Is your construction business thriving or just surviving? In the Episode of I’m the Gaffer, host Gavin Coyle welcomes Ray Murphy, CEO of Acona Business Coaching and a seasoned construction industry veteran, to unpack the secrets of business health. From his journey as an accountant-turned-construction leader to navigating the 2007 08 recession, Ray shares actionable insights on using analytics to monitor your business, building systems to avoid chaos, and mastering delegation to prevent burnout. They discuss why chasing turnover can backfire, how to track key metrics like gross profit, and the power of saying “no” to protect your resources. Subscribe now for more expert tips, and tell us your favorite takeaway in the comments!

Ray’s evolution from a reluctant accountant to co-founding an £8.5M construction firm with Colin Norman, including hard-won lessons from the recession. They explore why small businesses often lack planning and systems, the risks of overextending on big projects, and how monitoring costs can reveal inefficiencies. Ray also introduces practical tools like the task matrix to delegate effectively and stress the importance of working “on” your business, not just “in” it, for sustainable growth

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Ray Murphy, construction expert and business coach

02:30 – Ray’s journey: From accountant to plant manager at John Lelliott

06:00 – Building a £3.5M plant hire division in his 20s

10:00 – Transition to marketing and co-founding Sutherlands

14:00 – Recession lessons: Restructuring during 2007–08

18:00 – Why small businesses lack systems and health checks

22:00 – Analytics 101: Monitoring gross profit and costs

25:00 – The danger of chasing turnover without capacity

28:00 – Saying “no” to protect your business

30:00 – Delegation: Using the task matrix to free up time

For more information about anything in this episode, head to https://www.gavin-coyle.com/

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.

I’m The Gaffer, available on:

Apple https://bit.ly/ImTheGaffer

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