“The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and miss it, but that we aim too low and reach it.” – Michelangelo
Dan Urquhart dropped that quote mid-conversation on The Good Builder Podcast, and it landed like a hammer on concrete.
Because if there’s one theme that keeps coming up when we talk to builders, it’s this: everyone’s busy. But is anyone really moving the needle?
This week, I sat down with Dan, business mentor, former builder, and the guy many in our community describe as “a legend” to dig into why so many builders avoid the hard questions, and how to define success beyond just the next job.
The Hard Stuff Builders Avoid (and Why It Matters)
When I asked Dan what the toughest questions for builders really are, his answer was simple but brutal:
“It’s a hard one, isn’t it? Because everyone’s story is so different… But if I reflect on my own career, the biggest thing I wish I did better was aim higher. Not just get caught in the grind every day.”
Sound familiar?
The building game has a way of sucking you into the noise, client dramas, squeaky wheels, maintenance jobs. And while all that stuff matters, Dan says it often comes at the cost of strategy.
“We get busy doing stuff because we haven’t set in stone what really moves the needle for our organization. So, we deal with the loudest client or the biggest issue in the moment, instead of asking what’s actually going to push us forward.”
Busyness ≠ Progress
Let’s call it out: most of us confuse being flat out with being effective. Dan didn’t hold back on this one.
“We don’t know what we don’t know. And we don’t clarify what we bring to the organization that nobody else can or should do. Then we end up doing things that feel important, but they’re not moving the business forward.”
His tip? Nail down your core purpose, the two or three things that only you can do. Make them your non-negotiables.
“Because if you don’t have non-negotiables, everything’s flexible. And when everything’s flexible, you’ll give your time away to the wrong things.”
Dan shared his own misstep: getting caught up in after-sales maintenance.
“I hated complaints. I wanted to keep clients happy, so I managed maintenance myself. But I had staff for that. What I didn’t realize was every hour I spent on maintenance was an hour I wasn’t leading the team or driving growth.”
The takeaway? Delegate the things others can do. Obsess over the things only you can do.
Your time is a Pie – Stop Giving It Away
Dan’s analogy for time is gold.
“Think of your week as a pie. Once you’ve eaten it, it’s gone. Where are you spending your pie? Where do you need to spend it to move the organization forward?”
It sounds simple, but here’s the kicker: most builders treat time like it’s unlimited.
“If every unplanned interruption was like handing out $50 notes, you’d stop pretty quick. But we don’t see time like money, even though it’s way more valuable. Once time’s gone, it’s gone forever.”
That perspective hits hard when you realise how many pies you’ve handed out this week without a second thought.
The Leadership Mindset Shift
Here’s where Dan gets passionate: your mindset has to evolve as your role changes.
“Tradies come into business with a worker’s mindset. Work equals progress. But when you own a business, that’s just not the case. Leadership equals progress.”
In his words:
“We need to be a coach in the stands, not a player on the field.”
Dan reckons too many building business owners are still “on the tools” mentally, even if they’re not physically.
“If you’re a leader working 16 hours a day and never lifting your head up, chances are you’ve still got a worker’s mindset. And you’re stuck in the grind.”
The first step? Awareness. Ask yourself: Am I operating like an apprentice, a manager, or a leader? And am I working functionally for my role?
Success Isn’t Just Financial – It’s a Wheel
Most builders define success in dollars. Dan says that’s a mistake.
“Absolutely, finances matter. Nobody wants to work hard and just scrape by. But if you’ve got $15 million in the bank and you’re overweight, stressed, and your relationships are shot, what’s the point?”
Instead, picture a wheel with five spokes:
- Finances
- Family
- Health
- Friendships
- Time to breathe
“If you only invest in one spoke, the wheel won’t roll. You’ve got to look at success holistically and deliberately put time into each area.”
Dan’s advice? Pick two actions this month for each spoke. Nothing crazy. Just small, deliberate investments.
Why Builders Keep Saying “Yes” (and Why It’s Killing Them)
Another trap: overcommitting.
“Builders say yes to everything because they want to please clients. I get it. But the best leaders are ruthless about what they say yes to. They say no more than they say yes.”
And when they do say yes, it’s because the task lines up with their core purpose and moves the business forward.
The Alex Ferguson Lesson
Dan left us with a story that sums up the whole conversation.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United manager, used to train on the field with his players. One day, his assistant asked, “Mate, why are we even here if you’re doing everything?”
So Ferguson stepped back. He went into the stands.
“He said that was one of the most powerful decisions of his career. From up there, he could see the whole game. He could lead, not just manage.”
That’s the shift builders need to make: stop sweating every detail and start steering the ship.
The Emotional Cost of Ignoring This Stuff
Here’s what really hit home in our chat: it’s not just about time.
“We’re not just dealing with hours in a day. We’re dealing with emotional energy. And if you run on empty year after year, it takes a toll.”
Dan’s message? There is a better way. It’s not about passing or failing. It’s about being willing to learn, shift your mindset, and put foundations in place.
The TGB Take
If you’re a builder reading this and thinking, I’m stuck in the grind, saying yes to everything, and not sure what success even looks like, you’re not alone. Every conversation we’re having right now says the same thing: the tension in the building industry is real.
But like Dan says, it won’t change by chance. It changes by strategy. By knowing your core purpose. By investing in all the spokes of your wheel.
And maybe, just maybe by getting out of the trenches and up into the stands.
0 Comments