Business Owner Pens His Own Termination Letter

I’ve spent the last year and a half slowly and as quietly as possible, closing up what had been to this point, my father’s life’s work as it was mine respectively. A glass company that started in a small garage with one full time employee. That employee was the 1988 version of my dad. In 2001 after I decided to take an unexpected break from retail, I joined my dad on his big adventure. It wasn’t that I was in love with the business but I saw that my dad was an amazing glazier, that’s a glass fabricator and installer, but business just wasn’t his strong suit, so I dove in. We grew the business to something amazing…we had pictures of our work published in trade magazines, I invented some industry specific tools that are still sold to this day, we put the word glazier all over HGTV, and I spoke at conferences about trends that we were helping create as well as other industry related topics! To know that it all came from a small little one man operation was pretty damn amazing. Yet, with all its glory, the entrepreneurial journey is a treacherous one. Peaks of success can swiftly transform into valleys of hardship, and so it did for Anderson Glass. Today, that incredible journey ends with this self addressed letter. A letter that I never thought I’d be authoring. A letter that I hope helps someone else that might be somewhere on their journey through entrepreneurship. A letter that explains the short comings of a failed business. A letter that fires Anderson Glass’s final employee. Please find the attached termination letter for Dustin Anderson, President of Anderson Glass.

Dear Dustin,

We write this letter with a heavy heart. It is with regret that we inform you of the termination of your position as President of Anderson Glass. This decision has not been reached lightly. However, due to a combination of circumstances and events, it has become apparent that this is the appropriate course of action. The following points detail the issues that have led to this conclusion:

• Lack of Follow-Up: Your attention to detail and follow-up with both internal and external stakeholders has significantly diminished, causing a ripple effect of uncompleted tasks and miscommunications. This has disrupted the workflow and productivity of the company.

• Loss of Financial Control: The financial stability of Anderson Glass has been compromised under your leadership. Financial prudence and rigorous budget management, both crucial for a business's survival and growth, were disregarded, leading to our current predicament.

• Employee Culture Disaster: One of your primary responsibilities was to foster a healthy, collaborative, and motivated company culture. This has not been achieved, leading to low morale, decreased productivity, and high employee turnover.

• Failure to Capitalize on Television Opportunities: Opportunities to leverage our association with the popular show Fixer Upper were largely overlooked, missing a golden chance to boost the company's brand recognition and potential profitability.

• Impact of Personal Life: Personal events have had an unfortunate and significant impact on your ability to lead effectively and make sound decisions for the business.

• Fear of Losing the BIG Client: Your reluctance to assertively manage our major clients, for fear of losing them, has ultimately put the business in a disadvantageous position.

• Failure to Chase Money Owed: Outstanding payments and debts have not been pursued with the required vigor, damaging our cash flow and the overall financial health of Anderson Glass.

• Hiring Missteps: The company's success relies on having the right people in the right roles. Unfortunately, some hiring decisions made under your leadership have not served the company's best interests.

• Failure to Leverage Wins: We've had significant achievements, but the inability to effectively capitalize on these victories and use them to push the company forward has been a missed opportunity.

• Neglect of Mental Health: Finally, your failure to prioritize your mental health has had serious repercussions on your performance and the company's trajectory. Good leadership requires a sound mind, and this has been lacking in recent times.

We hope this letter serves as a moment of reflection, a guide that will illuminate the path for future ventures. We have seen your potential and your capabilities, and we believe that these experiences will only add to your resilience and strength.

Thank you for your services and the role you have played in shaping Anderson Glass. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Dustin Anderson

President

Anderson Glass

There’s Making A Living and There’s Making A Life

To the business owners and executives who are willing to listen, this one's for you. See, there's a difference between "making a living" and "making a life."

For those of you who don't quite understand, let me put it this way. Making a living is about getting by, it's about the paycheck and nothing more. It's clocking in, doing the work, clocking out, and repeating. Now, making a life, that's a whole different story. That's about finding fulfillment, it's about care and support. It's about mental health.

You might be thinking, "But I provide my employees with a steady income. Isn't that enough?" To answer your question, no, it isn't. Your employees are human, not machines. They can't just clock in, work non-stop, and clock out without it affecting them. They have lives outside of work, full of challenges and struggles that sometimes spill over into their professional lives. They need support, and that's where you come in.

Understanding what's going on in your employees' lives and supporting them through struggles makes a direct impact on the bottom line. Yes, you heard that right, it benefits your business too. An employee who feels supported is more likely to perform better, stick around, and contribute positively to the work environment.

Now, let's talk about mental health days. Some of you might already be rolling your eyes, I've heard it before. "Those days will get abused," you say. To that, my response is simply, "so?" You might think it's a risk, but let me ask you this: How much production do you think you're getting out of an employee who doesn't want to be there that day versus an employee who feels supported and knows that when they just need a day away, they can have it?

It's time to change the conversation. It's time to speak openly about mental health at work and take the stigma away from it. It's time to show your employees that you don't just care about the work they do, but you care about them as people. That their mental health matters. That you understand that everyone has bad days and needs support sometimes.

So, let me be the first to tell you, my fellow business owners and executives, that creating an environment that supports mental health isn't just good for your employees; it's good for your business too.

To make a life, rather than just a living, your employees need your understanding, your support, and your willingness to talk about mental health openly and without judgment. So let's step up, let's change the conversation, let's make a difference. Not just for our businesses, but for the people who make our businesses possible: our employees.

Not The Normal Mental Health Conversation

It’s a conversation most aren’t comfortable having. These are words that are attached to feelings and emotions. Quite frankly, some of us just aren’t open enough to have that talk. There are plenty of reasons…the biggest is that society has made it difficult to open-up and share these struggles. The judgement that might come with this conversation only complicates things even more. What if the person I share with doesn’t have any understanding about this topic? What if they tell someone else? Will I look weak or helpless? In most cases, these words go unsaid and the struggle continues. 

 The words “mental health” carry a very negative connotation in today’s world. The idea that one would admit to having mental health struggles or issues creates some incredibly complex hurdles to get over. Add that to the already existing struggle and there should be no wonder why you may never know that the person sitting next to you for 8 hours a day might be have be battling something you never even knew about.

 Hi my name is Dustin Anderson and I talk to a therapist regularly. I’m not ashamed of this nor do I feel like it’s something I shouldn’t share. If you can get on social media and tell me all about the dinner you made or show off that incredible vacation you took or complain about something that was earth shattering from your day like someone cutting you off in traffic, then I get to share that I have a therapist. What’s my goal with sharing that you ask. It’s simple, I want someone to read that and realize that even though someone’s life may look perfect on the internet, they might be struggling with their mental health AND there is nothing to be ashamed of about talking to someone about it.

 As an avid mental health advocate I find myself putting my efforts in a place that I don’t see a lot of energy being put towards. My goal is to educate those that don’t understand mental health issues. I know, you’re asking why would you do that? They aren’t the ones that need help. Here is the answer…I spent years of my life hearing words like, “that’s not real”, “it’s just in your head”, “stop overthinking” along with a lot of other hateful things like someone else’s uneducated diagnosis of my struggle. I am here to tell you that if I had someone supporting me instead of making me feel bad about what I was dealing with, my journey might have been a little simpler. 

 Please know in advance that I’m not being hateful or mean with this…I am simply attempting to add perspective to a topic that you might be unfamiliar with. Don’t take it personally and don’t have your feelings hurt. This is an excerpt from a speech I give on mental health awareness. 

 “For those that don’t get mental health or understand why there are those of us that advocate for mental health awareness constantly…I am here to help.

 Let me try and explain it better, see…I don’t understand how motors work. I get the concept but if you asked me to tell you what every part was or did, I’d be a little lost. That’s not to say I’m completely ignorant to the idea of how motors or engines work but I’m not an expert and you absolutely don’t want me diagnosing or working on your motor.

 Here’s what I do know…I have no idea what your motor has been through. I don’t know how hard it’s been pushed or how much you’ve babied it. I don’t know how often you let a professional work on it from keeping up with regular maintenance to maybe only having it worked on when it’s completely broken. I am oblivious to all of that.

 So for those of us that don’t know that much about motors…what do we do when someone tells us that something is wrong with the motor in their car? We tell them who our mechanic is. We tell them how amazing Mike is with a torque wrench, right? 

 So why is it that when someone doesn’t understand what is going on with another humans mental health, we say things like…”suck it up” or “this is for attention?” You don’t say that to your buddy Earl when his truck isn’t running right. You don’t say Earl…”just drive that damn thing. You just want people to give you attention don’t you?” NO…you tell Earl he better not drive with “whatever” issue he has going on with his engine because he might ruin the motor.

 Why then are we so careless with the topic of Mental Health. Why is it not okay to say, “I have a therapist” on social media without someone commenting, “not my business”. Why do we do that? Why don’t we keep our mouths shut or try and understand? …But while we are on the subject of “not my business”…let me be the first to tell you fella, I don’t really care how good you think your kid is at pitching, and he’s not by the way…I looked at the stats you constantly post!…but that’s not the point. I want to know why those that don’t understand how important being self-aware of one’s mental health condition are SO willing to help-out Earl with his motor issues but not willing to lend a little grace to those with mental health issues? 

 Let me add this by the way….Earl’s motor can be completely replaced for a monetary amount with zero repercussions for the abuse it may have endured. Meanwhile, my mind hasn’t stop thinking about that mean thing you said, or the classic dismissal of my emotional well-being, or your attempt at diagnosing me…no…all of that has hit me on some level and let me take you one step further…you’re not the first to not get in there either. Meanwhile…there is not overhauling my mind. There is not “crate mind” that I can buy at the dealership to undo the damage.

 So before you chime in with your opinion please understand that you’re adding to the stigma of admitting or understanding it’s okay to have a mental health issue. You’re making it harder for someone out there to feel vulnerable enough to admit they are struggling. You’re stereo typing something you know absolutely nothing about…and you don’t and you know you don’t. You’re adding to a world that make some people feel very alone. If you don’t want to understand it..that’s okay…I don’t want to really know in depth what it takes to make a motor work either but I promise you’ll never catch me chiming in on the subject like I know what I’m talking about.”

 I know…it’s kinda heavy right? Here’s the thing, it’s extremely heavy and it’s not something everyone is okay talking about. The idea that one could talk freely about their mental health issues as they would the issues with how their car runs would be life changing for most. The idea that you could make someone feel comfortable enough for them to reach out, could be life-saving. Let that sink in for moment. Let the idea that you not understanding what someone is going through not be the reason you can’t help. You don’t have understand what someone is going through to understand they are going through it. 

Unapologetically Me

I’ve struggled for most of my life finding balance between pleasing those around me and being who I really want to be. There is a ton of psychology behind the “why” of this inner personal struggle and I won’t go into that here but…as I begin to break down who I am it becomes increasingly scary that over the years I’ve allowed myself to be watered down or in some cases, completely changed, in order to meet the needs or the expectations of those that I deem important in my life. Further more, I’ve allowed what I think it will take to achieve my goals really filter who I am. I question this daily…does it make sense to not be 100% authentic because I’m worried that who I really am will be rejected and it will somehow impact my future.

The idea that I won’t fit someone else’s brand bothers me and I have found myself filtering who I truly am in order to fit. I am incredibly careful about what I say or post for a lot of reasons but ensuring I fit a certain persona is definitely on the list. Ultimately the idea that what I might “post” wouldn’t really be all that offensive to most, yet I still find myself overthinking the point: which is a different problem all to itself. 

I’ve let the idea of “fitting in” be a staple in my decision making from my appearance to what I post to things I say. For example…It took me years of establishing my business and grabbing my foothold in my industry before I found myself content enough to tattoo my entire arm. I was worried about the judgment of other influencers in my industry as well as concerned that my clients would put a negative stamp on who I am simply based on appearance. I know that sounds ridiculous but imagine yourself in a small town with serious concerns of judgment being passed on you based on your appearance. It’s a sad realization that in 2021 there are still companies that don’t allow visible tattoos as part of their dress code or presentation code. 

I am finally at a point in my life that I can’t allow the perception of others to alter who I am anymore. This behavior is not only hindering me from achieving my goals but it’s becoming increasingly more taxing on my mental health. I remember a time when I made moves in my career that were to better not only me but my entire team. Now I’m so worried about what others think about me “pulling my weight” that I’m doing extra that shouldn’t even be being done in order to look the part. That’s not me. It certainly isn’t moving me closer to my goals. I’ve allowed the words and opinions of others to dictate who I have become in so many aspects of my life. I know you’re sitting there thinking, “so don’t”, and you’re 100% right! It’s always so much easier to figure it out from across the room. 

I do think time does something to us and allows us to move forward with the knowledge or learned lessons from our short comings or mistakes. That maturity and knowledge have both been beating at my door for some time now. A knock that I’ve left unanswered. As I prepare myself to open that door I have found a different feeling of reassurance. Self assurance is a powerful attribute and I encourage everyone to seek it. This is what I seek. This is my journey to “the door”. 

Mental Health Awareness EVERY Month Please

A piece I wrote after being in a pretty dark place…

Days are still long, the nights are still cold.  The feelings of sadness are so hard to control.  The sorrow and pain are numbing at best.  The thoughts are consuming, causing pain in the chest.  Solutions are sought, will to try anything.  Something must work to dull all the pain. Suppressing the feelings while trying to stay strong.  Never masks years of shaming that something is wrong.  Only thrown in the mix like dirt in a wound.  Always hoping those words would fade away soon.  But the truth is they won’t, the truth is they’ll stay. The truth is they’ll hurt and destroy and decay.  The person that said it, will act as if they care.  The fact is they don’t, they’re dumb to despair.  The time will come soon, when you’ll have to stand tall. Screaming out loud, this will NOT be your ALL.  You are much more, you are not defined by the wrong.  You have simply been shaped, and it’s ok cause you’re strong. Depression isn’t a label or badge that defines.  It’s a struggle and a journey going on in OUR minds.  Don’t let it be something that beats you in life.  Treat it so gently like the sharp edge of a knife. Learn how to handle it and then take control.  Don’t let it sink you into its blackened filled hole.  Choose to be amazing, choose to thrive.  And in the darkest of moments, choose to be ALIVE.-dsa

Industry Over Brand

If I asked you what was more important to you, the industry you are in or your own brand, what would say? What if I told you that all your competition closed its doors today and you were the only business left in your industry...what would you say then?  I think that most business owners would be giddy over this fact.  No competition means I can charge what I want, take as long as I want, choose the customers I want...right?  Maybe...for awhile...but really, you'd be wrong.

Let's step back for a minute and take a look at this scenario.  If you are the only game in town, do you think that you will meet the needs of your customers?  Maybe you are an optimist like me and you answered one day.  Ok, one day, but you will struggle to scale and you will make mistakes.  Let's say at best it takes you six months to achieve the goal of scaling to need.  Do you think the customers are going to wait on you?  Do you think your mistakes are going to be overlooked?  Here is what really will happen... You will make some money very quickly because you own the market and you can charge what you want.  You will start processes to grow to meet the demands and you will spend that money that you just made.  Meanwhile, all the clients and customers that you neglected have moved on to other options and other methods to meet the need that you once filled. Wait, what just happened?  Your desire to be the only brand has just smothered your own industry.  See, humans naturally adapt and those that couldn't get your product found something else that they might have not otherwise ever looked for or used.  With every need comes a solution and someone just solved the problem of you being the only brand in your industry without even being in your industry.  

I think that without acknowledging your industry first and your brand second, you are taking from your craft.  You are stealing little bits and pieces as time goes by and you are slowly smothering a trade that is your livelihood.  I think it's important to reach out and help those in your industry survive because without them, your odds of success are less.  I have a constant concern that my industry and my trade is slowly dying.  A skillset that my dad taught me and his dad taught him is slowly fading with me and I don't want to see that happen.  My goal is to give exposure to my industry first and then work on my brand.  At the end of the day what is your brand worth without an industry to support it?

The Need to Create

For some people there is a natural element of life that requires them to be creative.  That creativity may come in the form of painting or making jewelry...for me that creativity finds it way out any way it can.  Sometimes the product of that creative moment isn't anything that makes a social media post while other times the final product is something that I am incredibly proud of.

There have been periods of time in my life where I get so busy with the business side of things that the creativity is suppressed.  This isn't because I don't want to be creative but more so that I don't have the time to be.  I have found that the most amazing thing tends to happen during these periods of suppression.  I become more open and willing to take on the strangest of projects as long as I get to feed my need and desire to create.  It is in these moments that my business base has expanded rapidly from what was once mirrors and shower doors to the broad scope of work that it is today.  There was definitely a moment in time when steel fabrication and production wasn't something we even discussed.  The reality of owning a 3d printer from a crowd funding site long before they were readily available to the general public, just so I could prototype invention ideas, wasn't even a thought.  The list goes on but my point is that no matter what happens in life, the need to create will be expressed and for me, that creative desire has helped shape my business life.

I have two theories on where creativity comes from for most artisans.  The first one is simply that people are inherently predisposed to being creative.  Their minds just work differently.  Artist in general tend to think and see things differently than most.  That isn't always a good thing either but in most cases it is.  My second theory is that while a creative mind is often genetic, we find ourselves learning from those that we received those genes from.  For me, my mother has always been incredibly talented in the artistic sense.  While I never picked up painting, sewing or crocheting from her, I did pick up the ability to see things for more than just face value.  I think that attribute has suited me well in regards for seeing everything in a different light than those around me.  At the same time, my father isn't a painter nor can he effectively use a hot glue gun but he can see a solution to a problem when there is no easy option.  His ability to engineer a solution under pressure is incredible.  This genetic gift serves well for business just as much as the creative process.

For most artisans, the need to create is something that finds it's way out on a daily basis through their craft.  For others, its a hobby or side hustle.  I think that a creative mind will always find a way to be expressed. 

One Day, Two Businesses & A Ginger

The day starts at 5:30a. I need to get up and be at the gym by 6:15a so I can be at the office by 7:00a. I take a quick shower and I'm ready to go by 7:30a. I will prepare my morning meeting and my day while sitting in my office. This office is everything I've ever wanted in an office. There is a loft area built out of steel where my desk sits. There is a section of the floor that is glass. There is a wall covered in some of my favorite quotes. Another wall sports a full phone booth, a newspaper stand and one of my favorite graffiti pieces from the artist Banksy. This is the place where I can spend 80 hours a week. The good news is, I don't have to. There is an equally amazing office on the other side of the 10,000 square foot building where there is also a loft that sports two desks. One for me and one for my partner in other business.

The morning meeting for Anderson Glass starts at 8:00a promptly. We discuss the previous days business and the current days schedule. When the meeting is over I head to my office on the Anderson Glass side. I manage a few of the details of the day including the financials and then I head over the D1 Design Group office. This walk is a short one because both of my businesses are under one roof.

Anderson Glass is the family business that I own so that my dad could retire. D1 Design Group is the partnership I am co-owner of, that was established to meet a demand while helping feed my creative outlet. Most days however are spent solving problems and fixing the issues. On the Anderson Glass side, we work on the HGTV show "Fixer Upper" with two people that I've worked with and respected for over 10 years. The excitement around the show is incredible and working on the glass side can be fun and challenging. D1 Design Group caters to division sports programs, creating incredible spaces that are geared to improve recruiting. We work with some of the most exciting college sports coaches in an array of sports. How could any day be boring with this as a work load? The truth is...it never gets boring! It's overwhelming more often than not but that is what makes the entire daily process fun and exciting!

The day may end at 5:00p but that's not likely. Either way, when I get home I will be greeted by my wife, Rebekah. Together now now for over 18 years, Rebekah and I have a great relationship. She constantly reminds of how lucky I am and the truth is, I am. Also waiting for me is my middle child of 14, Hannah. Her passion is dance and she competes with her dance company year round. My 10 year old son, Holden will be in his room playing video games or outside going 100 mph. Oh add the 4 crazy rambunctious dogs to the list. My oldest, 17 year old Hayley, will come home later and tell me how wrong I am about everything which I firmly believe she thinks is her full time job.

I'll end the evening with a little binge watching of whatever show Rebekah and I are on at the time. Maybe some social media work. Then off to sleep where I will wake up and do it all over again. I might however skip the gym tomorrow. Winky face, winky face.

My Journey as an Entrepreneur

Just a few years ago, I found myself becoming bored with work.  I felt like creatively I had done everything I could do in the glazing industry.  I had pushed the envelope with the frameless shower market and had my work featured in a couple of magazines and catalogs.  I had invented 4 tools that were being sold worldwide by the largest industry distributor.  I had built a company that was seemingly self sustained without me.  Now what?

I’ve always had a need to be creative.  There is something inside me that requires a creative outlet and I’ve always looked for a way to feed that creative hunger.  At that exact point in my life where I found myself bored, I had an opportunity to help start a company that was built on creativity.  A startup that catered to sport programs and businesses alike, specifically in the area of recruiting.  I already had one business running and the thought of getting another one up didn’t scare me at all.  The decision was made and just like that, I was an entrepreneur again.

Within a year the new design company was doing well, operating without any debt and rapidly establishing a customer base.  The glass company had began to struggle in my absence but I was adamant that the employees would manage it and things would be fine.  During this time, the glass company had also been doing work on an HGTV show that had started off with a little bit of steam but had been rapidly gaining ground in ratings.  I needed to be a bigger part of this if possible, not only to showcase our work but expose the glass industry for the incredible things that could be done.  This escalated rapidly and before I knew it I was being featured on the show a couple times during the following season. 

From the outside, everything looked amazing.  There I was on the show with two people that were rapidly becoming the hottest stars on HGTV while working with some of the most exciting names in college sports coaching.  What the outside world couldn’t see was an internal struggle that still plagues me to this day.  There is no easy was to put this so I’ll just say it…I could not effectively keep every important person in my life happy.  I was letting people down.  This also included me.  See, I’m the type of person that finds my happiness in pleasing those I love.  When I feel like I have let them down, it hurts.  I quickly learned that being an entrepreneur wasn’t as glamorous as I once thought.  Not only was I letting down those around me in some facet or another but I no longer had time to feed the internal need to create.

No two days in my life are the same and every single day poses some new problem or obstacle.  This is the path I wanted and it’s the path I chose.  No complaints about the journey and no focusing on the destination.  I’m doing my thing one day at a time.

My name is Dustin Anderson and this is my journey as an entrepreneur.

The Search for Inspiration

It’s a Friday in June and I am sitting at my desk plugging away at the ridiculously long list of “to do’s”.  I take a quick break from my list and check some social media.  I see that Dwell Magazine has their Design show coming up the next week in Los Angeles.  These moments usually end in me being a bit excited about the idea of going but result in living vicariously through my social media accounts. 

This year is different.  I’m frustrated with myself for not making time to focus on what I’m good at.  I am focusing on all the things that I am paying others to manage.  This frustration turns into excitement because I am not going to live vicariously through my social media this time.  I’m going to provide the vicarious experience myself.  Yeah, that’s what I’m gonna do.  Right?  I guess I better ask Rebekah first.  I go home and casually bring this idea up…”so you know Dwell Magazine right?  The one I’ve depended on forever to get inspiration and insight.  The magazine that kept me ahead of the curve long before the idea of social media inspiration.  Well they have this show in LA and I wanna…”  Rebekah cuts me off and says, “you should go to that and you should take Hayley.”  Hayley is the oldest of my three kids.  She is 17 and passionate about everything and nothing all at once.  Now I know you’re thinking, “no way this handsome young ginger has a 17 year old!”  …and you’d be wrong.  I immediately agree and the seed of an idea has begun to emerge from the ground.

I tell Hayley that I want to take her to a design show in LA.  She obviously jumps at the chance and is smiling so big.  Hayley doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up and I’m ok with that because neither do I.  My plan is to inspire her all while finding some inspiration of my own.  I do have a stipulation for her though.  One she might not like.  Hayley has to design a piece of furniture based on inspiration from the show and she has one month to build it. (With my help of course).  Surprisingly with absolutely no argument she agrees.  I know you’re thinking, “of course not, she gets to go to LA” but you don’t know Hayley and I assure you that all my words cause an argument of some kind.

Now we have just left the show and she is be-boping down Figueroa Blvd.  I ask her if she saw anything that sparked an idea.  Her response is merely “yep, several things.”  I see it so clearly as we talk.  She has seen something that got her attention.  Maybe it was a lot of somethings.  Regardless of the number of somethings, she is excited.  Now that excitement might dwindle when we return to Texas but a deal is a deal and I’ve always taught my kids that integrity is everything.  Even when we mess up, owning that mistake is what is important.  (Learning from it too but we aren’t on that topic).  I also found inspiration at the show for a couple of ideas that I’ll work on when I get home as well.  That seed of an idea is out of the ground and has a flower bud on it and I can’t wait to see it bloom.

The Fixer Upper Effect on the Glazing Industry

In Waco, we have what we call the Fixer Upper effect.  It's the amazing rebirth of the downtown area, it's the rehab of neighborhoods, it's the incredible number of visitors that otherwise wouldn't stop in Waco.

I personally don't think this effect is limited to Waco.  I think we can use the Fixer Upper effect to impact our industry.  I think it is super important that the glass and glazing industry, the residential side specifically, get some exposure.  For the industry as a whole, I am trying to show new and innovative products that consumers may not know exist.  Sure there is Pinterest and other avenues for exploration of glass ideas, but those are keyword sensitive.  When we can show a fresh idea to the consumer market at the rate of 25 million views (Season 4’s estimated viewer count) without them having a preconceived idea of what they think they want to see, well we have a golden opportunity.  My goal isn’t just to make my business better, my goal is to make the industry better.  I want a Fixer Upper fan to see something that I am doing on the show and want it.  That in turn results in a phone call to the local glass company.  It really is an amazing opportunity for the industry.

We are going to keep creating the amazing pieces that Joanna wants and hope that we can offer some influence on what else we can do as glaziers.  For instance, in Season 4 we had the ability to show some amazing frameless shower work, open shelving systems for the kitchen and bathroom featuring glass shelves, some custom built steel and glass barn style sliding doors, electric privacy glass/smart tint, and more.  We hope to keep pushing the envelope in Season 5 and continue to be a face for the residential glass industry!

The Struggles of Entrepreneurship

I can tell you that from the outside looking in, being a business owner is awesome.  Great hours for the owner, they come and go as they please, so much money, etc.  Right?  If you think thats the case you should come spend a week with me and see what it takes to juggle multiple businesses.  The truth is that owning a business is the hardest thing I've ever done.  Owning more than one business as you can imagine just makes things a little more complicated.  Now I'm not saying you shouldn't want to own a business or have that as a goal because you should.  You should do whatever you WANT to do and I encourage you to pursue that with everything inside you.  

Being an Entrepreneur is a battle to fix something that occurred the day before or follow up on something that got overlooked last week.  Everyday is fight.  Let's be honest, we are humans and mistakes happen.  At the end of the day when everyone goes home the business mindset doesn't stop or turn off.  Or at least it shouldn't.  You have to stay busy keeping up with social media, planning the week out, making sure the workers and business associates and partners are happy because lets face it, the workforce is not plentiful for some trades and my industry is no exception so losing a quality employee can hurt.

Next thing you must be careful of is what I call the "Tribe Factor."  This might not effect everyone but the "Tribe Factor" is a reference to family time.  You MUST spend quality time with your tribe.  It is so important on so many levels and if you work too much (which we are all guilty of) you will lose precious time that can never be gotten back.  So you have to slow everything down and enjoy it.  

Another struggle of being an entrepreneur is not only keeping all those you work with happy but keeping your customers happy as well.  In this day and age, word of mouth works differently than it did ten or fifteen years ago.  A bad business encounter in 2002 with a client might result in 10 or 15 people hearing about it.  In today's digital age, everyone knows about the bad issues within minutes of the encounter.  Let's face it, a bad review can be detrimental to business.  While most clients are very quick to post, comment, report, review, or all of the above when a situation goes wrong, you don't always collect positive reviews so the negative can be impactful.  

So to my point, while it all looks good from the outside...everyday is a struggle.  Everyday there is a new problem or problems to solve.  While you may find your business running well and in a highly efficient manner, there is a likely going to be a time where chaos occurs again.  Whether that regression takes place during a period of growth or because of another business decision, the probability is high that this will happen.  

I love doing what I do and I will never complain it because this is what I wanted.  I see a focus on Entrepreneurs in today's mainstream and it looks so good...even to me.  I love a positive environment but at the same time, I am a realist and I think it is so important to see that it's not easy.  There are failures that occur daily and I can't tell you if I even learned the right lesson today.   Being a business owner can be the best and worst thing you do so if it's truly the path you want to take, get ready!