Oh yeah I can do that for you!

For years, that “F*** it, I’ll figure it out” mindset was exactly how I ran my business. I said yes to everything—mostly out of fear of losing work—and then just made it happen. In the early days, it worked. But over time, as requests piled up and other trades didn’t pull their weight, I became the jack of all trades, master of none—doing whatever it took to keep jobs moving and my schedule on track.

Eventually, all those yeses caught up with me. The work I once loved became the very thing drowning me. Looking back, I should have said no a thousand times and trusted far less.

My mentor, on his deathbed, told me something that stuck: Legacy is just a thought. You’ll be forgotten, and life moves on. Don’t be a slave to the work—be a slave to living and enjoying life.

Those words are my compass now. Sure, I have regrets. But I also have hope, and there’s still time to live differently.

 

Looking ready doesn’t mean you are!

 

This is a clever visual metaphor—showing that appearance alone doesn’t reveal effort or experience, and that real work often dulls the “sharp” look but proves true value.

It also brings to mind the old sayings: you have to letter your work van, or you need a nice van or truck—but not too nice, so you don’t look like you’re making “too much money.” Or that your shop and vehicle must always look perfect for people to believe you’re a person of quality.

While there’s truth in that, there’s also something to be said for a shop that’s always busy and productive, or a van that looks sharp early in the week but shows the wear of a hard week’s work by Friday. Balancing presentation and productivity is an ongoing process that takes hours of attention and dedication.

So don’t be discouraged if your van or truck isn’t brand new, your shop is a little dustier than you’d like, or things aren’t perfectly dialed in. What matters most is the quality of the work that leaves your hands—not just the shine on the surface.