The Gen Y Tradeswoman
Being a woman in the trades
While it may seem easy to assume that I hold a certain sexual orientation, mentality that is not my own gender, and whatnot, it could not be further from the truth.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry is quite nice. First, allow me to tell you the story of my business, and how I got here. Let’s go back. Way back to the beginning. It will set the tone for why and how I got here to what has been an incredible venture.
Back when I was younger, I was a daddy’s girl. My dad was my entire world, and I loved him and being in his presence was everything. He was quite the handyman, typically spending his weekends working around the home; making repairs, building things, etc. I was always right there by his side, holding tools, the light, whatever he needed. Come November when it was time to put up the Christmas lights on the roof, I was up there on the roof helping. I loved it. The dopamine in my brain was lit. Whenever he was working with his hands, I was right there. Learning, absorbing, and what I now know was getting into a mindset that led me to what I do now.
Years later, he did pass away. Back in 2001, the year was not the best one of my life. Losing a part of my heart was something that I never really recovered from. I started asking questions a few years ago. The weird thing is that I really did not truly know who he was. I found out that he was a “man of the 1970s”, even though the man I knew was put together. Never in a million years would I ever have known of his “wild past.” Through the quest to find out who he was, and really who I am from him, I realized that being in the trades was a family affair. Many of my ancestors were woodworkers, cabinet makers. I come from a line of people who were blue collar.
I had my first son kind of young. At 21, being married of course, I had my first child. I was serving in the Army National Guard at the time. Five years later, I had my second and last child. After time, I wanted to start working again. I was restless staying home. I had to wait. Once both children were in school, my husband suggested that I could volunteer to help him at work. I was ecstatic! He was head of the Maintenance department at a nursing home, and we got to work together. It was then that we both saw each other in a different light. We saw each other’s work ethic and it brought us closer. The big boss at the time saw what I was doing and put me on payroll. I earned my job.
Being there for seven years was an experience which grew into a nightmare. It is a rough industry to work in, and I grew angrier and angrier seeing what happens in the long term care sector. Seven years. I quit. I could not do it anymore. It was honestly the hardest and worst job that I have ever held, and that’s factoring in the military. I hated it. None of it was in vain, though. I learned A LOT. That experience was the stepping stone into entrepreneurship.
A month after I quit, it was my husband’s birthday. We’re not bougie people, we live simply and without excess. He wanted to go get some soft serve for his birthday.
Now, let’s back up a little bit. Back when I was years younger, I saw myself being a business owner or high level executive. It was a vision of sorts. Back to August, while we are sitting in an ice cream shop. That vision came back. I looked my husband in the eyes and said, “Let’s start a business. We can totally do this. You and I have so much experience and renovations is needed, and we can rock it out.” He thought for a second, and replied, “Let’s do it.” So, we sat there for an hour, came up with the name, colors, strategy, all of it.
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So, fast forward to two years later. I look back and think how scared I was. I knew that I was no longer under the blanket of a corporate umbrella. I had to learn how to be extroverted (I am so very, very introverted.) There was much to be learned, and I had to do it alone. My husband had and still has a normal 9–5 job. I was taking ownership of a company completely solo. I also majored in Criminal Justice, so business….yeah, had lots to learn there as well.
So, that is the beginning of a new chapter in life. I take every mistake and learn from it. That’s where all of my learning and adaptation has come from. Not the good times. The bad.
For young ladies, I will tell you that working in the trades is not as bad as you would think. I have found that men are easy to get respect from. Is there sexism? Sure. But it is not horrible. I found that by simply not refuting anything but showing by action that I am knowledgeable in the field is simple (AND EFFECTIVE).
Ownership is what it is. But it is worth it. You meet people outside of your circle. You build relationships and connections. You grow personally and professionally.
I’m sure you’re asking what I do. I own a painting and handyman business. I do it all.
Stay tuned, as I will cover many topics such as:
What it’s like owning a business
How to be the best client
How to approach the process of hiring
and much more.
