The Backstory

As the son of a carpenter, I spent a good deal of my childhood on job sites learning the basics of the trade, and teaming up with my dad on home projects.

Like this toddler-powered go-cart.

After moving up through the ranks in his profession, my dad formed a home improvement business with a friend, supported by the help of my mom. However, shortly afterward he developed serious health problems that forced him to close the business. He would die at the age of 47.

I went on to build my own career in Information Technology, technical writing, marketing, graphic design, software training and video production. However my love for the trades remained and I have always had the DIY spirit, spending my adult life developing the skills to do nearly all my own home repairs and renovations.

Over the years I have often imagined an alternate timeline where my father hadn’t fallen ill and together we ran a thriving family business. I imagined my brother and sister joining as well, eventually taking over the business when our father retired.

As luck would have it, shortly after receiving my appreciation award from my employer for 20 years of service, I was unceremoniously laid off due to corporate restructuring. This event caused a huge upheaval in my life and left me uncertain about my future.

Here at 47 - my father’s age at the time of his death - I found myself at an important crossroads: I could brush off the old resume and take another job, or I could make a living of my own using the skills and experience I had gained. Well, you wouldn’t be reading this if I had gone for the desk job, so I don’t have to say where I landed. :)

The Road Ahead

The self-employed life is a challenging one, but to me it is highly liberating, and above all gives me a glimpse of the family business that almost was.

As the father of three boys, I always strive to pass along my values to them and help them become creative, skilled, strong and empathetic men. And one day, perhaps they too will discover the joys of using their hands to make something out of nothing, fix what is broken, and help the people around them.