A Lesson in Boundaries for Business Owners
A Lesson in Boundaries for Business Owners Over the past 15+ years running All Nation Restoration in Austin, Texas, I’ve learned a lot about restoration—of buildings, of people, and of trust. But one of the more unexpected lessons has nothing to do with mold, water, or fire. It has to do with mediation. As I […]
Don’t Get Sold by the Salesperson: A Hard Lesson in Hiring and Leadership
Don’t Get Sold by the Salesperson: A Hard Lesson in Hiring and Leadership Over the last 15+ years of building All Nation Restoration, a remediation company in Austin Texas, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Some of them were technical, some financial—but the hardest ones? People mistakes. One of the most painful patterns I’ve seen again […]
Let them judge: A Business Owner Who Persevered Past The Judgement.
Let them judge: A Business Owner Who Persevered Past The Judgement I wasn’t born into privilege, comfort, or even peace. I was born into a religious organization that, by every definition I know now, was a cult. From as early as I can remember, I felt out of place. I knew—deep in my gut—that this […]
The Trap of Being “Right” From One Business Owner to Another
The Trap of Being “Right” From One Business Owner to Another When I was growing up, I was taught to see the world in black and white. Right and wrong. Truth and lies. Good people and bad people. I was raised in a high-control religious environment—a group I now understand to be a cult—where every […]
The Art of the Story: Why So Many Business and Personal Blogs Fall Flat
The Art of the Story: Why So Many Business and Personal Blogs Fall Flat Let me tell you something—straight up, from one human being, content creator, and business storyteller to another: I don’t write for myself. Sure, I could. My life has its moments. I’ve seen, felt, endured, and achieved. But compared to some of […]
The Power of Pizza: How I Built My Business with Cheese, Cardboard, and a Smile
The Power of Pizza: How I Built My Business with Cheese, Cardboard, and a Smile I don’t like to eat pizza. It gives me heartburn. But pizza is still my favorite food—because it helped build my business. When I started All Nation Restoration in Austin, Texas, I was living in a 26-foot camper. Not alone—with […]
From Technician to CEO: The Hardest Lesson I Learned While Growing All Nation Restoration.
From Technician to CEO: The Hardest Lesson I Learned While Growing All Nation Restoration I started in the restoration industry at 16 years old—just a kid with an obsession for doing things right. Water damage, fire cleanup, mold remediation… it all fascinated me. My dedication, attention to detail, and, honestly, a bit of OCD made […]
Don’t Ask for Endorsement—Ask for Support
Don’t Ask for Endorsement—Ask for Support Over the last 15+ years of building All Nation Restoration of Austin, I’ve had the rare privilege of working alongside my longest-standing employee—and longtime friend—Chris. He’s been with me since the beginning, and he’s one of the few people who has consistently served as a sounding board for my […]
Business Isn’t a Family—It’s a Team
Business Isn’t a Family—It’s a Team When I started All Nation Restoration at 18, I kept hearing phrases like “we’re a family-run business”, “we treat our employees like family”, and “we’re a close-knit, family-oriented company.” These ideas were always presented as a badge of honor—a cultural strength. And at the time, that made sense. That […]
Train, Don’t Explain: A Lesson from 15 Years in Business
Train, Don’t Explain: A Lesson from 15 Years in Business After 15 years of running All Nation Restoration, I’ve come to understand a fundamental truth of leadership: Everything you do takes energy—and time is your most valuable asset. When you’re trying to grow and scale a company, especially in the early years, how you spend […]
