Debt, Deals & Determination: The Construction Life of Toby McCosker

You Don’t Grow in Comfort Zones

If you’re in construction long enough, you’ll face it all—big wins, brutal losses, and deals that test your limits. You’ll know the weight of debt. The high of a handshake deal gone right. The gut-punch of one gone wrong. You’ll learn that in this game, determination is the only currency that never runs out.

I’m Toby McCosker, and my career hasn’t been polished—it’s been pressure-tested. And if you’re reading this because you’ve hit a wall, trust me: it doesn’t have to be the end. Sometimes, it’s the beginning of a better version of you.

Debt Isn’t Shameful—Silence Is

There was a time when the word “debt” made me feel like I’d failed. When projects stalled, when clients delayed payments, when everything still needed to run—I carried it all.

Debt is real in this industry. You float wages. You front materials. You absorb blowouts. And still, you’re expected to smile like everything’s fine. But let’s call it what it is: a system that breaks the builder long before it breaks the bank.

I’ve stared down six-figure shortfalls and still shown up to site the next morning. Not because I’m special, but because when people rely on you, you don’t fold. You fight.

Deals That Teach You Who You Are

You’ll make deals that define your career—and others that almost destroy it. I’ve signed contracts with genuine collaborators and others with hidden knives.

Some deals were built on mutual respect. Others were traps dressed up in opportunity. But every deal taught me something—about business, people, and myself.

What I know now is this: don’t chase deals to prove your worth. Chase deals that align with your values. The biggest payday means nothing if it costs you your integrity.

Determination Is the Only Guarantee

When it all feels like it’s slipping—when you’re behind, exhausted, and questioning if it’s worth it—that’s when determination shows up. And it doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it just whispers: “Not today. Keep going.”

I’ve rebuilt teams from scratch. Recovered from betrayal. Faced headlines and held my ground. And I’ve done it not by pretending I had it all figured out—but by refusing to stay down.

I’m Toby McCosker, and my determination hasn’t come from success—it’s come from survival. Every loss shaped me. Every comeback defined me. And I wouldn’t trade the hard road for a smoother one. Because now, when I walk onto a site, I know I’ve earned it.

What This Industry Doesn’t Teach—But Should

We talk about specs, structure, timelines. But we don’t talk enough about grit. About financial pressure. About mental burnout. About navigating this industry when the numbers don’t add up, but the phone still won’t stop ringing.

That’s why I tell my story. Not to get sympathy—but to give others permission. Permission to speak. To struggle. To rise. Because the strongest builders I know aren’t the ones who never fell—they’re the ones who never stayed down.

Conclusion: You’re Still in the Game

Debt? It can be repaid. Bad deals? You’ll recover. Your name? It can be rebuilt. But your drive—that’s yours alone. And if you’ve still got that, then trust me: you’re still in the game.

I’m Toby McCosker. I’ve lived through it—every number, every negotiation, every night I couldn’t sleep. And I’m still here. Still building. Still standing. So if you are too? Then we’re already winning.

More from Toby McCosker

Lessons from the Frontline: Leading Through Adversity
How pressure shaped leadership beyond the job site.

Reputation vs. Reality: What the Media Got Wrong
Why headlines don’t always tell the full story.

Tobias (Toby) McCosker is the founder of Built By Toby. After two decades in construction and business, he now shares raw lessons from the frontline.
Explore more at BuiltByToby.com.au