As Thanksgiving approaches in a couple of days I find myself contemplating all that I am thankful for.  I try to keep a professional vibe going in my posts, but allow me to take a moment to reflect as to how this business got started.

My Story (in brief)

I moved to Nashville in 2000 with a band and the drive to make a living in the music business.  I played the bass guitar and eventually joined a group that traveled full time and I could actually make a living.  It was a family-oriented group and my wife got to travel with me.  Then we had our first child, Noah, and he got to travel with us as well.  (Crazy, but true.)  However, once my wife was pregnant again, it was obvious that it was time to stay closer to home.  By this time, I was ready to settle down as well.

I stopped traveling and did some music biz stuff from home.  After a couple years of this, I decided to make a change and become a Realtor.  This was in 2006.  I got my license and went after building my business full-tilt.  I read everything I could and took all the training courses.  I was determined to make it work.  I had some success followed by weeks with no income.  It was a hard life and the market started to get harder.  Homes weren’t selling and buyers were skiddish.  We drew a line in the sand and it was time to do something different.

But what??

I updated my resume and started applying for jobs, even if I didn’t want them.  Nothing seemed to suit me.  I was an oddball- which I’ve always thought was an asset, but I didn’t fit into the box that most jobs wanted me too.   I’ve always been more of an entrepreneur, preferring home or the outdoors to an office or a cubicle.  I liked setting my own schedule and building a network of relationships.

Much of this time I had been working on our first home which was in East Nashville.  I ended up remodeling the entire house, doing most of the work myself.  I learned a ton and accumulated a bunch of tools.  I loved the work, but never thought I would like working for other people.  I was beginning to get somewhat depressed as I watched our savings disappear with no prospects in sight.

A New Path

My friends from the band that I had worked so closely with heard that I was available.  Instead of needing a bass player they needed a handyman.  They were remodeling a large part of their home to be a recording studio and they wanted me to help out the other carpenter that was handling the job.  I was to come over just after Thanksgiving and “see how things go”.

To keep the story short, I ended up working at their home for several months getting a lesson in God’s provision as well as some carpentry training from a man who is a master carpenter and a perfectionist. 

As this went on, some friends heard about it and wanted me to do a project for them.  Then other friends called.  Then someone called who I didn’t know- this was getting serious!!  I might actually have a business here!  In fact, I did.  I decided to get licensed and insured so I would be legit and the rest is history.  With very little advertising and promotions, I’ve stayed completely booked for the past two years!

Those times when I was changing careers have been some of the hardest for me.  It’s a soul-searching, faith-building time when I’ve had to learn to take things one day at a time.  I wanted to share all of this to just remember where I’ve been and the path that’s brought me here.  I’m incredibly grateful for each client that has trusted me to handle a project for them. 

Looking back it’s easier to see how each new career has built upon my strengths and what I learned at my previous position.  It would be easy to have resentment that my music career never worked out, but instead, I’m thrilled to be a contractor with a growing remodeling and tile business.  I’d say it suits me perfectly, though I don’t think this is the end of the journey.  

One More Thing…

My family has continued to grow through the process.   Today, I’ve got four fantastic kids including Tobin Gregory Bales who was just born two weeks ago.  It can be work some days, but it’s totally worth it. 

Have a great Thanksgiving.  Now, back to remodeling and tile…