00:31 – Rob introduces guest Darren Oostdyk, founder of Doverscape Design & Build.
01:33 – Darren shares his journey from mowing lawns to running a thriving design-build company.
03:37 – The biggest growth constraint? The owner. Darren dives into how self-awareness changed his leadership.
05:57 – Realizing 70-hour weeks aren’t sustainable—what pushed Darren to rethink his workload.
08:12 – Shedding hats: why he let go of design (his favorite part) to focus on sales and management.
11:23 – The art of delegation: maintaining brand quality while empowering others.
15:00 – How Doverscape’s strong brand attracts both clients and top talent.
17:20 – Creating a work culture where employees feel valued and respected.
21:49 – The power of planning and pricing right—Darren’s methodical approach to profitability.
24:58 – How budgeting and buffers create freedom and reduce stress.
28:11 – Staying profitable with fewer people and focusing on what really makes money.
30:46 – Darren’s take on AI in design—and why it’s not replacing human creativity anytime soon.
33:59 – Inspiration from West Coast designers and why passion still drives his work.