What does it really take to move from coffee runs and safety walkthroughs to calling the shots as General Manager? We sit down with Simon to unpack the long road from unpaid intern to leading Pascon, and we get honest about the moments that mattered: the sting of being passed over, the decision to stay and prove it, and the pressure-cooker months where deadlines beat comfort and growth finally clicked.
We dig into the mechanics of modern construction leadership—how to compress schedules by eliminating dead space between trades, why clarity and conviction outperform noise when holding suppliers to dates, and how a commercial mindset turns “next week” into “today.” Simon breaks down how COVID forced a jump from office routines to on-site command, why that shift accelerated his learning curve, and how he built the habits that stuck: year-over-year self-audits, relentless program focus, and choosing composure when chaos hits.
Stepping into the GM role raises the stakes and changes the work. We talk valuation of time and leverage—taking on sales, brand, and negotiation while delegating repeatable tasks. There’s a simple formula here: if the target is $40M, the calendar must show it. That means installing dashboards for schedule and cashflow, empowering supervisors to make decisions without a call chain, and creating a culture where accountability beats presenteeism. We even wrestle with the work-from-home debate, tying productivity to measurable outputs rather than vibes.
Finally, we explore why personal brand matters in construction. People buy from people. Publishing short, useful insights—on LinkedIn, video, or site explainers—earns trust, attracts better clients, and opens unexpected doors. And underneath it all sits the trait that separates winners from watchers: action. Ship the first clip, make the first pitch, take the first meeting. That bias to move is how you go from “not yet” to “no-brainer.”
If this conversation hits home, follow the show, share it with a mate who’s aiming higher, and leave a quick review—it helps more builders and managers find the playbook.
