"Half a Million - Or I'm Not Interested"
"Unless it's half a million, I'm not interested."
That's what a Commercial Director recently told me.
My immediate thought was, "They must be based overseas."
Not quite.
This candidate lives in Ireland and commutes to projects across Europe, earning over €300,000—roughly AUD $500,000.
Having recruited in Australia and New Zealand since 2016, It was rare to see salaries that high for operational professionals.
While such figures are more common in Executive roles, even then they're scarce.
I'd consider a Commercial Director comparable to a Preconstruction Manager, Project Director, or Program Director.
And while some Australian projects might offer this level of remuneration on major projects, it's exceptionally unusual.
That's why this conversation stopped me in my tracks.
Living in Wicklow, earning a fortune, jetting around Europe, enjoying café con leches, and pocketing €30,000 a month!
Schtoppp!!!
And this isn't an isolated case.
Just last month, I spoke with a Director of Estimating for a major contractor earning just shy of €400,000—that's over AUD $600,000! .
$600 bricks.
We’re starting to talk Championship
level footballer here.
Or maybe, mid level NRL Player!
In fact, according to SportsBoom
"The average NRL player salary was around $371,000 per year as of 2023. However, salaries vary widely based on factors like experience, skill, and market demand."
Similar to construction then....
Thousands of people move from Ireland to Australia every month.
But what many don't realize is that this talent drain creates incredible opportunities for those who stay in Ireland or return.
An analysis of the Irish construction market reveals a major trend: candidates with overseas experience are highly sought after, especially Irish or UK professionals with full working rights.
That international experience becomes the cherry on top for institutional clients like Amazon and Microsoft.
Ireland occupies a unique global position.
With a highly regarded workforce, major tax incentives for corporations, and plenty of work available, the opportunities are there for those shrewd enough to seize them.
Yes, the weather might be shite.
But the craic is gas.
And with such close proximity to Europe, big projects, and big salaries, is it something you could get over?
Mick Donaghy
Mick Donaghy is the Founder of GEDON Executive Recruitment, an International Search Firm for the PreControl Construction Sector. He writes about Recruitment, Entrepreneurship and Construction here and Presents a Podcast called "The Take Off".
To find out more visit https://www.gedonexecutive.com/.
The (re) Start
It all begins with an idea.
If you know me.
It's probably because I've been taking photos of my Massive Irish head for 13 years and posting it on Linkedin.
Unfortunately 3.2 million people last year will have witnessed my colossal dome at one point.
My Kiwi Wife keeps awkwardly, pointing out out the size of my head.
"You're like a snipers dream"
"If I get pregnant, I swear they better not have your head"
Rudely, she actually presented me a scientific study last night on the "Average size of heads amongst males in Ireland."
Like what?
Where do you even come across this type of information?
It's also pleasing to know that the Science Community in Ireland is doing such great work.
"Why would we wana find a cure for cancer Maureen, when we can measure the circumference of Jimmy's head?"
But anyway, back to business.
You might sorta know me.
Think ya know me.
Or even actually Know me.
Because well, you know me.
We could have worked together.
We could have did business together.
Perhaps you were a candidate at some point.
Or even a client.
But if you're reading this, I just want to say thank you.
I have always enjoyed writing.
Even though, I wouldn't say that I'm particularly good at it; It's a little bit of therapy.
But I've decided to start this newsletter for a few reasons.
1) Because I'm somewhat "restarting" my career and life in Ireland and I haven't fucking notion where to start.
I thought "Here, why don't I show other people, how to be completely lost too? That would be good wouldn't it?"
2) It's been some time since I've been actively "looking" for business, and truthfully, I'm an old car on a winters day; a bit reluctant to start.
So here I am, in a shared office space in Belfast.
Trying to fit in with all the cool people tapping on their MacBooks, with their Circle Glasses and Cafe Con Leche's.
And I've decided to start this weekly thing.
To keep myself accountable.
But also to give everyone in the industry a bit of respite.
Honestly, I could write these big serious articles about Construction Economics, Careers, the Latest Trends, Artificial Intelligence.
But really?
Would you wana read that?
Or would you prefer to witness my massive head, fail miserably over the next 2 years in building a business and life in Ireland?
You see I've got a bit of a vision;
To build the biggest construction recruitment company in Ireland.
So of course, I'm doomed to fail.
And also, to bring a bit of humour and authenticity to the industry.
Because, can we really live with another
"Well done Jenny on your 5 year business anniversarrrrryy"
And Jenny's literally "Open to Work".
And on the market looking for jobs.
To do anything to get away from her Micro Managing Employer.
So here's my promise to you.
If you read this blog you'll:
1) Be mildly entertained
2) Find inspiration through all my failures
3) Watch me challenge the industry and put PRECONTROL professionals on THE MAP
And 4)
Well, I haven't thought that far yet.
Got to dash.
Time to do some real work.
Here's to 2025.
And failing in front of you all.
Mick
Choice is f*****g killing us!
It all begins with an idea.
It’s a Tuesday Evening.
You get home from work.
You’re tired.
It’s been a big day.
The kids are finally in bed.
You and the spouse finally have a moment to spend together.
You open Netflix.
And for the next hour.
You scroll.
You scroll
And you scroll.
You make lists.
You research whether a programme is good or not.
You decide “not tonight”
You leave it for the weekend.
All of a sudden, you’ve spent half the evening considering your options, rather than just clicking play and living with the consequences.
Imagine that.
Watching something that was utterly atrocious and living to tell the tale.
But as a society we’re always in a constant state of searching for perfection.
The perfect job.
The perfect relationship.
The perfect morning routine.
It’s never ending.
And because we’re always in a perpetual state of seeking “the best”
Companies cater to that
And provide us with endless things.
Things that we don't need.
Or care for.
Whether it's got 1% more protein or not, do we honestly really care THAT MUCH?
My wife rang me a few months ago.
We were preparing our finances for moving overseas.
“Just so you know, we have $200 in the bank account until Monday”
I felt so much relief.
I was ecstatic.
Why?
Because it took all options off the table.
For that weekend, I was forced to live simply.
Go to the gym
Clean the house
Eat a breakfast from leftovers in the Fridge
Take the dog a walk
Just living simply.
It was my favourite weekend in a long time.
Whilst I’m aware of how “middle class white man” this sounds but I truly believe
Abundance of choice, breeds discontent.
Marcus Cicero, The Roman Statesman, once said
“More is lost by indecision
than wrong decision”
The quote made famous by Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos'
And I agree whole heartedly with this.
I look back at my career and think
“When was I most productive and therefore happiest?
And weirdly, it was probably the 3rd or 4th month of Covid.
I had zero clients, zero network and zero money in the bank.
And whilst at the time, I felt very stressed; I had a very clear objective each day.
Call clients and find work.
That’s it.
All options were removed from the table.
I didn’t need to think about brand, marketing campaigns, content creation, finances, recruiting staff or anything else.
It was very simple
Get on the phone and make calls.
So that’s what I did.
Whilst I hated it at the time, I now look back and think
“That’s the time I was most locked in throughout my career”
I remember calling my old man.
He gave me some words of advice that has always stuck with me
“Must do, is a great motivator”
And that’s for damn sure.
Phil Graham recently said in a blog post, the “most successful entrepreneurs are the ones that avoid the temptation of distraction.”
The distraction of other business ideas, new markets or the current trend.
Do what you know and make it great.
Choice is everywhere and it’s not going away.
It will continue to be rammed down our throats.
But perhaps it’s time we switched the TV on, landed on Police Ten 7 and you know what, that’s okay?
Or maybe we deleted the dating app and went to the pub for the evening.
I did that 8 years ago, tripped over a girl’s bag and she’s now my wife.
But if I hadn’t of deleted the app, would I have went out that evening?
Would I have arranged another soulless date with someone I judged purely on aesthetics?
Who knows?
All that I know, is that choice
is giving society brain fog.
Creating needless anxiety.
And for me, I think it’s time to get back to basics.
To do the damn work.
To take options off the table.
To have that 0-0 mentality.
The $200 in the bank.
So what's your necessary?
If the world were to fall into a recession tomorrow, what is the one thing you would do in your business?
Then that's the one thing you should be doing today.
It's easy to think clearly, when all options are removed.
In a world of noise and distraction, only the most focused will survive.
Best,
Mick Donaghy
Mick Donaghy is the Founder of GEDON Executive Recruitment, an International Search Firm for the PreControl Construction Sector. He writes about Recruitment, Entrepreneurship and Construction here and Presents a Podcast called "The Take Off".
To find out more visit https://www.gedonexecutive.com/.
What DeepSeek Can Teach the Construction Industry
It all begins with an idea.
A trillion dollars vanished from the Stock Market this week.
You might have caught the headlines, or perhaps it slipped under your radar.
But the ripple effect could be significant.
A relatively unknown AI platform, DeepSeek, has entered the AI arena, and its arrival is causing tremors throughout the tech world.
The source of the disruption?
A Chinese company has developed a comparable AI product at a mere fraction of the cost of its Western counterparts.
Literally 1% of the cost, That's the type of f***ing innovation I like!!
This development has sparked comparisons to the "Sputnik Moment"
A reference to the Soviet Union's surprise launch of the first satellite, Sputnik 1, which jolted the US into a renewed focus on its space program.
It's a powerful analogy, highlighting the potential consequences of complacency and the urgent need to adapt and innovate.
It echoes the classic tale of NASA's expensive space pen versus the simple, functional Russian pencil.
I mean really, a f***ing pencil?
That's always made me laugh.
What's truly astonishing is the level of surprise this development has generated.
Seriously...
Should we really be so surprised?
The trend of Chinese companies producing high-quality goods at lower prices has been playing out for years, across various sectors, from electric vehicles to recreational drugs.
So why should AI be any different?
But this is where things get interesting.
The DeepSeek story is quite unique.
They've managed to build such a powerful and competitive platform with what appears to be a minimal investment in "experienced" AI talent.
The thinking in the tech world has long been the following:
"The most brilliant AI minds reside outside of China" (Most likely, western propaganda - but anyway!
Yet, DeepSeek has defied this conventional thinking with a bold and unconventional talent strategy.
Instead of pursuing established, experienced professionals, DeepSeek has focused on recruiting "young geniuses".
"They're targeting the brightest young minds coming out of universities, primarily doctoral students and recent graduates."
A headhunter (The chinese equivalent of Mick) who has worked with DeepSeek revealed to the website Chaincatcher that they rarely hire senior technical personnel, preferring candidates with less than five years of experience.
(A complete gift to recruit for - fees for candidates with no experience? Get me to Beijing!!)
In fact, they often prioritize fresh graduates, believing that experience can sometimes be a liability.
Their rationale?
Experienced professionals, while valuable in many ways, often approach problems through the lens of their past experiences, which can sometimes stifle creativity and innovation. Fresh graduates, on the other hand, bring a fresh perspective, unburdened by preconceived notions and past failures. They're more likely to challenge assumptions and explore unconventional solutions.
This unconventional approach raises a critical question:
Could this talent strategy be a game-changer
forother industries facing similar challenges, particularly the
construction industry?
The construction sector is grappling with a perennial problem:
"We can't find the people."
I've always thought this to be a load of nonsense.
You should shave a look at my Linkedin inbox. There's million of people!
When I was born (1991), the world population stood at 5.8 billion;
Today, it's a staggering 8.2 billion.
Clearly, it's not a lack of people; it's a leadership problem.
Construction companies are struggling to attract and retain talent, and they're often resistant to new ideas and approaches.
Hiring overseas candidates? Are you crazy?
Considering a candidate with infrastructure experience rather than building? You must be insane!
The construction industry desperately needs an injection of fresh thinking.
And also, a pair of balls to do something different.
It needs to shift its focus from short-term profits and
immediate deadlines to a more long-term vision.
The most successful companies I've had the privilege of recruiting for are the ones with a clear vision, a commitment to innovation, and a willingness to invest in their people.
Unfortunately, visionary leaders in the construction industry, those willing to take calculated risks for the greater good, are a rare breed.
Perhaps DeepSeek's unconventional talent strategy will serve as a wake-up call?
Maybe sending a "rocket" up the ass of construction leaders everywhere.
Maybe we'll get that Sputnik moment.
Or maybe nothing will happen at all.
As the old saying goes
"Nothing changes, if nothing changes"
Best,
Mick Donaghy
Mick Donaghy is the Founder of GEDON Executive Recruitment, an International Search Firm for the PreControl Construction Sector. He writes about Recruitment, Entrepreneurship and Construction here and Presents a Podcast called "The Take Off".
To find out more visit https://www.gedonexecutive.com/.
What I've learnt from William Waiirua
It all begins with an idea.
In business, we all know exactly what we should be doing.
And yet, we distract ourselves doing other things that rarely shift the dial.
For me, what should I be doing right now?
Building meaningful relationships with clients.
Why?
Because currently in Ireland/Europe - GEDON™ is a relatively unknown entity.
And so this is the thing that matters most.
There are different ways of going about this:
Creating relentless value for our community
Developing products/ services that solve areas of pain in the market
Building relationships via meaningful conversations
Becoming a key person of influence for my team & the market
And whilst it’s easier said than done, I know in my heart of hearts, this is where I need to spend the majority of my time.
And yet, like everyone, I will procrastinate and occupy myself with other ideas, talking myself into riddles, working on certain tasks that won’t genuinely making any fucking difference
Jocko Willink wrote a book called “Discipline equals Freedom” and this is something I think about often.
Whilst it’s painful to be disciplined, there’s
a real gratification that we get from it.
There’s a guy that I follow on Instagram called William Wairrua also known as @w_cribb.
He’s from New Zealand.
A musician.
An internet comedian.
A professional "morale booster"
And one of the most entertaining guys online.
But one of the things I admire so much about William, isn’t his 180,000 Instagram followers.
Or his brand deal with Asics.
Or his fame.
It’s that he’s been running
consecutively for 1776 days.
And the last 741 of them have been 10kms.
"Yhoggs" as he calls them.
He doesn’t bull shit either.
He records every run.
I used to live quite close to William and I would see him out, every single day, running, making his hilarious videos, doing his thing.
"COMEEEE ONNNN"
He’s become a beacon of hope for so many people. (I include myself in this)
And inspiration for so many more.
If we consider William’s relentless discipline and how we can translate this into our own day.
Doing the hard yards.
Lacing up the boots.
Making the first step.
Then the next.
And the next.
As he says
“Do the Mahi, Get the Treats”
Which in Te Reo Maoiri means
“Do the work - get the reward”
We all know what we need to be doing right now.
Focusing on the mission.
Being more like William.
Sticking to the task.
And doing the damn work.
I’ve 20 calls to do before the end of the day.
So I better go.
Here's to commitment and doing the work that shifts the dial.
The stuff that actually makes ya feeel damnnnnnnn good.
Whatta beauty!
Best,
Mick Donaghy
Mick Donaghy is the Founder of GEDON Executive Recruitment, an International Search Firm for the PreControl Construction Sector. He writes about Recruitment, Entrepreneurship and Construction here and Presents a Podcast called "The Take Off".
To find out more visit https://www.gedonexecutive.com/.