Imagine, if there was an enjoyable hobby to be found, one that provided a person with a good bit of exercise and fresh air, one where a person could create something beautiful… something that would last for centuries. Wouldn’t it be great if there was something like that?

Originally posted 2016-03-16 21:48:06.

I gave out a little advice to a young man this morning on becoming a stone mason. I thought I’d share that advice with everyone… (This photo is of the foundation my firm built for a forty foot silo to set upon)

Stone masonry is tough on the back, so work carefully or you will have to give up this career far too soon.

In order to make a good living at it you will need to either get really good… or get big.

Either way you will need to not only learn the craft, but become a businessman, and a marketer.

Getting big often creates money, but often robs one of the joy in the work. So if you seek satisfaction… go for being the best.

Study the work of old, spend years copying the best of yesterday. Get a reputation in doing this.

After a decade or so, you can slowly start to add some of your own artistic flare to it.

The real challenge ahead of you is not the craft, you can learn it through practice and slowly become the best. Your challenge will be in finding people to pay you for it. You need to find an affluent area where people appreciate good stonework and are willing to pay for it. It’s a great idea to work in a small artistic stone company to learn the craft… make sure and pay close attention to how the business operates… work at a place that mirrors what you want your future business to be.

Beware of companies that do stone veneer on huge projects… you will become a machine.

Strive to become an artist.

Noah

Originally posted 2016-03-08 15:43:51.