overhead. Small moves, consistently applied, produced big outcomes: higher win rates, happier clients, and a calmer calendar. People are at the heart of the turnaround. A practical team scoring framework helped Dan coach early, address issues fairly, and back the right players to grow with the company. We also dig into the trade’s bigger challenge: a shortage of skilled workers. Dan’s answer is unapologetic—invest in apprentices now or pay for it later. He’s building talent from the ground up while keeping standards high. Along the way, he shares a raw moment about nearly going under, and how honest conversations and peer accountability lifted the weight and reset the strategy. If demand is booming and you’re still stuck, the bottleneck is probably inside the business, not the market. This conversation gives you a realistic blueprint: process as freedom, not chains; data instead of guesswork; coaching over crisis management; and a peer group that keeps you honest. Subscribe, share this with a builder who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review with the one system you’ll implement this month.

    31 min

  3. SEP 1

    E39 Rebuilding After Bankruptcy: Stacey Stewart's Journey

    Send us a text What happens when you lose everything you've built? Stacey Stewart knows this reality all too well. From climbing the corporate ladder at IBM to building luxury homes and entire subdivisions in Texas, Stacey's property development journey exemplifies both spectacular success and devastating failure. The 2008 housing crisis struck Stacey particularly hard. With 35 homes in various stages of completion and no buyers in sight, she watched her thriving business crumble into bankruptcy. The aftermath was brutal—depression, divorce, losing custody of her daughter, and ultimately finding herself homeless, living in her repossessed daycare van. "It was very taxing on my mental health," she shares with remarkable candor. "I felt like I wanted to give up." Yet from this rock bottom emerged an extraordinary comeback story. Through faith, determination, and the crucial support of a friend who believed in her when no one else would, Stacey began rebuilding. Starting with just $5,000 borrowed from a relative and relying on hard money lenders with punishing terms, she fought her way back into the industry she loved. Fifteen years of persistence later, she proudly declares, "I became a multimillionaire all over again. I've been a multimillionaire three times in my life." Today, Stacey leverages her hard-won wisdom to help others avoid similar pitfalls. Her three essential tips for property developers—get a mentor, educate yourself thoroughly, and build the right support network—come directly from experiences that nearly broke her. "It humbled me," she reflects on her failure. "It made me a better person." Discover the raw reality of entrepreneurial resilience and the transformative power of perseverance in this compelling conversation that proves failure isn't final—it's formative.

    28 min

  4. JUN 4

    E38 Breaking Free from Failure

    Send us a text What happens when tragedy becomes the catalyst for transformation? Life coach Carla Smith's world changed forever when she lost both parents within five weeks of each other in 2023. Rather than letting grief consume her, she used this profound loss as the spark to finally pursue her true passion - helping others through coaching. The conversation with host Robin Hayhurst takes us on Carla's remarkable journey from corporate finance to manufacturing leadership, where she discovered her natural talent for developing people. "I saw the gap where we hire people for certain roles and expect them to be leaders, but they've never been a leader in their life," Carla explains, revealing how this observation led her to begin coaching executives long before making it her profession. We dive deep into the psychology of leadership, exploring the fascinating dynamic between narcissistic leaders and empathic team members. Carla offers a brilliant insight: "Narcissists are like little mice deep inside, but they have to look amazing on the outside." This powerful observation helps explain why some business owners create toxic environments despite their outward success. Perhaps most valuable is the discussion about our relationship with ourselves. Both Carla and Robin share candid reflections on how self-limiting beliefs can sabotage our potential, and how breaking tasks into tiny steps can overcome even the most stubborn procrastination habits. The conversation shifts traditional thinking about work-life balance to the more practical concept of work-life harmony, where your professional and personal worlds blend naturally rather than compete. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or simply trying to live with more authenticity and purpose, this episode delivers profound wisdom wrapped in warm, accessible conversation. From networking strategies that actually work to the three keys for a more fulfilled life, you'll walk away with practical tools for immediate implementation. Ready to transform how you relate to yourself and others? Listen now, and discover why sometimes our greatest challenges become our most powerful opportunities for growth.

    54 min

  5. APR 7

    E37 Beyond Insolvency: Transforming Construction Payment Culture

    Send us a text When tragedy strikes in the construction industry, it's rarely just business. With the highest insolvency rates of any UK sector, construction failures devastate families, destroy homes, and break marriages. Every working day, two construction workers take their own lives—a rate four times the national average.  Behind these statistics lies a broken payment culture that systematically forces companies into financial distress. After hearing about an electrical subcontractor whose business collapse led to family devastation despite doing quality work and following the rules, Jarvie Moss knew something had to change. That story sparked the creation of Sable, a fintech solution transforming how money flows through construction projects. Sable's approach combines dedicated project bank accounts with legal trust structures and a revolutionary parallel payment system. Rather than money moving sequentially through the supply chain—creating vulnerability at every step—their system ensures simultaneous payments to all parties. This eliminates the incentive for payment disputes and protects subcontractors when companies higher in the chain experience difficulties. The conversation extends beyond payment solutions to explore broader industry challenges. With over 90% of construction businesses being SMEs, they face extraordinary pressures from uncertain planning systems, constantly shifting regulations, and high-risk development processes. The dramatic decline in SME developers over recent decades highlights how challenging the environment has become, threatening the diversity and resilience of the housing market. What becomes clear is that while government policy matters, commercial solutions that align incentives and reward ethical behavior can drive immediate positive change. By protecting cash flow and ensuring fair payment practices, innovations like project bank accounts could help reverse the industry's troubling insolvency statistics and save countless livelihoods. Ready to explore how project bank accounts could transform your construction project's financial health? Visit sable.co.uk to learn more about this revolutionary approach to secure payments.

    49 min

  6. FEB 24

    E36 Exploring Change with Sid Mohasseb

    Send us a text Sid Mohasseb, a dynamic entrepreneur, educator, and investor, joins me for an enlightening conversation on Bustin' Beyond. Through Sid's journey, we unravel the myth of effortless success and underscore the powerful lessons failure teaches in the world of entrepreneurship. From the undervalued potential in industries like construction to the deceptive allure of quick wins, we explore how true business success requires motivation, self-awareness, and a willingness to embrace change. Together, Sid and I explore the transformative effects of change and motivation as drivers of personal and societal growth. We consider the dual nature of AI—its disruptive potential and capacity for innovation—and argue that embracing periods of chaos can lead to incredible growth. Our dialogue extends to the role of fear in leadership, revealing it as a crucial alert system rather than a weakness. We also examine the impacts of social media on mental health, advocating for personal fulfilment over societal validation. As we reflect on modern capitalism's pitfalls, Sid and I critique its shift away from the classic risk-and-reward model. We discuss the need for change in healthcare systems, pointing out inefficiencies and advocating for state-provided healthcare as a basic right. Throughout the episode, we highlight stories of seizing opportunities with discernment, the importance of patience, and a balanced approach to societal support. Join us as we dissect these complex themes, offering insights that challenge conventional narratives and inspire thoughtful reflection.

    58 min

  7. 09/24/2024

    E35 Kevin Palmieri

    Send us a text What if your toughest struggles could become your greatest triumphs? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kevin Palmieri, the founder and host of Next Level University, as he shares his journey from working at a gas station to becoming a successful podcaster and coach. Kevin's candid discussion on overcoming self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the relentless pursuit of self-improvement offers valuable insights for anyone facing adversity. Additionally, I open up about my own battles with imposter syndrome and how they've shaped my life and career. Have you ever felt that outward success doesn't always bring inner happiness? We tackle this profound topic by sharing a journey that starts with disappointment at not getting a warehouse job, moves through various careers as a truck driver, firefighter, and weatherization expert, and eventually leads to increased anxiety and depression despite financial success. Reflecting on personal struggles, failed relationships, and the realization that true fulfillment lies beyond material gains, we offer a nuanced perspective on the importance of mental well-being and genuine connections. Success and failure, two sides of the same coin, deeply influence our lives in ways we often overlook. Through personal anecdotes and meaningful reflections, we explore the contrast between my own struggles with motivation and my business partner's ease in achieving goals but difficulty in maintaining relationships. We also touch on the impact of personal loss on empathy, the significance of celebrating small victories, and moving past failures quickly. From the story of Tom from MySpace finding fulfillment as a photographer to the joy of giving and societal judgments tied to money, this episode is a heartfelt exploration of life's complexities and the pursuit of genuine happiness.

    41 min

  8. 08/25/2024

    E34 Juliette Denny

    Send us a text What happens when a tenacious entrepreneur faces the brutal reality of unethical business practices during a global pandemic? Juliet Denny's rollercoaster career journey is not just inspiring, it's eye-opening. From her early days working in a pub to navigating a male-dominated sales floor, Juliet's relentless drive led her to establish an export department, move to Bolivia, and become part of the dot-com boom in Boston. Her story is a testament to adaptability and perseverance, capturing the essence of innovation as she founded a SaaS company and secured big-name clients like Apple and HP. Juliet opens up about the nitty-gritty of starting and scaling a tech business focused on learning management systems and gamification. She reveals the initial steps of securing venture capital and the challenges of self-funding. The pressures of high-growth industries and managing cash flow come to life through her candid anecdotes. Juliet's journey didn't come without its share of dark moments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when unethical lending practices nearly forced her out of business. Her harrowing experience with a UK venture debt company underscores the broader issues facing small businesses and the lack of government support. Yet, despite the hardships, Juliet's resilience shines through. She talks about the struggles and rewards of entrepreneurship, the importance of loving what you do, and the need for innovative thinking in business. As she transitions to a new venture, Juliet’s story becomes a powerful narrative about overcoming adversity and the impact of ethical practices in the business world. Tune in to hear her insightful perspective on everything from managing people to embracing AI in language and management, and learn how you can apply these lessons to your own entrepreneurial journey.

    37 min
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About

Failure is a part of life and business, and I experienced the failure of a business in 2015 that my father had started in 1969. The effect it had on me emotionally was huge, yet the outside world knew nothing. I kept it to myself. I learnt so much from that failure, and it made me determined to support other business owners in the construction industry to avoid failure and flourish. As I started to speak to business owners about failure, I learnt just how many had suffered from mental health issues and harmful thoughts. This drove me to start my podcast to educate and let people know how to avoid failure and know if they are going through failure, they are not alone, but more importantly, there is life and success after the failure of your business. 

Information

  • Creator
    Robin Hayhurst
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Bust and Beyond
  • Show Website
    Bust and Beyond