Built. Trusted. Chosen.

Trust in construction is getting hammered, and when clients shop like it’s online retail, everyone loses. Lowest bid wins, corners get cut, change orders explode, and reputations get dragged.

In this episode, I’m joined by Eugene Gershman from GIS Companies. Eugene’s come up through a construction family, ran contractor operations, and now focuses fully on development management. We get into what actually protects projects when the market’s tight: real relationships, clear fees, and refusing to build off “cheap” design that isn’t truly buildable.

You’ll take away:

• Why “permit-only” drawings can be a financial grenade once you hit site
• How low-bid wins often turns into change-order pain (for both owner and contractor)
• A better way to compare contractors: fee, margin, and how they value themselves
• Why you can’t build trust, or buildings, from behind a computer screen
• How simple “old school” touches can help contractors stand out in an AI-noisy world

Eugene Gershman is a real estate developer and the lead at GIS Companies, helping property owners structure, finance, and execute development projects from feasibility through delivery.
Guest links: https://giscompanies.co/
Feasibility Study Checklist: https://giscompanies.co/development/feasibility-study/
Eugene’s podcast (Real Estate Development: Land to Legacy): https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

Wes Towers - Uplift 360
I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
Visit: https://uplift360.com.au

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Most trades and construction businesses don’t stall because of a lack of work. They stall when the owner becomes the bottleneck due to a lack of leadership.

In this episode, Dr Andy Neillie breaks down the real-world leadership shifts that help construction business owners and leaders scale: clearer expectations, better conversations, stronger trust, and a culture that doesn’t rely on you being everywhere at once.

You’ll take away:
• The “tools to team” mindset shift that separates operators from leaders
• How to build trust with your crew (and stop losing it through small slip-ups)
• Why hard conversations are a leadership skill, not a personality trait
• Simple structure that supports scale: clarity, roles, and follow-through
• How to lead with standards and care (without becoming the bottleneck)

Dr Andy Neillie is a leadership speaker and leadership development specialist who helps businesses turn managers into effective leaders.

Neillie Leadership Group: https://neillieleadershipgroup.com/

Free ebook: https://leadershipmaterials.com

Host: Wes Towers - Uplift 360
I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation (SEO).

Want to be a guest on the podcast? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

If you’re in trades or construction and the business can’t run without you, you’re not “busy”… you’re boxed in.

In this conversation with Richard Walsh, we unpack what really keeps contractors stuck on the hamster wheel, and how to rebuild a business that creates time, profit, and options (including a real exit). Richard’s story includes massive wins, losing everything, and the hard reset that forced him to design a different kind of business and life.

You’ll take away:

• Making money is rarely the hard part, it’s the systems, compliance, and leadership that keep it alive
• When your business becomes your identity, you’ll defend it with bad decisions
• The non-negotiables that protect your family and stop the business taking over
• A simple exit strategy framework: “how long and how much”, then reverse engineer the plan
• The “5%” founders should focus on (and how to delegate the rest properly)
• Why delegation fails when it’s just “do this”, and how to build guardrails so your team can win daily
  
  

Guest: Richard Walsh
Richard Walsh is the CEO of Sharpen the Spear Coaching and the author of Escape the Owner Prison, focused on helping business owners (especially contractors) regain control and scale with less chaos.
Website: https://sharpenthespearcoaching.com
Email (free audiobook request): [email protected]

Host: Wes Towers (Uplift 360)
I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/