Carpentry.
A humbling education.

Learning the hard way

One of my uncles ran a family-owned construction company. I sort of worked for him, and sort of tried to avoid him at the same time. Some of my father's final advice was to keep my distance. Years later, I understand why.

I bounced around enough construction jobs to get a feel for how a jobsite should be managed. A lot of what I know, though, I taught myself through dedication to the craft.

Most of this industry is filled with homeowners who have lobster tastes on a 4-for-4 budget. But those low-budget projects teach you how to do the impossible.

Fair prices. A different pace.

In every sense of the word, my time contracting has been humbling and stressful. Contracting isn't always sold as the luxury that skilled workmanship really is. Running a business out of necessity instead of passion can be a recipe for chaos.

One quirk of my approach is fair, competitive pricing in exchange for a slower pace. I learned that I cannot treat myself like a production machine, and I'm not interested in pretending otherwise.

After a serious motor vehicle accident, my neck and back were never quite the same. I'm not one for excuses, but I believe in facing reality. I'm not as nimble as I once was. That doesn't mean I stop building; it means I work thoughtfully and take my time.

The people make it worthwhile

Some of my best memories are of genuinely good people: the Cates in Loveland, Michelle in Andes, and Thomas Rogers in Delhi. Those customers reminded me why I got into building in the first place.

Going forward, I want web development to become my primary income while I pursue licensing in multiple states. Carpentry can remain part of my life as a passion and a carefully chosen side business. Good projects, for good people, done with care.