Notes from Chris

Episode 1753

Lots of people talk about having a DIY mentality, but Gregory Gladden is has actually lived it. Born in a farming part of the country, he grew up helping his dad’s business doing construction and masonry. He loved working with his hands, so it wasn’t a surprise to anybody that he later began a career as an oil field mechanic.

When January 2020 rolled around, Gregory got big news: his wife was expecting again, and this time, she was having twins. With a seven-year-old daughter already, he realised that he would soon have to support three kids, and the cost of childcare for all of them would be almost his entire paycheck.

That seemed absurd, and Gregory knew that he needed to do something about it. He and his wife had long wanted to start a side hustle, but never got around to it. With the twins on the way, it was now or never.

While brainstorming ideas, Gregory recalled the time when he paid for someone to inspect their house. It was a simple process. The inspector only had a few basic tools, and finished his work within the hour. This made Gregory wonder if he could do the same, and he immediately picked up the phone to ask his real estate agent about it.

Having had experience working with his hands since young, Gregory knew that he was equipped with the skills required for various types of repairs, especially since this line of work wasn’t more complicated than what he did on a daily basis at the oil field. And if he didn’t know what to do in a particular situation, he could just be honest and recommend another expert.

With that in mind, he put down $50 for a business license and another $40 for insurance in February 2020. But he soon hit a rough patch as pandemic restrictions and lockdowns started the next month. All he could do was lay low for a while to see if things would blow over. A month later, he got a job from his sister’s landlord. Working on that project gave him the confidence, and also a stellar online review.

The next few months were slow, but Gregory began to find his way. Further chats with his real estate agent made him realise that working more closely with the real estate community could be a smart start, and that he could create a YouTube video as a commercial of sorts.

With the help of his daughter as the camera, he fumbled around the house hammering and tweaking different things with the tools that he had. He added a voiceover when he edited the video to explain who he was and what he was offering. He then uploaded it to YouTube as a private link and shared it with 250-300 realtors through email.

This was when the magic happened. Gregory’s phone would just not stop ringing, as realtors called him with projects for him to take on. He remembers being overwhelmed as he didn’t feel comfortable turning away work as a new company owner, but at the same time he couldn’t meet all the demand.

The rest as they say is history. Gregory is now investing in the business, most recently spending $2,000 to restore an old van as his official work vehicle. He has more than replaced his original income from his day job, and now has full control of his schedule, his life, and his future.

 

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  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Learn more about Gregory and his business at his website, Gladden Handyman LLC.

SEE ALSO:

• Woodworker Proves Money Grows On Trees: When the owner of a lawn care business can’t find the earthy table of his dreams, he finds himself with a tree-mendous new business.
• Cardiologist Carves Out Bearable Sculptures: When a cardiologist discovers a new hobby in carving wooden bears, he gets his bearings and gets paid for it.
• Brooklyn Academic Learns To Upcycle Fine China: After stumbling across a collection of fine china being thrown away, an out-of-work academic learns to upcycle similar items into tiered cake stands.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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