Unearthing Lessons in Life and Work
What does it really take to build a business—and a life—when nothing is handed to you?
DirtBoss is a powerful, unfiltered memoir-meets-leadership manifesto from Kim-Louise Liddell, a woman who rose from a childhood marked by hardship to lead a multi-million-dollar civil construction company in one of the toughest, most male-dominated industries in the world.
This isn’t a story about luck, privilege, or overnight success.
This is a story about grit.
From living in a tin shed with no bathroom… to navigating boardrooms where she was underestimated and challenged…
to launching a business the same week she gave birth—and continuing to lead through a life-threatening cancer diagnosis—Kim’s journey is as raw as it is remarkable.
But
DirtBoss goes beyond memoir.
It’s a practical, hard-earned guide to leadership, resilience, and building something that lasts—drawn from nearly two decades of real-world experience in high-risk, high-stakes environments.
Inside this book, you’ll discover:- Why grit is a system—not a personality trait
And how to build it, step by step, when life demands more than you think you have - How to lead with presence and power
Even when you’re the only woman in the room—and no one expects you to win - The truth about scaling a business
From one truck to a multi-million-dollar operation built on trust, reputation, and delivery - What burnout really costs—and how to avoid it
Because if the leader breaks, everything else follows - How to reclaim your identity beyond the business
When success no longer feels like success—and it’s time to redefine what matters
At its core,
DirtBoss is about more than business.
It’s about becoming.
It’s about finding strength in the hardest moments, building resilience through lived experience, and learning that your past—no matter how difficult—is not your limitation, but your edge.
Kim doesn’t position herself as perfect.
She shows you what it looks like to keep going anyway.
This book is for you if you:- Are building a business or leading in challenging environments
- Have ever been underestimated, overlooked, or counted out
- Want real-world leadership lessons—not theory
- Are ready to step into your power without apology
- Believe that resilience can be learned—and earned
Because success isn’t built in perfect conditions.It’s built in the mud. In the pressure. In the moments where quitting feels easier.
And those who rise?
They’re the ones who decide to build anyway.
