When we think about work, we often focus on making money. But what if I told you that there's a better way to think about it? For quantity surveyors, the best way to succeed is to see work as a chance to learn first and earn money second. This idea might seem surprising, but it can actually help you earn more in the long run!

In the world of construction, projects often vary in success, even when they seem identical on the surface. It's easy to point fingers at external factors, but a closer examination reveals that the difference lies in the decisions made throughout the project. These decisions, often made without fully leveraging past experiences, can make or break a project’s success. Take, for example, a project where I served as the commercial lead. We achieved an 11% margin, which seemed decent until I learned of another similar project that made a 14% margin. The difference? It wasn’t the materials, the design, or the scope. It was the team—the people and the decisions they made. This realisation led me to wonder: why do outcomes vary so widely when we've built the same thing so many times?

I have interviewed top 1% Construction Pro’s I have worked with the CEO of Balfour Beatty for 3 months as the only person chosen in the entire company I have friends who have had 5 promotions in 10 years I can see what they have done that is different to others. My hope for this article is to make you aware that there are levels to this game. You can be in a job and work for money You can be in a career and develop your knowledge and skills You can be in mastery and wake up excited every day