Dave Caldwell – managing director of OSS Commercial Flooring
MY alarm goes off at 5.15am every morning. Breakfast is always the same: protein granola with fat-free yogurt, a drizzle of honey, and a banana. I need something solid but quick before heading out. From there, I drive to the gym. Some mornings I follow my own programme, working on strength or cardio, or I’ll jump on a class if I feel like it. Classes start at 6.15am and finish at 7.15am, then it’s a quick shower and straight into the car. Usually I stop for a coffee on the way to work and I’m in the office by 8am ready to tackle the day.
Monday mornings are the busiest of the week, closely followed by Tuesday. Friday is lighter. I try to adopt a more European approach on Fridays. If people are working efficiently, they should be heading home mid-afternoon rather than dragging things out into the evening. If some lads are snagging a project an hour and twenty minutes from here and I notice they’re juggling something else, I’ll take it off them and say, ‘Focus on getting the snagging done properly and get home.’ Meetings usually happen midweek from late morning into the afternoon.
When I get into the office, the first thing I do is check in with the team. I make sure everyone coming in knows exactly what they need to do, where they’re going, and that they’ve got everything they need. For the people on the road, I double-check they’ve picked up the right materials. Once that’s done, they get on with their day and I move on to mine.
Mornings are generally spent processing purchase invoices, checking the numbers, and making sure everything is handed over to accounts correctly. I might tackle timesheets at the start of the week and clear any paperwork lying around. Occasionally I prepare for site visits or meetings. Mondays are mostly office work, Tuesdays are more likely site visits, and the rest of the week tends to be whatever crops up, from client issues to chasing deliveries.
The part of my job I like least is dealing with risk assessments and method statements. They’re necessary but boring. Every job seems to require one now and although we try to keep them simple, they always take extra time. The most satisfying part of my day is invoicing. Watching turnover tick over, keeping an eye on forecasts, and checking cash flow is strangely addictive. There is a sense of accomplishment in seeing the numbers line up and knowing the business is moving in the right direction.
Lunch is usually on the move. I rarely stop in the office to eat. Most of the time I grab something on the go, whether I’m traveling between sites or visiting a client.
There are a few calls I never ignore. My wife’s call is top of the list. She coordinates school pickups, training schedules, and everything in between, so I always answer. I also answer every client call. You never know when it could be something urgent. Everyone else gets my attention as and when I can.
Evenings are a mix of family, fitness, and music. If I’m on school-run duty, I pick my younger son up around 3.30pm and might take the dog for a walk before tea. My sons usually have training or matches and we try to work around my wife’s shifts as head of nursing at Stoker Hospital. If there’s no school run, I might go for a run with the dog or hit the gym if I didn’t make it in the morning. Band rehearsals happen midweek, usually on Wednesday. Dinner is casual; we don’t usually eat together. By 10pm, I’m done and lights out.
Weekends revolve around my sons’ sport. One plays both football and rugby, the other just football. Fitness, gym work, and dog walks fill the gaps. We’re also big Crewe Alexandra fans and try to make all home games. Saturday evenings sometimes include meeting my brother for a few beers. We talk about running, fitness and gym life for a couple of hours.
Sundays are more relaxed. Long dog walks, listening to music, watching sport and taking a bit of downtime. Weekends are my chance to recharge.
Every week is a balancing act: work, family, sport and fitness. There’s always something to keep me busy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
