By Alex the Builder Philosopher 16 November 2024
In my ongoing quest to become a better builder, I recently faced another turning point in my career. An exciting opportunity presented itself—a chance to grow—but it meant stepping away from my comfort zone. Naturally, I turned to a friend to discuss the challenge, and through our conversations, I stumbled upon a realization: I inspire others.
I hadn’t seen myself this way before. With my "rough around the edges" personality and relentless focus on building a name for myself, I’d never stopped to reflect. But then I thought, why not? If my journey can help even one or two people, it’s worth sharing.
That’s why I’m writing this: to reflect on a simple idea—why doing hard things matters.
A Day in the Cold Rain
Faced with this life-changing decision, I needed to “ground” myself. So, I chose a challenging task for the day: preparing the roof for the sheet metal installation next Monday—all by myself, in the cold and pouring rain.
I didn’t have to. I could have waited for better weather, worked indoors, or even taken the day off to spend with my family. But by embracing this hard task, I set myself up for a smoother week ahead.
Standing there in the rain, soaked and miserable, I felt something unexpected: peace. The task became a chance to reflect. In that quiet struggle, I realized something else: willingly engaging in difficulty is a way to take control of our lives.
Why Choose Hard Things?
Life is full of challenges. We all face them—job losses, heartbreaks, car troubles. But when we choose to do hard things, we prepare ourselves for future hardships.
Take your health, for example. When you train, stretch, eat well, and rest, you’re choosing discipline today to avoid compounded suffering later, like illness or injury. The same principle applies to my work as a builder.
If I don’t take the time to ensure a foundation is properly squared—just an hour’s work—it might lead to hours of headaches later: misaligned walls, uneven floors, and frustrated tradespeople down the line. By doing the hard thing upfront, I save time and frustration for everyone involved.
Building Better Homes, Building Better Lives
I believe suffering is an integral part of being human. By choosing our challenges now, we avoid worse ones later. And by taking care of ourselves, we’re better equipped to help others.
This applies to the homes I build. My goal is to create spaces that last, inspire, and elevate the lives of the families who live in them. That starts with embracing the hard work it takes to build them right—every time.
As I finished my rainy day, the sun broke through. The task was done, and I was dry again, but the lessons lingered: doing hard things matters.
