Austin Gurney: Why He Stopped Trying to Be the Best Operator

Austin Gurney: Why He Stopped Trying to Be the Best Operator

Austin Gurney didn’t just quit his job—he quit the idea that being a great operator was enough. After moving to a new state with no contacts, he grew his excavation business fast by focusing on systems, showing up when others wouldn’t, and thinking like a business owner from day one.

He didn’t build this to stay busy. He’s building it to last.

Takeaways:

✅Built a steady business from scratch in a brand-new area with zero connections.

✅Used daily Facebook group posts (at 5AM) to keep leads coming in before going full time.

✅Realized he was spending too much time being a technician—not a leader.

✅Wants his business to leave a legacy—not just cover the bills.

  • Why it Matters:

  • If you’re growing a blue-collar business and want to scale without being stuck in the machine, this episode gives you the playbook.

    Links:

    🔹 Visit Gurney Excavation’s’ website: https://gurneyexcavationllc.com/

    🔹 Shop American-Made Attachments: https://skidsteernation.com/

    🔹 Need More Leads for Your Excavation Business? Visit Throttle Up Marketing: https://www.getthrottledup.com/

    Episoder(128)

    Christian Lefley: 77th of 77 — Now Running the Same School’s Contracts

    Christian Lefley: 77th of 77 — Now Running the Same School’s Contracts

    Try TULBOXX Free — AI estimating & invoicing for contractors. First 5 estimates free, no credit card: www.tulboxx.comGraduated dead last…Now he’s paid by the same school…And built a business off word ...

    22 Apr 1h 24min

    Nicholas White: He Could've Started at 16. He Waited Until 40

    Nicholas White: He Could've Started at 16. He Waited Until 40

    Try TULBOXX Free — AI estimating & invoicing for contractors. First 5 estimates free, no credit card: www.tulboxx.comNicholas White grew up around excavation.His father has been in the dirt business h...

    8 Apr 1h 11min

    Daniel Snell: The $4,000 Mistake That Taught Him How Commercial Work Really Works

    Daniel Snell: The $4,000 Mistake That Taught Him How Commercial Work Really Works

    He lost $4K over one line of missing wording. Not bad work. Not bad equipment. Just one mistake in a contract.Daniel jumped into excavation young with “$10K and a dream”… but commercial work hit him h...

    1 Apr 1h 1min

    Cody Cocas: Why “Nice Customers” Almost Cost Him His Business

    Cody Cocas: Why “Nice Customers” Almost Cost Him His Business

    He was mowing customers’ lawns… after finishing their job.Not charging for extras… because he liked them.That mindset almost killed his margins—until he flipped to utilities.Cody Cocas went from small...

    25 Mar 1h 22min

    John Seaman: The Day He Fired His Entire Crew (And Rebuilt a Stronger Company)

    John Seaman: The Day He Fired His Entire Crew (And Rebuilt a Stronger Company)

    Most contractors complain about employees.John Seaman fired his entire crew in one day.What he built after that changed how his excavation company runs forever.Running excavation crews in the mountain...

    4 Mar 1h 5min

    Jack Eso: The $4M Move Most Contractors Are Afraid to Make

    Jack Eso: The $4M Move Most Contractors Are Afraid to Make

    He went from renting a skid steer on weekends to landing $4 million in work in 60 days.But the real shift wasn’t equipment — it was systems.And the biggest lesson? Stop racing to the bottom on price.J...

    25 Feb 1h 3min

    Jeremy Whitson: Why Too Much Work Nearly Broke His Excavation Business

    Jeremy Whitson: Why Too Much Work Nearly Broke His Excavation Business

    He walked away from a VP position with 208 employees.Bought one excavator. No real plan.Then learned the hard way that “booked out” doesn’t mean profitable.Jeremy Whitson left a 21-year career in the ...

    18 Feb 1h 36min

    Sheldon Gould: What 25+ Years in a Small-Market Contracting Business Really Teaches You

    Sheldon Gould: What 25+ Years in a Small-Market Contracting Business Really Teaches You

    Running a contracting business in a small town isn’t glamorous—and Sheldon Gould doesn’t pretend it is. With over 25 years in lawn care, snow removal, land leveling, and property maintenance, Sheldon ...

    4 Feb 59min

    Populært innen Business og økonomi

    stopp-verden
    lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
    dine-penger-pengeradet
    e24-podden
    rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
    rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
    rss-pa-konto
    pengesnakk
    pengepodden-2
    utbytte
    finansredaksjonen
    morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
    liberal-halvtime
    livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
    tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
    stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
    rss-sunn-okonomi
    rss-skravla-gar
    rss-markedspuls-2
    lederpodden