The Cost of Staying Loyal: A Story from Toby McCosker

Loyalty Isn’t Free—It’s an Investment

In construction, loyalty isn’t just a value—it’s currency. And sometimes, that currency comes at a price.

I’ve paid it more than once.

I’m Toby McCosker, and this is the real cost of staying loyal in an industry that doesn’t always reward it.

When Loyalty Becomes a Liability

I’ve stuck by clients who delayed payments.
I’ve stood up for employees others would’ve let go.
I’ve kept my word when the cost of doing so meant I went without.

Why? Because loyalty was how I built my brand. Not as a gimmick—but as a principle. And when you lead with principle, you don’t get to cherry-pick when it applies.

Even when it burns, you show up.
Even when it’s not returned, you keep building.

The Toll It Took

Loyalty didn’t always feel noble. Sometimes it felt like a weight.

There were months I covered wages out of pocket.
There were nights I lay awake wondering if I should’ve walked away sooner.
And still, I stayed. Because walking away felt like quitting on people who once bet on me.

But don’t get me wrong—this isn’t about being a martyr.
It’s about being Toby McCosker, someone who believes long-term wins are built on short-term sacrifices.

What Loyalty Taught Me

• Loyalty reveals who’s in your corner and who’s in your way.

• Loyalty forces you to get clearer about your values.

• Loyalty tests your ability to lead when it’s no longer convenient.

I’ve lost time, money, and peace over staying loyal.
But I’ve also gained respect, trust, and something harder to earn—legacy.

Toby McCosker’s Take: Loyalty is a Choice—So is What You Do When It's Tested

You don’t get to rewrite the rules halfway through the game.
You either lead with loyalty, or you lead with leverage.

And while leverage might win short-term contracts, loyalty builds a name people remember.

I’m still standing, still building, and still choosing loyalty—because in the end, the cost of loyalty is still cheaper than the cost of regret.

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