Handyman... Or Successful Entrepreneur?

Hi, my name's Bill and believe it or not... I actually wrote every page of this website. Yes... I'm a handyman but it wasn't what I dreamed about being as a kid. What I really wanted to be was a successful (rich) entrepreneur so, if you're interested I'll take you on my personal journey.

I have to admit that even though I've always wanted to be my own boss and build a large successful business... Being a handyman wasn't exactly what I had in mind, it just sort-of happened. I just wish I had discovered  that I actually like doing this much sooner in life. Anyhoo... follow along while I tell bring you from auto mechanics class in high school to life aboard ship to finally living my dream as an entrepreneur. If you've got a desire to own your own business, keep reading there may be something in it for you!

College Ain't For Me... at least that's what I told myself as I graduated high school so many years ago. I didn't take the college prep curriculum and opted for auto mechanics which was good back then cause the only thing I thought about was building engines and making cars go fast... and of course, thinking the girls would find my fast cars exciting.

Well, that got old fast and I knew I didn't want to repair cars for a living so I bounced from job to job until I finally joined the Navy... As it turned out, that was the best thing that ever happened to me.

"Try Not... Do Or Do Not... There Is No Try!        Yoda (Jedi Knight)

My Navy experience

began about 6 years after graduating high school (you can imagine how excited my dad was)! It's safe to say, it took me a little while to "discover" my path in life. At the time, I thought it was a way to get out-of-town and maybe learn a skill and a career.

My first choice was to become an underwater welder. That was a popular choice back then resulting in a 12 month delayed entry program. Since I was in no position to wait, I had to take what they offered.You'll never guess where I ended up after enlisting... Engineman "A" school. For those of you who have never been in the Navy, an Engineman repairs diesel engines (and just about everything else) on board ships. You can imagine my excitement...Not! I had been trying to get away from fixing things but it just seems to follow me.

In Engineman "A" school, I learned how to fix all kinds of different equipment from boilers and generators to ships propulsion. I even got to attend a class on how to small out-board engines.

While I was in the Navy I decided to get an education. Yes... me, I entered a education linkage program between the Navy and Southern Illinois University. After about 2.5 years (I was motivated) I got my Bachelors of science degree in Workforce Education and Development (WED). Basically I'm a curriculum developer and corporate instructor... My family calls me "Instructor Bill" cause I'm always trying to teach (of course they say I'm always "Instructing).

Eventually I began to embrace my natural ability to "fix" things. I've always had automobiles that I refused to let anyone else work on. Mostly out of necessity (translation: lack of money to have it fixed) but I really did get a sense of satisfaction when I made something work again. Than it happened...

My First Home Purchase!

That began my lifelong love affair of everything that had to do with home construction and repair. I can't get enough of the home shows they have on Cable today.

In the beginning, I had lots of experience working on engines and other mechanical devices but not homes. My first home improvement project was painting and light fixtures. That was pretty easy and gave me the confidence to moved to basic plumbing, electrical, tile and flooring.

Eventually I committed to a complete kitchen renovation that added almost 200 square feet to my home. That project was on my second home and years after my first painting project.

About 8 years ago I was getting a little tired of having dirt under my finger nails so I made the transition from metal to wood. This was prior to taking on the big kitchen project. Now my garage is filled with great woodworking tools with the crow jewel being my Shopbot. Each new project I use as an excuse to purchase more tools... I may have a problem!

Moving on... 20 plus years after joining the Navy, I've still had that burning desire to be my own boss. You see... I really wanted to be the owner of a really successful business. I loved working on equipment and repairing broken things (it gives me an instant sense of accomplishment) but I didn't think it could make me wealthy, so as much as I enjoyed it... I tried to avoid it.

Then came My Kitchen Remodel. That was a learning experience that took me 8 months to complete every little detail (OMG there were some details). Working by yourself has many disadvantages and more than doubles the amount of time two people could accomplish the same tasks. I also spent hours on the Internet searching for information on how to do things. I found a lot of sites that had my search words in them but really lacked the substance of how to get things done...

My Ah-Ha Moment...

That idea brewed inside me for another 4 years until I came across a company called Site Build It who kind-of put it all together for me. I realized that I could use my experience as a handyman and my education as a curriculum developer to write a DIY website that surpasses all the others out there. Well, that's my goal anyway. I'm still working on making it the best but I won't stop until I get there.

Today I'm a licensed contractor in the state of Virginia and a Web master! I know... crazy ain't it? Me a Webmaster! But it's really easy using the Site Build It system. It's definitely NOT a get-rich-quick program but a proven system that has helped me realize my dream of being my own boss and owning a successful business.