I started my company, Blue Mountain Builders, in the Fall of 1988.
By that time I had more than ten years of experience building and restoring homes for other people and other firms. (If you want to hear my whole story visit my blog and click the link “Who is Noah Bradley?”)
But running your own company is a whole different animal.
I slapped a sign on the side of my truck, bought some business cards, and made a lot of phone calls. I had no work, no savings, and three children under the age of five (one was a newborn). And, old man winter was coming soon.
Even though I had no paying job, I worked hard the first couple of weeks, setting up a workshop in an old building out back of our rental home. And, I made three sets of sawhorses for the “work that was to come”. I still have one of those sets, well worn, but usable.
It really helps when you have a wife who has unshakable faith in you, it will get you through those periods of doubt.
Two weeks later I received a call from someone asking if I would build them a drive-through tractor shed. Not quite a fulfilling of my dream job but I believe I smiled every moment while I was putting that little building up. This company was going to succeed.
Two years later I would build a log cabin that would be placed on the cover of Country Living magazine… and, at the same time… I would restore another cabin… a sweet little thing… hidden in the woods.
Originally posted 2015-03-02 15:15:37.