I'm The Gaffer

Gavin Coyle
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I'm The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people, offering insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint unprecedented success in the dynamic world of construction. Whether you are still ‘on the tools’, just getting started, a seasoned site manager focused on large-scale project management, or a fast-growth building industry entrepreneur/developer this podcast is for you. Gavin's guests, ranging from influential thought leaders to boots-on-the-ground practitioners, share their stories, successes and failures, and offer invaluable lessons and tips, allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the construction landscape. This podcast is a must have shared learning space for any person looking to achieve success in the building industry. As a construction person, this podcast is your go-to source for navigating the complexities of the construction industry where success is not just built; it's crafted with precision, passion, and the right knowledge.

  1. 3D AGO

    How Construction Businesses Can Find Hidden Risks Before They Cost Money | Bryan Guess

    Welcome to a new episode of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ If you're a construction business owner who only reacts when projects go wrong, you may already be losing money, time, and control without realising it. In this episode, Bryan Guess, Founder and Principal Consultant of Bartizan Strategic Group, joins Gavin Coyle to discuss how construction companies can identify hidden risks, improve systems, protect margins, and avoid costly mistakes before the damage is done. You’ll learn: Why project problems are often symptoms, not the real issue Why construction businesses need to look at risk before it hits How a risk register can protect your business Why “I don’t have time” is a dangerous excuse How documentation can prevent costly mistakes Why warranties and O&M manuals matter more than many owners realise How poor systems create repeat problems Why throwing more people at a project is often just a Band-Aid How to deal with high-performing but difficult team members Why structure, strategy, and systems matter in construction leadership Sponsored by Hustro.com Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Spend 75% less time on inspections and reports and streamline your construction documentation. Start and claim 2 months free using code “GAVIN” → https://hustro.com/gavin 🎯 Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters) 00:00 Sponsored by Hustro.com 01:20 Introduction to Bryan Guess 02:23 The story behind Bartizan Strategic Group 04:34 Bryan’s gap analysis approach 08:32 Why construction companies need a risk register 09:04 Working on the business vs in the business 14:13 The Washington DC roof leak case study 16:48 The importance of documentation and detective work 20:48 Why O&M manuals matter at handover 23:38 Why warranties should be checked before repairs 29:20 How Bartizan Strategic Group supports project-based businesses 31:02 Why processes must change as companies scale 34:46 Why tribal knowledge creates business risk 38:27 Managing a difficult but high-performing project manager 43:20 Bryan’s favourite books 46:04 Where to connect with Bryan Guess 48:18 Episode wrap-up Connect with Bryan GuessWebsite https://bartizan.group/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-guess/ About the PodcastI’m The Gaffer, hosted by construction professional Gavin Coyle, brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share real insights on leadership, growth, and success in the construction industry. Listen on: Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@imthegafferpodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more insights for construction business owners and leaders. #ImTheGaffer #Construction #ConstructionBusiness #ContractorGrowth #ConstructionLeadership #ConstructionRisk #BusinessSystems

    52 min

  2. APR 21

    Why Small Contractors Keep Losing Money on Jobs | Roy Coughlan

    Welcome to a new episode of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ If you're a construction business owner who only checks your numbers once a year with your accountant — you're running your company blind and it's costing you real money. In this episode, Roy Coughlan, entrepreneur and host of multiple top-charting podcasts, breaks down why most contractors lose money not because of lack of work — but because they don't control their numbers, systems, and pricing. You’ll learn: Why guessing job prices can wipe out your profitsThe simple financial systems many contractors still ignoreWhy no one cares about your money more than youHow contractors miss valuable tax deductionsThe 80/20 rule of AI and how it applies to businessHow AI can help with contracts, pricing, and marketingWhy contractors who adopt AI early will gain an advantage Sponsored by Hustro.comHustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Spend 75% less time on inspections and reports and streamline your construction documentation. Start and claim 2 months free using code “GAVIN”→ https://hustro.com/gavin 🎯 Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters)00:00 Introduction 02:30 Roy Coughlan’s background and entrepreneurial journey 06:15 Why contractors miss tax deductions 08:26 Why many contractors guess job pricing 10:53 How one badly priced job can wipe out profits 12:53 How AI can create contracts and estimates in minutes 16:11 The 80/20 rule when using AI 17:08 Using AI for marketing and business growth 18:02 Why AI will improve jobs rather than replace them 19:41 From construction to podcasting 21:44 How Roy built a podcast coaching business 23:06 Why podcasting is underrated for business growth 26:05 What makes a podcast successful 26:42 Why promoting in the wrong places doesn’t work 27:23 Using YouTube and AI tools to grow an audience 28:55 Why targeting the right audience matters 30:10 Marketing lessons for contractors 31:57 Roy on property, business models and entrepreneurship 33:06 Roy’s virtual assistant business explained 34:40 Fiverr, Upwork and building long-term relationships 39:18 Roy’s advice on hiring and working with contractors 40:06 Why construction doesn’t have to be your only path 41:29 Knowing when it’s time to change direction 43:30 Roy’s advice to entrepreneurs 44:26 What Roy would do differently in life 45:00 Roy’s favourite book 45:45 Roy’s favourite destination 46:41 A surprising fact about Roy 47:13 Where to connect with Roy 48:00 Final message to listeners 48:18 Episode wrap-up Connect with Roy CoughlanWebsite https://roycoughlan.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/roycoughlan About the PodcastI’m The Gaffer, hosted by construction professional Gavin Coyle, brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share real insights on leadership, growth, and success in the construction industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@imthegafferpodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more insights for construction business owners and leaders. #ImTheGaffer #Construction #ConstructionBusiness #ContractorGrowth #ConstructionLeadership #AIInConstruction #BusinessSystems

    52 min

  3. APR 14

    The $200K Business Trap: Why Construction Owners Struggle to Scale | Chaz Wolfe

    Welcome to a new episode of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ If you're a construction business owner stuck around £200k–£300k in revenue and constantly firefighting staff problems, cash flow pressure, and operational chaos — you're likely overstaffed, under-systemised, and bleeding money. In this episode, Chaz Wolfe, serial entrepreneur and founder of Gathering The Kings, breaks down how construction business owners build companies that run without them — instead of businesses that consume their time, cash, and family life. You’ll learn: - Why a $200k construction business with 3–5 employees is massively overstaffed - The $300k revenue threshold before hiring becomes necessary - Why most owners remain the bottleneck even with 10–15 employees - The four-step system to remove yourself from daily operations - Why hiring before fixing systems is costing you serious money - How predictable profit becomes the driver of long-term family wealth Sponsored by Hustro.com Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Spend 75% less time on inspections and reports and streamline your construction documentation. Start and claim 2 months free using code “GAVIN” → https://hustro.com/gavin 🎯 Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters) 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Chaz Wolfe’s entrepreneurial background 03:30 Why many business owners become the bottleneck 11:32 Building a business that runs without you 14:17 The $200K business hiring mistake 20:25 Why owners must get out of the weeds 21:06 Building systems and SOPs to scale 27:00 Market size vs marketing problems in construction 31:30 Teaching entrepreneurship to kids 42:14 Chaz’s favourite book: Think and Grow Rich 43:30 Helping entrepreneurs build freedom through systems Connect with Chaz WolfeWebsite https://gatheringthekings.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaz-wolfe-86767054/ About the PodcastI’m The Gaffer, hosted by construction professional Gavin Coyle, brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share real insights on leadership, growth, and success in the construction industry. Listen onApple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@imthegafferpodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com Subscribe for more insights for construction business owners and leaders. — #ImTheGaffer #Construction #ConstructionBusiness #ContractorGrowth #ConstructionLeadership #BusinessSystems #ConstructionOperations

    53 min

  4. MAR 31

    Poor Communication Is Costing Your Construction Business

    Welcome to a new episode of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ If you're a construction business owner trying to scale but constantly feel like stress, staff problems, and chaos increase as the business grows — this episode explains why your current thinking is holding your company back. In this episode, Anil Gupta, international mindset mentor and business advisor, breaks down why the thinking that gets a construction business to £1M turnover will never get it to £10M, £50M, or beyond — and how poor leadership awareness creates stress, poor decisions, and expensive operational mistakes. You’ll learn: - Why construction businesses collapse when owners keep solving every problem themselves - The real reason growth from £1M to £10M requires completely different thinking - How poor communication and emotional reactions damage teams and client relationships - The simple leadership rule that reduces stress by up to 80% when running projects and teams - Why most construction businesses become unsellable because the owner is the entire system - The delegation framework that stops managers bringing you problems all day Sponsored by Hustro.com Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Spend 75% less time on inspections and reports and streamline your construction documentation. Start and claim 2 months free using code “GAVIN” → https://hustro.com/gavin Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters) 00:16 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 01:01 Introduction – Gavin Coyle and Anil Gupta 03:39 The promise of the podcast: less stress and better results 05:20 Why planning your future matters in business 07:10 Awareness, clarity and focus in leadership 10:07 Why the thinking that builds a £1M company won’t build a £10M company 10:42 Using AI tools like ChatGPT for business planning 12:27 A simple technique to reduce stress as a business owner 16:17 Communication strategies when dealing with clients and teams 17:35 “Be so amazing you cannot be ignored” – leadership mindset 19:59 Anil shares his story of losing everything in 2008 21:16 A powerful lesson about relationships and priorities 23:36 Perspective, gratitude and handling adversity 28:10 Why many leaders struggle with self-worth 29:35 The “50 pound note” lesson about personal value 30:10 Why business owners must stop solving every problem themselves 31:07 The three areas leaders should focus on to grow a company 33:18 Why leadership mindset determines whether businesses succeed or collapse 36:18 One thing Anil wishes he had done differently in life 37:05 Favourite travel destination and personal insights 38:53 How to connect with Anil Gupta Connect with Anil Gupta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anilgupta-lovedoctor/ Website: https://meetanil.com Book: Immediate Happiness https://www.amazon.com/Immediate-Happiness-Practical-Proven-Results/dp/1935989030 I’m The Gaffer, hosted by construction professional Gavin Coyle, brings together industry leaders, entrepreneurs and experts to share insights, experiences and strategies for success in the construction industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@imthegafferpodcast Website https://www.imthegaffer.com/ #ImTheGaffer #Construction #ConstructionLeadership #ConstructionBusiness #ConstructionIndustry #Leadership #Mindset #Communication

    45 min

  5. MAR 24

    Why Pre-Construction Is the Most Strategic Phase in Construction

    Welcome to Episode 106 of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ Gavin Coyle is joined by Steve Dell'Orto, Founder & CEO of Concentric, to explore one of the most overlooked — yet most strategic phases in construction: pre-construction. Too often in construction, the focus goes straight to building. But the reality is that the success or failure of a project is usually decided long before the first shovel hits the ground. Steve brings 26 years of experience in major general contracting, having worked on projects ranging from hundreds of thousands to multi-billion dollar developments. In this episode, he explains why the construction industry leaves huge opportunities on the table by not investing enough time, systems, and data into pre-construction planning. The conversation dives into how data, collaboration, and modern technology are transforming how teams plan projects, manage risk, and deliver more predictable outcomes. If you're involved in construction leadership, project delivery, or improving profitability in your business…this conversation will resonate. Sponsored by Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Hustro.com – 75% less time on inspections & reports Start and claim 2 months free using “GAVIN” code → https://hustro.com/gavin Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters) 00:16 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 01:44 Introduction: Gavin Coyle + Steve Dell'Orto 02:11 Why pre-construction is the most strategic phase in construction 03:13 Steve’s 26-year career in general contracting 04:51 The creation of Concentric before COVID 06:05 Why pre-construction is similar across projects of all sizes 06:52 Are construction companies getting pre-construction wrong? 08:40 The challenge of fewer experienced workers entering construction 08:59 Using historical project data to improve planning 10:04 AI and technology as a force multiplier for construction teams 10:51 Why Concentric focuses specifically on pre-construction 12:12 Predicting project cost and certainty of outcomes 14:20 Why the cheapest mistakes happen in pre-construction 15:37 Platform vs point solutions in construction software 18:22 How better pre-construction planning improves profitability 19:16 Using technology to increase project win rates 22:00 Why data improves collaboration and communication 24:01 Breaking down silos between contractors and designers 26:25 Giving owners real-time visibility into project costs 27:48 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 28:24 Beyond estimating: scheduling, risk and resource planning 30:01 Designing construction software that is simple to use 32:03 Why simplicity increases adoption of technology 33:33 When does construction actually start? 35:47 Why the line between pre-construction and construction is blurry 37:24 Why many companies still rely on spreadsheets 38:02 How customers shape the evolution of Concentric 39:09 Subscribe and support the podcast 41:55 Knowing what you know now… what would you do differently? 42:23 Book recommendation: Freedom’s Forge 45:02 Steve’s passion for building and carpentry 46:27 Favorite travel destination 47:30 How to connect with Steve Dell'Orto Connect with Steve Dell'Orto LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedellorto/ Website: https://concntric.com I’m The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction professionals — bringing insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint success in the building industry. Available on: Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify: https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imthegafferpodcast Website: https://www.imthegaffer.com/ #ImTheGaffer #Construction #PreConstruction #ConstructionLeadership #ConstructionTechnology #ConstructionManagement #ConstructionIndustry

    52 min

  6. MAR 10

    People, Performance & Process: Leadership Lessons for Construction Owners

    Welcome to Episode 105 of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ Gavin Coyle is joined by Michaela Anderson, Founder of LoyaltyOps™, to explore one of the biggest challenges facing construction businesses today: people, performance, process, and communication. As companies grow, most owners focus on the visible side of growth — sales, marketing, leads, and winning more work. But what often gets overlooked is what happens inside the business once that growth arrives. Michaela shares why so many companies struggle to scale, why communication standards matter more than most leaders realise, and how purpose, accountability, and clear expectations can transform team performance. This conversation is especially valuable for construction business owners, small to mid-sized companies, and leaders trying to build stronger teams without losing control of the business. We cover:– Why operations break growing companies – Michaela’s background in scaling businesses – The leadership dynamic behind LoyaltyOps™ – Why younger workers think differently about work – The communication problems causing friction in teams – Why empathy matters in leadership – The hiring mistakes small businesses often make – Why purpose is essential for attracting and keeping great people – The role of planning in building a business that lasts – A simple flywheel for communication, accountability and improvement – Why culture should be seen as performance – How leaders can set clear standards across the business Sponsored by Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Hustro.com – 75% less time on inspections & reports Start and claim 2 months free using “GAVIN” code → https://hustro.com/gavin Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters)00:16 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 00:26 Why growth breaks without operations 00:52 Intro: Gavin Coyle + Michaela Anderson 03:40 Michaela’s background in marketing and transformational growth 04:13 The real bottleneck in scaling companies 04:31 The birth of LoyaltyOps™ 04:41 Michaela’s husband’s Special Forces background 06:09 High performance, psychology and leadership styles 06:48 Are younger workers really less resilient? 08:09 The biggest challenge in teams: communication 09:39 Performance vs money: what leaders over-focus on 10:05 Why empathy matters in leadership 10:46 “A good shepherd smells like sheep” 10:50 Why construction owners struggle to attract labour 11:47 The hiring myth small businesses believe 12:17 What great people actually want from work 13:14 Why sustainability and long-term thinking matter 14:04 Why purpose is essential for attracting talent 14:29 The “clear intent” framework 15:47 Why so many businesses still have no real plan 17:03 A business plan vs a job you work forever 18:23 The pros and cons of an agile contractor-based business 19:16 Why loyalty is a two-way street 20:27 Why some owners resist change 21:01 Michaela’s four-step flywheel 24:15 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 25:00 What happens when systems are broken 26:38 Policies vs standards: what companies miss 27:26 A simple one-page source of truth 27:47 Why most core values are useless 28:33 How language shapes behavior 28:49 Using catchphrases and heuristics to guide teams 29:47 Turning values into real behaviors 30:54 Culture as performance 31:24 Why this process is easier than it sounds 31:33 The mistake of turning culture into committee work 32:15 Why systems must fit the business 33:07 Leaders as amplifiers of culture 34:46 How to create standards people can speak up in 36:01 The problem with dominant old-school A players 37:10 Why leadership must address toxic behavior directly 38:07 Undercover Boss and the gap from leadership to the ground 39:12 Why leaders need clarity on who they are and where they’re going 40:30 Why chasing profit can distract from purpose 41:53 How long implementation takes 42:39 Why Michaela recommends 90-day sprints 43:49 The kind of growth leaders can expect 45:17 Curveball: Michaela’s international background 46:13 Knowing what you know now… 46:18 Michaela’s biggest life/business lesson 47:01 Go-to destination: Disney cruises 49:00 Book recommendation: Big Little Breakthroughs 49:33 Favorite movie: The Princess Bride 50:06 How to contact Michaela 51:53 Final thoughts on contraction, resilience and opportunity Connect with Michaela AndersonLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heymickeyanderson/ Website: https://loyaltyops.com/ I’m The GafferI’m The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people — bringing insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint success in the building industry. Available on:Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify: https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube: /@imthegafferpodcast Website: https://www.imthegaffer.com/ #ImTheGaffer #Construction #ConstructionBusiness #Leadership #TeamCulture #BusinessGrowth #Communication #ConstructionIndustry #SmallBusiness #PeoplePerformanceProcess #Hustro

    56 min

  7. MAR 3

    Zoning Made Simple: How FutureLot Uses AI to Unlock ADU Builds

    Welcome to Episode 104 of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ Gavin Coyle is joined by Avi Kaufman, Co-Founder and Chief Real Estate Officer of FutureLot, to unpack one of the most overlooked (and most expensive) parts of any build: zoning + pre-planning. Zoning bylaws can be 50 to 2,000 pages long, layered over decades, and different in every municipality. Avi explains how FutureLot is using AI (with human review) to turn that complexity into a fast, address-based feasibility read—so builders can qualify projects in minutes, not weeks, and spot red flags before trust (and budgets) get blown up. We cover: – Why zoning research is broken (and why it slows housing everywhere) – How AI can read bylaws + codes at scale (with a human review layer) – “Type in the address → get a report”: what builders actually see – Hazard layers that change the deal: wetlands, fire zones, sinkholes, slopes, etc. – Why builders win when they can have an intelligent first call with homeowners – The ADU opportunity: backyard cottages, infill, and “missing middle” housing – How faster qualification improves conversions + reduces costly surprises – What FutureLot is building next (zooming out to identify opportunity areas) – Pricing + who it’s for (builders first, homeowners can run a few reports free) Sponsored by Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Hustro.com – 75% less time on inspections & reports Start and claim 2 months free using “GAVIN” code → https://hustro.com/gavin Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters) 00:16 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 00:27 The zoning reality: 50–2,000 page bylaws + 20k–30k municipalities 01:03 AI + human review: how FutureLot creates an “early read” report 01:29 Intro: Gavin Coyle + Avi Kaufman (FutureLot) 02:20 What FutureLot helps answer: what you can build + key constraints 03:04 Why projects fail: long planning cycles + missed details (surveys, permits) 04:18 Avi’s background: army, real estate, business school, learning to code 09:31 The lightbulb moment: housing access + ADUs (backyard cottages) 10:05 The promise: “type your address” and get only the relevant rules 11:36 What builders get: instant report + map + setbacks + hazard layers 12:03 Builder advantage: smarter first call + faster trust + fewer surprises 13:34 Who uses it most: ADU-focused builders (pipeline + qualification) 15:51 Permit timelines: 30 days in some places, months in others 17:29 Future vision: market-wide filters to find ADU-eligible lots 18:03 Competition + positioning: granularity for “missing middle” projects 29:22 Growth: current coverage + expansion plans 33:46 Builder economics: saving 4–20 hours per lead qualification 34:26 Pricing: starts at $199/month; 3 free reports available 37:14 State government project teaser: ADU accelerator + pipeline insights 38:05 Curveball: “Knowing what you know now…” 38:19 Favorites: Back to the Future, Edge of Tomorrow; book recommendation 41:06 How to contact Avi + FutureLot Connect with Avi Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avinkaufman/ Website: https://www.futurelot.com/ Email: avi@futurelot.com I’m The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people—bringing insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint success in the building industry. Available on: Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify: https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube: /@imthegafferpodcast Website: https://www.imthegaffer.com/ #ImTheGaffer #Construction #Zoning #PreConstruction #Feasibility #ADU #Housing #Builders #ConstructionBusiness #ProjectPlanning #Hustro

    46 min

  8. FEB 17

    Stop Being the Bottleneck: Build a Construction Team That Runs Without You

    Welcome to Episode 103 of I’m The Gaffer 👷‍♂️ Gavin Coyle is joined by Liz Chism, a construction coach and business expert, to break down how contractors can stop being the bottleneck and start building a business that runs with systems, standards, and the right hires. If you’re stuck doing everything, working insane hours, and feeling like quality will drop if you let go, then this episode gives you a practical roadmap to step into leadership and build a team that performs without you. We cover:Liz’s story: from 100-hour weeks to building a team that could run the businessThe first step before hiring: simplify your businessWhy “organizing clutter” is a band-aid (and what to do instead)The project audit: focusing on the 20% of jobs that drive 80% profit“Recapture + reallocate”: cutting waste to free cash fastWhy marketing agencies fail contractors and how to market smarterThe best first hire for small contractors: a Virtual AssistantHiring sequence: VA → Project Coordinator → Field Labor → Project ManagerWhy hiring managers too early creates friction (they end up managing you)Cost control: project managers owning job cost + KPIsSOPs that work: start with outcomes, then build the process backwardsLiz’s daily routine, leadership mindset, and long-term visionBook recommendation: The 6 Types of Working Genius + assessment Sponsored by Hustro.com – the simplest construction management software. Hustro.com – 75% less time on inspections & reports Start and claim 2 months free using “GAVIN” code → https://hustro.com/gavin Episode Highlights (Timestamps / Chapters)00:16 Podcast sponsor: Hustro.com 01:04 Intro: Gavin Coyle + Liz Chism 02:07 Liz’s background in construction + QuickBooks at 14 02:46 Brewery journey + becoming the bottleneck 03:42 100-hour weeks → learning to build a team 04:31 Turning phone off for 2 weeks (test of systems + team) 05:41 Where do we start? (not hiring first) 06:28 Step 1: Simplify your business (Liz’s 5S framework) 07:07 Project audit: which jobs are most profitable? 08:07 “Say no more” + profit margin jump example 08:31 Recapture + reallocate: cutting waste to free cash 10:31 Gavin on marketing agency frustrations 11:41 Liz: why most agencies waste money + how to market smarter 13:21 Key hires in construction teams 13:35 First hire: Virtual Assistant (admin leverage) 14:29 VA cost breakdown + bonuses approach 15:52 “$5/hour is illegal?” (context + fair pay by country) 17:45 Next hire: Project Coordinator (coordination + client comms) 18:46 Is the project coordinator virtual? (usually on-site) 20:40 Follow-up example: VA = revenue growth opportunity 22:05 Hiring shift: hire experts, not warm bodies 24:41 Hustro.com sponsor segment 25:26 Bookkeeper + forecasting importance 26:08 Field labor and job-site admin role 27:31 When to hire a project manager (after team foundation) 29:38 Cost control: who owns job costing? 30:20 PM + estimator alignment before sending estimates 31:13 Weekly KPIs: on time + on budget accountability 33:03 SOPs that work: start with outcomes, build backwards 34:26 Subscribe + community message 35:08 Trends Liz sees: 80% mindset, 20% tactics 35:48 Video marketing + contractor camera confidence 37:48 Social proof + posts showing up in AI search 38:53 Liz’s book: “SOPs Suck” 39:45 Day in the life: 4am routine + family + business 41:38 Can the business run without Liz? (2026 goal) 42:25 Liz’s plan: coaches + leadership focus 43:48 Curveball: what would Liz do differently? 44:40 Book recommendation: Six Types of Working Genius 46:50 Assessment cost + why it matters 47:32 How to contact Liz + website + socials Connect with LizLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-chism-coaching/ Website: https://lizchism.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz_chism/ I’m The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people—bringing insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint success in the building industry. Available on: Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer Spotify: https://bit.ly/ImTheGafferSpotify YouTube: /@imthegafferpodcast Website: https://www.imthegaffer.com/ #ImTheGaffer #Construction #Leadership #ConstructionBusiness #ProjectManagement #ContractorLife #Operations #SOPs #ConstructionManagement #Hustro

    53 min
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About

I'm The Gaffer, hosted by industry expert Gavin Coyle, is the essential podcast for construction people, offering insider insights, expert interviews, and actionable strategies to blueprint unprecedented success in the dynamic world of construction. Whether you are still ‘on the tools’, just getting started, a seasoned site manager focused on large-scale project management, or a fast-growth building industry entrepreneur/developer this podcast is for you. Gavin's guests, ranging from influential thought leaders to boots-on-the-ground practitioners, share their stories, successes and failures, and offer invaluable lessons and tips, allowing you to have a 360-degree view of the construction landscape. This podcast is a must have shared learning space for any person looking to achieve success in the building industry. As a construction person, this podcast is your go-to source for navigating the complexities of the construction industry where success is not just built; it's crafted with precision, passion, and the right knowledge.

Information

  • Creator
    Gavin Coyle
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Gavin Coyle
  • Show Website
    I'm The Gaffer

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