I'm The Gaffer

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 profits
The simple financial systems many contractors still ignore
Why no one cares about your money more than you
How contractors miss valuable tax deductions
The 80/20 rule of AI and how it applies to business
How AI can help with contracts, pricing, and marketing
Why contractors who adopt AI early will gain an advantage

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
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 Coughlan
Website
https://roycoughlan.com/
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roycoughlan

About the Podcast
I’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

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 Wolfe
Website
https://gatheringthekings.com
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaz-wolfe-86767054/
About the Podcast
I’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 #BusinessSystems #ConstructionOperations

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

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

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 Anderson
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heymickeyanderson/
Website: https://loyaltyops.com/
I’m The Gaffer
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 #ConstructionBusiness #Leadership #TeamCulture #BusinessGrowth #Communication #ConstructionIndustry #SmallBusiness #PeoplePerformanceProcess #Hustro