My family is full of tradesmen.
My grandfather was a welder and blacksmith and had quite a bit of work as an independent contractor before he went to work for one of the major auto manufacturing companies in the northern midwest.
My dad was an electrician after working as a carpenter for a number of years building homes. I tried to absorb as many skills as I possibly could over the years from the people surrounding me in my life. My uncle was a DIY enthusiast and built everything from go-karts to trebuchets in his massive backyard. There was a huge barn that actually had a basement with a driveable ramp on one end leading down to it. It was a barn built for auto repair, but my uncle used it as a massive workshop. I loved spending time at my uncle’s house because that’s where I learned how to use a myriad mix of hand tools and power tools. The projects he involved me in were also exciting and attention-grabbing for someone my age. But it was the plumbing work that he taught me that benefited me the most because that’s where most of my attention is focused these days. I’m a handyman, but most of the work I do is plumbing related. I make a lot of money on calls to make basic leak repairs. Who hasn’t had a problem with a simple plumbing leak before? Even before I learned plumbing as a trade, I ran into plumbing problems like anyone else. Sometimes my clients are ashamed of themselves for calling me, but I assure them that everyone needs this kind of help!