It was 2015
There was a change that would happen and it was out of my total control.
I had a job. At the time, I thought it was a good one. It mostly paid the bills and kept me busy, but hindsight tells a different story. Looking back, I often find myself thinking, I’d never do it again. It consumed the last 16 years of my life, years spent in a grueling environment that demanded what I thought was far more than it’d ever give back.
The work was physically exhausting, dominated by an unrelenting “rush” mentality that left little room to breathe, let alone think. Each day started painfully early— sometimes so early, in fact, that I was barely awake as I scrambled to throw together a quick meal and fill a water jug for the long hours ahead. The days were filled with tough, back-breaking manual labor, and I never knew when they’d end. Sometimes, I’d be lucky to finish by dinner, but too often the work stretched into the late evening. By the time I made it home, there was barely enough time to shower, let alone relax or unwind, before collapsing into bed to prepare for yet another punishing day.
It wasn’t just the physical toll that weighed on me—it was the unpredictability and lack of balance. Never knowing when I’d get home, never having time for anything outside of work, and constantly feeling like I was running on empty. For 16 years, it felt like my life belonged to that job, not to me. Looking back now, I realize how much it took for me to meet the demands of what I thought at the time, was the only way for me to provide for my family.
The change started to take shape
It was a snowy winter morning, and I can still vividly recall how everything unfolded that day. For clarification, I worked in the construction field, braving 40- to 70-hour weeks year round. This day, work was cancelled which was rare, but that day, the storm had us all grounded. And there I was—-bored. Days like this had come and gone before, but something about this one would set the stage for my future. It wasn’t just the weather; it was the emotions that washed over me.
To fully appreciate how profound that day was, we need to take a step back. For 16 years I worked primarily in waterproofing—
walls, roofs, foundations— you name it. I’d dabbled in just about every part of the building envelope during that time. My boss had a talent for finding work and assuring our 700+ annual customers that we could handle whatever they needed. Some of these clients called on us weekly, even daily, which meant years filled with thousands of service calls. We faced every kind of challenge imaginable, often in the harshest weather conditions I’ve ever experienced in my 40+ years of life.
Some of the work we tackled-often as preparation for something else— involved actual building. Framing, leveling, erecting structures; it was hands-on work with raw materials like wood, steel, aluminum, and copper.
My boss trusted me as his project foreman, often saying, “Just make it happen.” That faith gave me the freedom to figure things out and manage the day-to-day operations.
Of the tens of thousands of hours I poured into that job, the days spent learning carpentry firsthand stand out as some of the best. With no formal training, we essentially taught ourselves, discovering what worked and what didn’t through trial and error. Those moments of problem-solving and creation sparked something in me—a genuine passion. They weren’t just workdays; they were lessons in craftsmanship and creativity that shaped the way I saw the job and, ultimately, my future.
It was grueling work, no doubt. But on that quiet, snowbound day, something shifted in me. The stillness stirred feelings that I couldn’t ignore —feelings that would come to redefine how I viewed my work, my life, and the path ahead.
The turn
Back to that snowy winter morning…
For the first time in what felt like forever, I had time on my hands— time I wasn’t quite sure how to spend. I could have watched TV, cooked a meal, or done any number of ordinary things. But something inside me urged me to head out to the garage and create. I honestly don’t remember what I built that day, but I do remember the tools in my hands and the quiet confidence that I could piece together whatever I imagined.
This wasn’t my first time crafting something. Over the years, I’d tackled countless home projects, partly because I couldn’t afford to hire someone else and partly because I loved the challenge of making something from nothing. I’d built tables, chairs, boxes, toys— some of them good enough to sell, others still in use in our home today. But this day felt different.
As I began to work, an unexpected feeling came over me. It wasn’t just the satisfaction of building it was something deeper. For the first time, I realized how much I truly loved this kind of work. It was as if I had stepped out of the routine of being a tireless work robot and into the identity of a passionate craftsman. That day, in the quiet of the snow and the solitude of the garage, I discovered a part of myself I didn’t even know I’d had.
Recall
For the next couple of years, I returned to the daily grind. Making any significant changes to my routine just wasn’t financially possible. My four children were getting older and diving into sports and activities, some more expensive than others. There were weeks when even filling the gas tank to get them to practices, games, or recitals was a challenge. We often had to skip out on things we simply couldn’t afford
To be honest, despite working long hours, earning raises, and receiving bonuses, I always believed I was providing a good life for my family. We weren’t poor. But no matter how hard I worked, I couldn’t seem to get ahead. It felt like running on a treadmill-constant effort, no progress.
I started reflecting on those moments when you see someone else’s success: a lottery winner in the news, an athlete’s staggering salary, or a friend celebrating a big promotion. I was always happy for them but it definitely makes you stop and think, What am I doing wrong? What more can I do to better my productivity and truly provide for my family the way they need me to?
I was at a crossroads. I’ve created an example of my thoughts at this point in my life… If I built a wooden jewelry box for a customer at my boss’s direction, and it took me three hours, I was paid for those three hours at my standard wage. My boss, in turn, sold the box at a price that included labor, materials, and a profit for the company. But what if I provided the labor and materials myself? That same box could yield both my labor rate and the additional profit, all going directly to me. A win win, right? More money, more accomplishment.
Not so fast.
Here’s the thing about entrepreneurship that no one truly understands until they take the leap: you have to find the customers. You can have the skill, the tools, and the drive, but if you don’t have someone willing to pay for your work, none of it matters. That realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew what I wanted to do, but I also knew it would take more than just hard work to make it happen. It would take courage, creativity, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
Learning Curve
So, how do we get customers? How do we attract enough of them to do what we love every day while earning enough income to create an advantage over our current situation— a situation where stable, full-time work is already guaranteed if we stick to the path we know?
These questions don’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. They’re as unique as the circumstances and people asking them. But I can share my story-perhaps it mirrors others, though it’s certainly not the case for everyone.
There are moments in life when things just fall into your lap, right? Maybe you stumble across a $20 bill on the sidewalk. Maybe someone gives you a gift that feels deeply personal, or you receive unexpected good news. For some entrepreneurs, success can seem to happen just like that. Right timing, right place, and a bit of luck. Think about the George Foreman Grill. How many of us had one on our counters in the late ’90’s, yet haven’t seen one since? That company must have made a fortune in just a few years!
But for most people stepping into the world of business, it’s not that easy.
Success doesn’t fall into your lap-you have to go out and earn it. You have to create a need or a want for what you’re offering, whether it’s a product or a service.
For me, the need was already there. Service businesses whether plumbing, welding, siding, electrical work, or carpentry always have demand. People need the work done. But that doesn’t mean customers will automatically flock to you. They have to find you. They have to trust you. They have to come back to you. And, most importantly, they have to talk about you.
You can spend all your business earnings on advertising, but I’ve learned something crucial: most people want to hear something about you that you didn’t tell them yourself. That’s where word-of-mouth comes in. It’s the single most powerful tool for growing a business, and it’s earned-not bought. Your reputation becomes your foundation, and every interaction, every project, becomes a chance to build it stronger.
New Beginnings
I stayed at my job for another year or so, all the while wrestling with the same question: “When is the right time to make my move?” The answer didn’t come overnight. Big decisions rarely do.
I began testing the waters, reaching out to friends, family, and even strangers I found myself in conversation with. I told them about my skills, how I could be of service, and what I charged. That last part my pricing was its own challenge. I decided to charge exactly what I was making at my job. Financially, it was a wash. But I didn’t care—I was finally doing what I loved. My calling, so to speak.
At first, the numbers on paper were the same. But as I worked evenings and weekends building something of my own, I started to notice a small but meaningful change. There were a few extra dollars in our pockets each week, and that feeling was incredible. Exhausting, yes, but incredible.
My wife, Lindsay, might have seen it differently at the time. Those early days required sacrifices.. missing games, evenings, weekends, and family events. There were moments when I wondered if it was worth it, but Lindsay’s unwavering support kept me grounded. Over the years, she forgave the missed moments, and today I know she’s proud of the dedication I put into my dream. Having someone in your corner through thick and thin can make all the difference. Her belief in me didn’t just drive me to be a better businessman—it inspired me to be a better person.
The weeks turned into months, and the balancing act grew harder. One day, I came to a sobering realization: I couldn’t sustain both paths. I felt trapped in a storm of conflicting emotions. There was sadness at the thought of leaving my job, even though it had never been a true passion. There was resentment at having to stay there even a day longer. There was excitement for a new beginning, but also fear fear of failing, fear of the unknown.
All of these emotions swirled in me at once, leaving me in a state I can only describe as a mild depression. To be clear, I’m not comparing my struggles to anyone else’s hardships—I know others face far greater challenges. But this was my journey, and I have to honor the feelings that came with it.
Looking back, it was one of the most pivotal chapters of my life. I was standing at the edge of uncertainty, feeling everything at once. Yet, even in the chaos, there was a small, steady voice inside, (one I hadn’t even realized was there until a bit later in life), that reminded me: this was the first step toward something greater.
Footsteps
If you recall from the beginning, I mentioned my daily job-the one I once thought I’d never do over again. That statement, that question to myself, now has a clear and firm answer: yes i would.
Yes, I’d do it all over again. Working for someone else and being trained from an early stage shaped me. It created my drive, sparked my passion, and gave me the foundation for what I do today. While my relationship with my boss in those later years became strained-so much so that the thought of returning felt unbearable-I can’t and won’t take that decade and a half of experience for granted. It was the crucible in which my skills were forged, preparing me for a future I was always meant to pursue.
Does that sound like fate? Like preaching? Perhaps. But for me, the answer is a resounding yes.
Now, back to the story. By this point, I had built something-not a polished business yet, but the beginnings of one. A true business runs fluidly, and mine was still full of flaws. It wasn’t some grand adventure with lofty dreams; it was a work-in-progress with small, measurable steps forward.
Details
This isn’t a sales pitch—I have nothing to sell you. But if you’re wondering how to get customers to talk about you, how to build trust and grow something meaningful, there are a few core principles l’ve come to rely on.
These became the foundation of what I now call “how I built my business.”
- Do Your Job Right
This is the non-negotiable starting point. If you don’t deliver what you promise, you won’t succeed-bottom line. No customer will hire or recommend a business that doesn’t fulfill its claims. Excellence isn’t optional; it’s the bare minimum.
- Customer Satisfaction
This one is layered, but at its heart, satisfaction means leaving your customer with feelings of happiness, contentment, and peace. How do you achieve that? First, by delivering exactly what you promised no less.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, by focusing on the service.
What I mean by “service” is the whole package. From the first phone call to the final handshake, every customer wants to feel valued. They appreciate politeness, honesty, respect, and loyalty. They notice hard work and dedication. Keeping them informed about progress, plans, or even challenges- goes a long way in building trust. Following up with any concerns shows that you care. This kind of attentiveness makes customers feel heard, respected, and confident in your work, and that feeling often translates into loyalty and referrals.
- Deliver a Stellar End Result
Finally, the finished product or service must not only meet but exceed expectations. Was it done with care? Was it well-made? Does it reflect the effort you promised? For us, that means leaving a site better than we found it, ensuring the final result is everything the customer hoped for and more. Anything less, and your business will begin moving in the wrong direction quickly.
I’ve seen businesses of all sizes fail because they lacked one— or all-of these principles. It’s not a good look, and it’s a reminder of just how important these elements are. Success in business is not about luck or shortcuts; it’s about showing up, doing the work, and making people feel glad they chose you.
Looking back, every step I took-even the hard ones— brought me closer to building something meaningful. And that, to me, is what this journey is all about.
Epilogue
By this point, armed with the three core principles— along with a few personal strategies tailored to my unique situation— I had started to build a following. The company name was gaining recognition, small yet effective. In its second year, the business kept me busy almost full-time, and it created an opportunity to expand by hiring sub-contractors and employees for larger projects. I had specialized in general contracting for small to medium-sized jobs, which often required a team to fulfill the demands.
Fast forward to 2020, a year that would turn out to be a defining moment for the company… When the pandemic hit, we were initially concerned about the future of our business. With less than one quarter of our annual schedule booked, we weren’t sure how we would handle this unique situation. But in an unexpected twist, the pandemic actually created an unprecedented surge in demand for home and commercial property renovations. With so many people at home, there was an urgent need for updates, additions, repairs, and remodeling to accommodate the extra time spent there.
Commercial businesses, even though partially shut down or operating at limited capacity, reached out to update areas that had been neglected in the rush of past busy years.
This was the turning point our business needed. The service industry had become more essential than ever, and our work was a key part of adapting to the changes.
By now, our company had transformed into a full-fledged business. We were receiving positive feedback from nearly every customer grateful for the service, effort, and support we poured into every project. Our brand was becoming a symbol of reliability and excellence.
Fast forward to December 2024, just three weeks before New Year’s. It’s been nine years, and we like to think we’re just getting started.
Once, there was a need to fulfill in our area, and while that need may have evolved over time, our core goals haven’t changed. We still provide excellence in every project, maintaining the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. No project is too big or small, and no customer is more important than the next. Our drive, the same as it was nine years ago, is at its peak-and we hope it continues for many more years to come.
My hope is that this story inspires others to pursue their dreams, no matter their path. Whether it’s in sports, service industries, production, or charitable work, the power to build something meaningful starts with believing in yourself and your vision. It’s the unwavering commitment to that belief that makes all the difference.