I had the absolute privilege of spending time with the team at TDM Construction, a family-owned and operated civil and haulage company based in Pukekohe, New Zealand. Run by three brothers, their brother-in-law, and their incredible mum, TDM isn’t just a business, it’s a living example of how values, community, and hard work shape culture from the ground up.

These are people of the land, who also run local farms, and when you meet them, you feel that honest, grounded energy. They’re hands-on leaders, working side by side with their crews, creating jobs for young locals and long-time mates they went to school with. There’s no hierarchy here, just shared purpose and mutual respect.

I was invited to share my WSM presentation as part of TDM’s journey to reinforce a safe work culture. It was during an initial meeting where one of the brothers said something that stuck with me:

"We don’t want to be the biggest contractors, we just want to be the best at work ethic, quality, performance, and respect for the job."

That kind of mindset is rare, and when I heard it, I had to see it for myself.

Over two days, I walked their sites, met their crews, visited their office, and even joined a local fundraiser at the Bombay rugby club for a fellow contractor. Nothing was staged. Nothing was for show. What I saw was real, a culture built on consistency, humility, and care.

And here’s the thing, TDM understands, like me, that safety is never “done.” It’s not a box you tick or a finish line you cross. Safety is a constant work in progress, something you commit to every single day. That’s why they asked me to share my story, to reinforce what they already talk about, but through my years of experience and a different perspective. Because when you keep the conversation alive, and when you seek out fresh perspectives, you keep the momentum going on that never-ending journey.

One of the most touching moments came from a worker on site, a father of two young men now working in the business. After my session, he quietly thanked me.

He said: "I've always told my boys about the dangers of this work, but today, hearing it from someone who's lived it... it was different. I lost a good mate years ago in a tragic digger incident, killed by his own brother. What you’re doing, Dallas, matters. It really matters."

That moment reminded me why I do this.