Why does running a small building company feel so reactive sometimes?
Small builders often reach a point where they want their business to run well, not just their projects. The work gets done, but everything around it feels reactive. It’s a point many reach without ever saying it out loud, and it’s one of the reasons I really enjoyed listening to Dan Bowden on Robin Hayhurst’s Plenty of people feel this way without ever saying it, and it’s one of the reasons I really enjoyed listening to Dan Bowden on Robin Hayhurst’s Bust and Beyond podcast this week.
Dan speaks very openly about the changes he’s been making at Bridge Construction North West Ltd, and his story will feel familiar to a lot of builders.
What pushed Dan to stop and take stock?
On the podcast, Dan talks about how stretched he was, working hard, keeping everything moving, but feeling under pressure and not really in control. As he says:
'Things had just gone on and on… it all got on top of me.'
He describes how overwhelm can creep up slowly and then suddenly accelerate:
'Once it gets going, it’s like a snowball effect.'
That was the point he knew he needed to step back and work on the business rather than just in it, so he came to one of the Plan Your Five-Year Business workshops we ran with Robin.
He says the staff scoring exercise was the first time he’d properly stepped back and looked at the business from above. It showed him who was supporting the company, where bottlenecks were forming, and why he’d been feeling so overwhelmed.
A simple exercise, but a turning point for him that drove change.
What changed when he got some structure in place?
Dan says the workshop – and the business coaching that followed - gave him the clarity he needed at the time, and that’s what nudged him towards joining Robin’s six-month Construction Success Programme. On the podcast, he talks about how different things feel now - planning properly rather than reacting, running more jobs with more confidence, and feeling like the business is moving in the direction he wants.
The thing he keeps coming back to is the client journey. Dan explains how understanding the process from the client’s point of view has changed the way he communicates and sets expectations. He talks about:
- Knowing what clients need at each stage
- Explaining things clearly from the start
- Reducing confusion and last-minute surprises
- Keeping jobs calmer and more predictable
For a small builder, that clarity can completely change day-to-day pressure.
How does his business feel now?
Dan is honest about moments where things felt like they were snowballing – with everything resting on him. Hearing him talk through how things have changed is a reminder of why this kind of support matters.
- His business is growing.
- He’s running more jobs.
- He’s more clear, more calm and more confident.
- His family life is easier because he isn’t carrying everything on his shoulders.
As he says: 'For me, getting a bit of my social life back - my personal life back to spending time with my family - it’s been a no-brainer.'
He even says the initial workshop was 'a blessing' at the time - and it’s always good to hear when something we run lands at the right moment for someone.
What can other builders do next?
We’ll be adding more workshops to the diary in 2026 we’ll be running a dedicated Client Journey workshop with Robin, because it’s such an important part of running a healthy construction business.
If you’re looking at how to improve your building business in practical, realistic ways, the programme Dan talks about is a good place to start. You can find more about Robin’s Construction Success Programme here.
And you can listen to Dan’s episode of the Bust and Beyond podcast here.
Authors
Nicola De Sousa
Nicola has a wealth of first-hand knowledge of construction matters, having been at the helm of an FMB member company for nearly 20 years.
