How One Boss Changed My Path in the Crawl Space Business
Introduction
When Mentorship Matters
A STORY ABOUT LEARNING, GROWING, AND GIVING BACK
You know what's funny about "first real jobs"?
Sometimes you don't realize they're life-changing until years later.
That's how it was for me in my first corporate position selling crawl space solutions.
What could have been just another sales job turned into something that would shape my entire future in this industry.
Today's special for me.
The boss who gave me that first shot - who taught me what it means to take pride in your work - is coming to watch me run an inspection.
After eight years, the student has become the teacher. But more on that in a minute.
The Beginning
When I first started in this business, I was just a guy looking for an opportunity. Sure, I'd had jobs before, but this was different. This boss saw something in me that, honestly, I hadn't even seen in myself yet. He brought me on to sell crawl space solutions, but he ended up teaching me so much more.
You see, it wasn't just about learning the technical stuff - though that was important. It was about understanding what it means to take your work seriously. To treat every home like it matters, because it does. To see this as more than just a way to make money, but as a real profession where you can make a difference in people's lives.
Looking back now, I can see how that first position wasn't just a job - it was the foundation for everything I'd build later with Crawl Logic. Those early lessons about doing things right, about treating customers with respect, about taking pride in your work - they're still at the core of how we do business today.
More Than Just a Boss
His leadership style wasn't what you typically see in corporate America. It wasn't about hitting numbers or following scripts. He showed me that success in this business comes from actually caring about doing good work. When you're dealing with people's homes, that matters more than any sales target.
I learned that customers can tell when you're genuine. They know if you're just trying to make a sale or if you really want to solve their problem. That's something I couldn't have learned from a training manual or a sales presentation. I had to see it in action, and he showed me how it's done.
The Nashville Move
Eight years ago, when he got promoted and moved to Nashville, I made a decision that probably seemed crazy to some people - I followed. Packed up and moved here to work with him again. That's how much I valued what I was learning. Nashville wasn't just a new city for me; it was a chance to keep growing under someone I trusted.
Working together again, our relationship evolved. He wasn't just a boss anymore - he became a mentor and friend. The lessons got deeper. It wasn't just about how to sell crawl space solutions; it was about building a reputation, earning trust, and doing things the right way.
Coming Full Circle
Now here's where life gets interesting. Today, I'm not just running my own company - I've hired his son for his first job. The kid just turned 18, and giving him this opportunity means everything to me. It's my chance to pass on what his father taught me about taking pride in your work.
When you've been given something valuable in life - like someone believing in you when you're just starting out - you want to pay that forward. That's exactly what we're doing at Crawl Logic. We're not just fixing crawl spaces; we're building something that matters, teaching people the right way to do things, just like I was taught.
Today's Full Circle Moment
Having my old boss come watch me run an inspection today - that's both exciting and humbling. Here's this person who taught me everything I know about this business, coming to see how I've taken those lessons and made them my own. It's like showing your old teacher how well you've done with what they taught you.
But you know what's really special? Now I'm the one teaching his son. We're not just giving him a job - we're showing him what it means to take pride in your work, to treat customers right, to do things properly. Just like his dad showed me all those years ago.
Lessons Learned
If there's one thing I've learned through all this, it's that success in business isn't just about what you know - it's about who helps you learn it. Every inspection I do, every customer I help, I'm using lessons that started with that first "real job." When someone takes the time to teach you right, it sticks with you.
The crawl space business isn't complicated when you break it down: do honest work, show people exactly what's happening under their home, and fix problems the right way. But having someone show you how to do that with integrity - that's priceless.
Looking Forward
These days, Crawl Logic is growing. We're serving more areas, helping more families. But we're keeping those core lessons alive: take pride in your work, treat every customer's home like it matters, and always do things the right way.
Today isn't just about showing my old boss how far I've come. It's about showing him that what he taught me didn't just help build a business - it helped build something that matters. And now we're passing those same values on to the next generation.
That's how good business practices survive - they get passed down, person to person, generation to generation. From one boss who cared enough to teach, to one employee who cared enough to learn, to a new generation getting their start.
Give us a call if you need a crawl space inspection. We'll show you exactly what we mean about doing things the right way.
