Welcome back for our second trip down memory lane, where we take a peek at young Luyk working in the local hardware store as a teen. Did your teen years and interests shape your future? They certainly did for Luyk.
At his hardware store job, he quickly learned that customers came in with a wide variety of projects requiring creative solutions. His boss was the go-to guy—armed with an impressive array of parts, tools, and ingenious ideas to tackle any farm or manufacturing dilemma our little town faced. Luyk loved it! He learned about job needs across the board: construction, farming, mechanical repairs (gas engines, diesels—you name it), bodywork on vehicles, tractors, lawnmowers, and even household appliance repairs. This foundation of problem-solving proved invaluable throughout our journey, especially when we entered the spray foam industry. Cue: The Rig.
The Rig is the spray foam trailer, equipped with some massive, highly specialized equipment. To be honest, I understand very little about it, so you won’t get a lot of useful mechanical details from me. Luckily, Luyk took to it like a duck to water! When we first got started (remember, we jumped in sooner than planned!), Luyk had apprenticed briefly and was aware that this wasn’t your standard DIY equipment. We were as prepared as we could be, and luckily moreso than even we knew.
That said, I’m not sure anything—even a full year of apprenticeship—could prepare you for the stress and strain of running a business that relies solely on one big, essential piece of equipment. When it’s down, you’re not making money, not covering overhead, and not bringing home that mac 'n cheese for your family! Luyk tirelessly kept us from ever being down for more than half a day.
Thank goodness for his teen years solving dilemmas at the hardware store! There were times when the only available replacement part for the rig was a ridiculously expensive component that the manufacturer didn’t offer as individual pieces. Luyk was able to analyze the problem, identify the exact part needed, and find a workaround faster than the full component could have been delivered. Job well done, Luyk!
Next time, I’ll share a snapshot of how we navigated customer expectations, implemented our business moral codes through customer service, and tackled the tricky topic of minimum charges.
What is your self-employment or small business story? Have you faced similar experiences or considered taking the plunge? Have you faced a moment where quick thinking or creative problem-solving saved the day? Share your story in the comments below!