Tom, this is one of many amazing and powerful video brother. It is crazy how if we make that one step and the out come comes and lands us a great way of life and the FREEDOM from the man.
We started out basically the same way. My grand dad gave me a racing go kart frame at 12. I learned to work on my racing engines. By 15 my grand dad had opened a small engine shop for me at home to work on people's equipment in my area. I done other things after my grand dad died, like HVAC repair, to all sorts of maintenance. In 2008 me an an older buddy open a small engine shop on his property and ran it until December 2022, thats when he decided to rip me off and shut the shop down. I'm now, taking it day by day, building things back up. Great video Tom 👍
Enjoyed this video bro, and yes it takes a little courage to strike out on your own but if you are confident you step out. I’ve been my own boss in 3 trades for decades, left school for work at 15 and started my first lawncare business at 21. Never looked back. My dad pulled me aside one day and said that neither he (Masters in Business) nor my 2 older brothers (Phd,BS,Masters)-(Chemical Engineer) had the courage to start their own businesses. It’s good to call the shots but it comes with a price, but that’s small business 👊🏻
Thank you for doing this. I'm an old computer programmer (soon to be 66) who has struggled to find work the last 20 years (age discrimination is rampant in the tech industry). Like you, I never saw this as a source of full time work, and I have used it as a source of income off and on over the last 10 years or so. I finally came to the realization recently that there are no jobs out there that I find interesting, so I've decided to do this full time. Areas I struggle with are estimates as there are no flat rate manuals available that I have seen, and it seems I'm always struggling to buy parts on a fixed income that early social security allows. And similar to you, I've set behind a desk for most of the last 30 years or so, so I'm not as limber as I used to be anymore. Looking forward to seeing how you do things in respect to running the shop.
Toooom Doooobyyyy! GREAT video, Tom! All I can say is this. Your REAL job is the one that takes hold of your heart and lives there. I see comments here about courage. Courage comes with MANY faces, proven by the commenters here. Ray commented about being in control of your own destiny. Amen, Ray! I would ask all here to read the poem, Invictus. I will write it here, but please look it up, read it, print it out. It's truly something to live by. Read and enjoy! INVICTUS Out of the night that covers me, Black as Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be, For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not flinched nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance, My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years, Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. William Ernest Henley All of you here, whether you know it or not, DO live this! Take pride in what you've done. Thank God for the gift of your resilience. Stay the course and keep the faith. God bless you all. Tom, thank you for sharing so much of your life with us. That alone takes courage. Keep up the great work. God bless.
This is the best video yet brother!! I love the insight as to how you started and a bit about your life before mower repair. Truly inspiring to me and Sarah also enjoyed it. I can't wait for the videos to come after this one. Very inspirational brother!!
Love the series videos. I told u that u could and should take the plunge to go full time. Enjoy all your videos. I like the little tips u give along the way to of what and what not to do etc. Great repair shop =Great Channel 😅😅😅😅😅
Definitely looking forward to watching all of these types of videos. I do all the repairs and maintenance on my family and my own equipment and have thought about making it a little side business since I'm fairly mechanically inclined and enjoy working on stuff. Love hearing how you started and the success you've found!
Great video brother! So much of your story resonates with me in so many ways. Happy to hear that you’re doing well and your business is thriving 👍🏻 you were one of the first small engine friends I’ve made through RU-vid and you do some good work! I’m looking forward to seeing the shop tour and especially seeing the inventory, I’m struggling myself with keeping the right stuff in stock and I’m always interested to see other people’s setup 👍🏻
Well done brother it takes time, patience and dedication to have s successful business with an emphasis on customer relations. Some time you need a break at EP we are basically 24/7 for 10 years and now by appointment only and Jake has shut er down on weekends and taking some time of videos.
Tom thank you for you sharing a little bit about you and life's ventures. I like you have alot of battle scares to the body that I am paying for now at 68. Arthritis is my friend now and knee surgery is around the corner. I do small engine repairs. Been doing it on the side for along time. Keeps busy and out of trouble! Say I swa your video on the new compressor you got. I just noticed it in this video as you hadn't decided where you were going to put it and how you installed the lines to it. I was curious what you did . I am in the process of upgrading my compressor and any help would be appreciated. Thanks Tom all that you do. Keep on truckin my friend.
Hey brother. You should do what we had at my buddies garage where we worked on autos. We mounted a winch to the floor centered with the bay door and would hook it to them and winch it in on the lift. Harbor Freight has pretty cheap. Just a thought
