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Workman Knives and Fabrication · Pioneer Mind Podcast

• Mark Workman: So what would be the work that would be, ⁓ going to share your website here a second so people can figure out how to get a hold of you. Phone numbers, go to your website for the knives and the fabrication, but maybe describe the work that, ⁓ cause you know, you, you, you always say there's limitations. I don't have a crane. don't have, but you, you have this incredible knowledge base. I think you can do about just anything. Am I right? So there's not a limitation on what you can do. It's just. Welcome to another episode of the pioneer mind podcast really excited about this episode today again I'm excited about all of them because I'm loving this whole process of kind of learning from other folks and having these discussions the last one we did with encore energy is Cotton cotton on quite well with the investment and just learning about the oil field and we're gonna do a lot more of those so I'm excited about that and and kind of promoting my oil field connections that I have with my business and what I'm doing. But today we have a guest. He's pretty close to me in terms of not far. He's an apple, not far from the tree. Workman is joining us today. And he's, ⁓ he's today because he's right in the middle of this mess of being a pioneer. You know, I've talked quite a bit about being a pioneer and having a pioneer mindset. And I feel like it's something that's really been lost in the culture. don't have all the tools you need at this point in your career. There's, limitations in that regard. So what's the work you would be most drawn to? ⁓ repair, you know, if there's equipment on site, you know, that needs bucket repair. I've done a lot of buckets, you know, done a lot of that, you know, equipment repair. I would say repair. And even today, what I was doing was a structural, lot of structural welding, you know, and that's what I have. My certification is D 1.1. We've actually just kind of stepped away from people just stepping out and taking risks like no tomorrow with no idea of the outcome and really what's going to happen. I think it's a real weakness in our culture. We're actually getting dumber by the day with AI and all the tools we have is to us in terms of connectivity, productivity, whatever it is, it seems like we're going backwards, even though like technology says we're going forward. So it's kind of odd. So, so here's the website. Talk about each one of those. Yeah. So I got the blades. Yeah. You've got the blades, steel fabrication, mobile welding services, and then plasma CNC cutting, which is coming in May. So, um, that's not there yet. Um, and so when we get that going, we'll so steel fabrication entails taking what half inch anything, just anything, you know, you're literally just taking metal and turning it into something. You know, I always say fabricators or welders. So, you know, and again, these innovators, innovators take something that already exists and make it better. You know, they innovate, they, take something they already know and make it better. And that's occurring in their culture quite a bit. But I would say as a pioneer mind, a person who breaks new ground, breaks barriers, goes into new areas and no one knows. and, and again, the pioneer person from what I've read about pioneers, and Dylan would maybe agree with this is like, You know, I mean, cause anyone can weld a bead over and over over over over over over over again. ⁓ but if you can have the ability to think, create measure, you know, and make it accurate and fit and use the purpose and what it needs, you know, as we can see there on the left, you know, that was a hand railing job I did. I'm not really a huge fan of hand railing except for jobs like that, where that was a little bit more artistic. That was a hammered handrail. Gotcha. and the customer was really adamant about it. because I'm going to ask him some stuff about why he left Omaha and came back to Montana. But there's something in there, know where that's the only way I can say it. They just know that they know that they're supposed to go do this thing. And again, everybody's telling them you crazy. You've got a good job where you're at. You're really secure. This is maybe your future to have security. And at least in my life, I've always rebelled against that. And I've been in rebellion and I think there's a part of rebellion within being a pioneer mind thinker. ⁓ wanted it. And so there's, there's, that was a really good paying job. ⁓ that was also front and back. talk about the, the, the Damascus with the copper and I believe you even do silver. Yes. ⁓ know, those are unique to anywhere I've ever seen. ⁓ that right? Copper my is becoming fairly more common. okay. ⁓ there's a Baker forge. He does quite a bit of that. He's even sells it in blanks and it has crazy patterns, which is really cool. Um, but the silver Damascus is, was a real trick. Not a lot of guys do it. Um, I have to use my heat treat kiln to forge it just because my forge gets too hot. it's, I mean, cause silver melts it. I think 1763, you can't forge at those temps. You actually forge at, you know, I think I'm forging the bill at it like 1725 max, you know, but you also can't The person who's just, no, I'm not going to do the herd thing. And I've used on here a couple of times, I need to find a different quote, but it's one I'm just stuck on right now with CS Lewis. he, basically says when the crowd is all heading for the cliff, it is the man who is insane. That's running the other direction. And I really believe that is something that's, ⁓ that big in the culture. The herd is going one way and there's just very few people seeking out the new ground. forge, there's a lot of high carbon steels. You can't forge at such low temps like that. You know, so I'm using ADC RV two or, um, I'm using ADC RV two. So I couldn't use say 52 and a hundred, which has to be, you know, forging at a lot higher temps, you know? So, um, so again, there's a lot of thought that goes into like, if you're going to do a special, you know, special metals forging, you know, uh, lamb, laminate steels that way. And so in the safe ground, maybe even. but you know, today we're going to ⁓ interview Dylan. I think he's going to have some interesting insights. He's a very deep thinker, and is not afraid to communicate exactly what he thinks. ⁓ So be no issues there. you know, one of the, you know, just welcome Dylan to the podcast. I'm so glad you came, you know, again, I want to promote what you're doing at the end of the day, as we do this podcast, I want people to know you better. I don't want any mistress about what's driving you. You've got a beautiful family, beautiful wife and kids. got a lot going on. you know, but you really stepped out in the last few years and left something secure in Omaha, Nebraska. Really was secure. I think they liked you there. Am I right? Yeah. mean, they, ⁓ the, liked me, but they laid me off. they did. Yeah. Yeah. They. you got to really be careful what you're mixing and matching with. Not all steels are the same. So you got to do a lot of research. Yeah. Initially. And now I just stick with ADC RV two is the core steel. And then, you know, your, Damascus billets on the outside that are also ADC RV two and 15 and 20, you know, so I forged those billets out to like anywhere between 200 and 300 layers. And then those become the jackets over the copper. So it really like here you can see in the website, give me a shout. There's a, there's a form there you can fill out and ⁓ laid off the lower 25 on the seniority list and I was number 24. ⁓ And so I was like, heck yeah. know, cause I wanted to go back to Montana really bad. ⁓ ⁓ day I got a job here in Helena, we were living in some old lady's attic. ⁓ was really sweet. actually ⁓ gave us her upper room in her attic. Do you, your phone number on there too? Yeah. You got a phone number over here. Uh, the 30, uh, 32 19, 406-590-3219, but you can call and just, you know, if you have a fabrication needs or anything like that, fill out the form or give them a call. Um, uh, young man pioneering a new business and we want to promote that. And, and, you know, in here, I think sharing his story today is pretty interesting in the sense of. And I got a job at Missouri river contractors. And the day I got the job is the day they called me back. Hey, you want to come back? I'm like, sorry, I'm already here. Yeah. And I think typically those types of things with ask, you know, like with a company like Ash Grove is those, those layoffs are usually temporary to make some sort of accounting change is all they're doing. They don't really care. Nothing about how many people they have. So anyway, it's interesting that you, you would step out at that time. But what I want to talk about a little bit is, you know, He's telling us not been easy, but you are starting to see some momentum, right? Yeah. Yeah. Nope. Definitely seeing more momentum. And I was just thinking about it today. Actually it was, the best marketing is do a really good job for the right people. And, ⁓ you know, I mean, there, there are good customers and there are bad customers and, and you got to know how to sniff them out and, ⁓ you want to be able to serve everyone, you know, as best to your ability and. had quite a run in Fairfield, Montana. It is a place that I could never have imagined that I would have ended up there. We got there kind of a tragedy with my brother-in-law, Rob, becoming sick. We moved over to kind of be in the area, you know, be closer to family and, know, with the girls and Kelly and all that kind of stuff. And, and, but Fairfield really became our home. but I think it's really important to, again, there's just, can list off like a handful of people that were the right customer, whether it be a knives or fabrication or repair or whatever it is, they're just, were the, they were the ones that gained me connections everywhere else. You know what I mean? And they were the ones that, you know, they, uh, they actually paid right up front. You know I mean? I actually paid me. You know I mean? A lot of times I have to, you know, it's like pulling teeth, you know? So, um, but again, just, ⁓ we thought we would just stay there as a family. I'm just talking as a dad. thought we thought we'd always stay for a few years and head back to the bitter roots, South of Missoula. know, that was kind of what we thought. We got married down in Darby and Sula. we just always thought that would be home. but it didn't work out that way. So we, we get over to Fairfield and it's not the greatest place for an entrepreneur like me that thinks outside the borders, meaning worldwide. always do a really good job no matter what, even no matter who it is, even if the person's a pain or whatever, just do a really good job. You know, you always want to cover your end and, so do a good job for the right person, you know, and, ⁓ that's good. know, just as a dad, you know, just talking, you know, truthfully is that, you know, I've watched you struggle and I've not hidden the fact that there's times when I'm pretty, I wouldn't say saddened, but, or emotional, guess just. Japan, Russia, China, you know, all the things that I'm thinking of, you know, why would I base myself in Fairfield, Montana? You know, I had a trucking company, I've had, you know, some logging and sales across the country and all those kinds of things. You know, my story a little bit, but it's not the place that really made sense for me. didn't own land. I didn't own a farm. You know, you know, I'm trying to start a business there that is really based out of everywhere else in the country, but Fairfield, Montana. know what I mean? And so. Frustrated is maybe you are with the journey you've been on the last few years There's times when I'm talking to you that I can tell that you're really just getting your butt kicked. Yeah And again, it's hard to hear that but I also know and I've told you this to your face There's something in here that you're learning that you gotta go through Because if it was easy everybody would do it right in and there's something in there that you're learning that You mean you can't even put words on it And so it's really difficult to understand those years, but at the same time they were absolutely, uh, I consider some of the, you know, have just fond, fond, warm memories of the, time there, you know, and when we left, was probably the right season to leave, but I still have very fond memories. And I'm so glad you guys grew up there, the log house, you know, piglet, the pony, and you know, all the things that we had available to us and the freedoms and You know, I tell the story of me when I was working on what I was doing with the oil field from 2009 to 2012, I worked every day, probably eight to 10 hours a day without an order. know what I mean? Yeah. And that's what it's felt like for three years for me. But I always say to Kathy, because she didn't trust me necessarily with that, cause she wasn't sure what I was doing, but I told her, I know that I know. Well, how do you know? You guys are walking around with, you know, fireworks and even guns, think. don't know. Swords. Yeah. You had swords. Yeah. Big, huge battle-axe swords. Yeah. Bought a Spartan replica sword. Yeah. And killed fish with it. So how does, how does growing up in Fairfield and I call it the last best childhood, you know, people might disagree with me in Fairfield or whatever, whoever listens to this, but I don't care. My thinking as a dad, I always say to you guys, it really was the last best. What do you know that I'm not seeing? Right. And I'm like, I know that I'm on the right track there's something in us as men that needs for that to be your reality and be expressed. And I feel like in terms of people developing this pioneer mindset that we've been kind of chatted about a little bit, there there's things a lot of men have stepped away from things that they knew they were supposed to do and didn't. And I think there's a free childhood my memory. Yeah, I would agree with that. ⁓ to some extent, I mean, everyone's childhood's different, but like I talk with some of my old classmates, people I went to high school with, and they'll say the same thing, you know, as we kind of joke, we're, know, we're kind of the last ones out on the last chapter chopper to NAMM out of NAMM, you know, and, and, ⁓ and really it was just a really, what made it really unique is that we were kind of free to do fun, dangerous things, like really dangerous things like should have died a few times. I think there's a calling with it because there is, um, you got people jumping into stuff that they obviously are not ready for it or not built for it. You know, and, and I, you know, I've had, I've had these conversations with myself. It's like, are you actually, are you built for business? You know, because there's, mean, not everyone should be an entrepreneur. No, I think it's actually really dangerous if you're not an entrepreneur and you're not. And, and I guess that's what helped me. So you're saying I was a terrible parent. No, but, no, I mean, we just did things and I, you know, kind of going along with the pioneer mindset. Like I just got used to, there was a threshold of like caution that was raised for me. Like, like I know my limits. Okay. Like, you know, like, and so as kids, was good to be tested in that regard, having physical pain, going through things like that. And, You know, you're not in that mindset. You're just like, well, I just don't like being around people and I want to make my own hours. Well, good luck with that because your business deals with people and you're, you have all the hours taken from you. Right. mean, but, uh, no, hear you. And again, it's, there's so much to learn. And you know, even if I'm, I'm, I'm turned 60 and you're a reader, I know you're a reader. I believe in reading books. I, I, you know, I tried to read 50 or more a year on any subject I can find. I don't know. And like you learn caution, especially when things get really spooky. You know what I mean? You're like, okay, we're not doing that again. Right. but like I just, ⁓ a lot of my stories, you know, I talked to my, I talked to my wife, Becky about it and she's just like sitting there in horror. Like you did that. And it's like, yeah. You know, ⁓ then she hears it confirmed later from someone else. She doesn't know when we're at like a wedding or something like that. She's like, you actually did that. Yeah. did it. It's like when you guys tell stories or we tell stories the way you grew up and everything. We need to be lifelong learners about something, creating things. There's all kinds of things here to be talked about, but you know what you've done the last three or four years and it's been a struggle for your family. I know it has been. We've tried to be a help in the right way. We've talked about that openly that there's times when helping can be hurting and then sometimes not helping is hurting ⁓ then sometimes not helping is helping. Right. I know I just said a mouthful, right? Everyone's like listening to that. ⁓ what the heck he's talking about. But the truth of it is, is that sometimes not helping is helping. And it's sometimes hard as a family to sit there and watch that struggle occur. But I also know in my heart of hearts that it's necessary because you're learning something. You probably can't even put it into words. Maybe 10 years from now, you're going to write it down like, this is what it was. Right. This is what it was. know, there's still a ton. were, they don't hardly believe you. And it does take a third party confirmation. Sometimes remember when we were down in that, ⁓ right irrigation Yeah, was, that was dumb. Yeah. That was really dangerous. I remember. Yeah. Anyways, but yeah, it was wild. ⁓ and, but the thing is that's how you write a good story though. ⁓ If want a decent ⁓ story, know, everyone's like, you know, if you want to play it safe, have a boring story, you know, and like ⁓ I've, I've, I look back. for me to learn. There's still a lot of things I'm not good at. And I remember I talking to my, talking to my oldest boy the other day, you know, he's really upset that he wasn't good at something initially, you know, and I was telling him, it's like, well, yeah, have you ever done it before? No. I'm like, well, yeah, that's why you're terrible at it. And, but the thing is, you know, if you've never done a business before, know, it's adults need to remind themselves of this. We just give up so easily. Well, I'm not good at it. Well, of course you're not good at it. Learn. at my life and it's like, just have so much to tell like between the ages of, you know, five and 20. I mean, there's just so much stuff that we did that was just, I mean, I remember even flood irrigating, you know, working for a farmer in Fairfield and then working for a ranch down in Augusta. The things I saw, things I got to do. like, other person on the planet is doing this. No, I'm in one of the most beautiful places unchecked. You know what mean? And so that's what that's, that's what's kept me going is like, I have the capacity to learn, pick up a book, find something, ask questions. There's a lot of information that's garbage. There's a lot of information. That's great. Learn to sift through it. And that's, that's, that's what's kept me going is that I, I do have the capacity to learn. I'm going to keep learning because I'm not going to quit. this podcast as we close is a perfect example. I have no clue what I'm doing. I'm making it up on the fly. with a gun strap to a four wheeler. All I got to do is move water from one end of the field to the next. I'm, you know, and I get to shoot gophers and all sorts of stuff. It's like grizzly bear experiences. Oh yeah. I got chased by a grizzly bear right behind the rodeo grounds in Augusta, but it's just like, if your life doesn't have some measure of danger in it, it's probably boring. Like obviously you should don't be dumb. You know, like don't, don't put unnecessary risk on the table, but it's just like, go live your life. And, um, I'm having a ball. I'm going tell you that right now. But again, this is totally new ⁓ I'm enjoying it. I got great interviews set up with ⁓ politicians leaders in industry, oil field, all this is it's all in the schedule. And I'm just going to keep pumping these out. And and Dylan's I wanted to do because he's my family. But also he's he's on the front lines of of doing something. And again, he's ⁓ I always say him, Yeah, I just, just my childhood, that was very developmental for me looking back. You know, I just thought about it right when you were talking about it, but how that, that threshold of caution, I think that kids, know, everything is so bubble wrapped. All our kids are constantly safe. Everything is just constantly trying to avoid trauma, toxic relationships. And, and course some of that is good, but, you know, you don't want to, you know, hurt your kids. But at the same point, it's like, let your kids do dangerous things. You're in your, you're in your second year. Is it a sec two years? it'll be three years in March. So three years right Yeah. March 16th is when I quit my job. Okay. So he's, he, said it, you're, ⁓ I used to tell him you're one year into a three to five year process and he's now in his third year of a five year process, ⁓ but, are seeing momentum. yeah. Absolutely. Nope. Nope. So, ⁓ Hey, thanks for joining us. It was ⁓ great. hope this encourages you guys out there. you know, safely, you know what mean? That's what Jordan Peterson said, you know, let your kids do dangerous things safely. I just think we, our whole childhood was that. Yeah. I mean, we did a lot of dangerous things, you know, it's like, make sure you're wearing an inner tube when you jump in there or, it's just like, I don't know. It's like, it just, we were just, we just had a lot of fun. And so I would say that element of danger was really good. And I think another element for you guys is childhood is, is, is, ⁓ I certainly wasn't a micromanaging parent in some ways. Mom wasn't either. She, creative, don't be afraid ⁓ don't quit. So hang in there and we'll this out there and hopefully encourages people. Thanks for joining us. totally let you do things that even I was like, what are you doing? You know, but the thing of it is there was this component of freedom in there. Wasn't there like, I when you think about it, a lack of control, there was, there was me saying, no, I don't want to see that again. Right. But at the same time, I think there was still, ⁓ you had freedom. Right. Am I right? Yeah. I felt like the things that you were restricted were more character driven than they were. circumstantial driven. Very much. You know what I mean? Everyone's trying to control the circumstance. much of their kid, you know, what's going on. Even as a new parent to me, I find myself doing that being a very big micro don't touch that. Don't you know, it's like be more of a be more restrictive when it comes to things that are going to be more developmental for your child's character. And so those are the things where I felt like, you know, you're like, no, you're not going out. No, you're not doing that. You know, I remember that would make me really mad. But Looking back, I remember Jake and I, you my brother and I, when we were talking, I was like, we had really good parents. Cause I tell you, if they said yes to all the things that we wanted to do, like we'd be in big trouble. So yeah. And I was, I was very much into character and you know, maybe, you know, maybe too much in some ways. Cause I just couldn't stand to be lied to or whatever. And I always knew the truth and I'd stand there and just be staring at you while you guys fibbed, know, but I already knew what the story was. One of my favorite stories about you is the, the, would come in and this is not telling a negative, no one gives a crap anymore about any of this. So, know, ⁓ you come in as a freshman, you'd been drinking or something like that. And you start confessing to your, us as parents and we're, we're on this couch in the living room or what, some sort of chair and mom and I are kind of half laughing. We're like, yeah, he's confessing to us about this. that he had broken the rules and you know, you were really emotional about it. If you remember, it felt terrible. You were very emotional about it. And we're kind of laughing in his face just to be truthful. And then, and then finally, I, know, I think we got down to the point of you were in football at the time. And, and I said, well, we got to go in the morning and take care of that. And you're like, well, what do you mean? I said, well, we got to go take care of that. We signed a little blue form, right? And you're like, well, they don't know. And I said, well, We know. you were like, you did. Yeah. And we pull up in the morning and what did I make you do? Yeah. We went to, I think we went to Meyers office first and then we went to, ⁓ I think we went to Mike Johnson as well and a couple other people too. talked to and confessed that too. But ⁓ you in by yourself ⁓ and care of it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So was pretty hard, but yeah, ⁓ it's that than being known for being a liar. You know, I mean, it all comes out, everyone, you know, and I remember even one of our coaches who's like, Hey, as a freshman, that showed a lot of character doing that. No. And because, you know, it didn't just take me out and took two or it took two other guys out as well. Yeah. You know what I mean? And so, and that really hurt them as well. in some ways I can feel bad about that, but I knew that we needed to do what was right for our family. Right. And I wasn't going to budge on that. And again, we were kind of laughing about it because we don't necessarily care about. Truly, we don't care about drinking or alcohol. mean, to us, it's a lemonade, it's an iced tea, it's a beer, it's a beverage, right? So we're not sitting there into some sort of abstinence thing, but we did sign the thing of a death sentence that you, if you go do this, are the rules you're playing under. And that's what we were operating from. ⁓ again, you, you were funny as you confess, but the thing of it is I still say that was way better than you playing and getting away with it. yeah. No, no, it was, no, it was a good thing. that that happened and it was a wake-up call ⁓ I think it it really ⁓ what made me feel bad is that I knew you guys already had a positive reputation in town and I felt like I maybe maybe not I don't pride yet I don't I don't know ⁓ like I that's what I felt like ⁓ man I just made my family look like total ding-dongs you know and so that's where I felt and then I also hurt the other two players as well they got kicked off as well and right And so that kind of mess, I mean that that caused a lot of hurt. You never just affect yourself. know, at the time you think that's a big deal, but as time passes, you realize, man, that is super small. Yeah. Yeah. And so it doesn't matter, but you know, character drives everything, you know, so go through this whole experience and football was an amazing experience. School was the teachers are amazing. I remember when you were starting school, kindergarten in Fairfield. What was the teacher's name that came out and rode the bus with you because you were afraid to get on the bus? ⁓ I her name. ⁓ Tara, she would drive out to our house and get on a bus with you. I'm like, what in the world happens? What community does this? Yeah, you know, so ⁓ you had the last best childhood and you know, but I do believe there was a lot of character development there that that has carried you through even till now, in my opinion, you know. So go down to Omaha. And you hook up, ⁓ how'd you get that position down there? Is that through Jacob or was that through? Well, so I moved down there because I was going to stay for three months with Jacob, know? And so I stayed for three months, turned into three and a half years. Right. ⁓ cause he's like, Hey, I bought a house. I'm lonely. You want to move down here? Cause there's no work here in Montana. mean, and I also had burned a bridge, you know, I was, so I, so I graduated college at Montana tech. went to work for a steel fabrication company, a big one here in Great Falls. The pay was terrible. The work environment was terrible. The whole mindset was just awful. And I was like six months in and I was like, I'm not working here. It was like working with pirates. It was just- think that's a seed planted for, don't want to work for anybody? Right. Well, it was just so manipulative, the micromanaging and the manipulation and also the constant fear of what everyone thinks. I mean, as a welder, that's the one thing that drives me nuts about welding is that there is an ego that comes with it. Same with knife making. There is an ego that comes with it and you are terrified of being compared to you're terrified of being critique. You know what mean? There's your wealth. Is that what you're talking about? Yeah. I mean, like especially with social media and everything else, you know, I mean, there's just, there's, I mean, it's good to have critique. It's good to have like, you want to get your skill better. You want to do a good job, right? But, um, a lot of the problem is, is, mean, there's just an ego that comes with a skilled trade. And a lot of that isn't checked. mean, have one really bad weld and look like a total idiot. You know what mean? It happens to everybody. I didn't remember one of my supervisors where I worked here in great falls. Um, you know, we had one guy, it was one guy, he had a hard time. It one bad night. He usually welds pretty good. Sure. He had one bad night. So he had a lot of stuff that needed to be done and he was ripped on left and right. And you know, to the point where he was about ready to quit right there. Sure. And He just said, and when our supervisor just said in one of our meetings, he's like, you're going to have a bad day too. And I hope it's just as bad as this guy's day. Right. And cause it happened. Well, yeah, you're not perfect. The machine setting might be off or your, your, positioning isn't right or just whatever. Like it just, happens. Right. And you want to get better. You want to improve. But when you're constantly crapping on someone in a skilled trade and everyone's whimpering and moaning, why doesn't anyone want to go into trades anymore? Have you ever worked in it? It's terrible. They treat you like garbage. I hate doing it. It drives me crazy. Right. And so I mean, I had a pretty thick skin, so I'm used to it, you know, and, and what happened to be decent at what I do. probably saw my first telltale episode when I was telling on myself and I had 11 jobs in one year, you know, and people don't believe that, but it's the truth. had 11 W two's and it's because of this very thing you're talking about. I could not for some reason overcome and you're probably built just like your dad. And so, I think Jacob is too, actually it would just just not going to tolerate a whole lot of disrespect. Because if we're, and especially like if we're treated with respect, even if we're not getting paid well, I'm going for it. I'm going to work my little butt off. But disrespect is really a high, you know, it's a seed planted in you as you head to Omaha, you know, and you're learning things down there for the whole journey of getting back to Montana. Don't you think that's true? Yeah. And for even clarification, like I, I'm not a people pleaser in the sense of like, I'm not after, I'm not after affirmation. Like people like, ⁓ you need to make sure you're, you're affirming your employees or whatever. Like I'm not asking for your affirmation, but respect is, is a completely different element because you got people who want, well, he never said thank you. You're doing your job. He's paying you, right? You know what I mean? So just chill out, you know? So there's people who quit because you know, they do have a thin skin they feel like they're being disrespected. And it's like, you're just doing your job. You know what I mean? But if there's a disrespect where you're belittled and you're treated like a, like an idiot, right? So there's a difference between seeking approval, which I don't think is right. No, ⁓ versus you should be seeking respect and respect in a way. and so unless you're disrespectful and you don't, don't know, but no, ⁓ exactly. But I think there's a dignity, dignity in work that is largely ignored. We don't like to even talk about it anymore, but there's a dignity that comes from ⁓ really a job that you're exchanging money or some sort of level of income for a task that they want you to do. And that if you can do that to the best and fullest of your ability, there's a satisfaction in that. That can't be mashed by anything else you do in life. don't care what men need that. Well, just doing a good job. Like, it means a lot to me. I mean, I've been hiding in here, but you know, born with half an arm, you know, one of the things is surprise, you know, but, Like this was been a really driving factor because you know, the, growing up is like, wanted to be seen as capable and competent. Those are the two things I wanted to be known as. ⁓ of course, wasn't initially very competent. I just tried being silly and funny and try and trying to be liked. And I would say dumb things, whatever. Right. You know, I just tried being really weird, you know, and, and, and again, that was seeking the approval, but it's like, as I, as I grew up and especially in my faith, you know, It just became far more apparent that, I'm more than capable. Yeah. I'm not disabled. You know, when they fill out a form, you know, it's like, do you have a disability? It's like, no, you know what I mean? And then I show up and they're like, you know, so, mean, cause I think that, I think that was a problem for people I signed resumes for or filled out applications. Cause they're like, ⁓ you know, yeah. But to, ⁓ even now, just thinking as we prepared for this podcast. That never your arm being developed the way it is because I see you as whole Right not less than and I it doesn't even cross my mind as something we should talk about right Is that tell you how goofy I mean and it probably doesn't need to be talked about because it you know You probably have had challenges because of the way that is don't know. I don't ⁓ actually say it's a strength you and mom never making a big deal about it. We forget about it. like, um, anything is even the kids I grew up with. remember one of my classmates years ago, you know, I, we had graduated high school and he was a couple of years into college and he's like, Dylan, I still get guys that going like, you remember number 63, that one arm kid and he's going, what one arm kid? And then I see you. I'm like, Oh yeah. I mean, they all grew up with me. No one cares. And I think you know, every time you're going to have like this trauma talk of like, how you feel today about your arm, like just don't bring it, stop talking about it. And then I just looking back, like, ⁓ I guess. you developed a great sense of humor about tell the story of us burning the ditch and the Mennonite guy coming from the Mennonite church. Tell that story. You're good at that one. of course you got to burn your ditches just so you get good water flow and, and, we're on, was it fifth lane? Yeah. Fifth lane there. And there's a Mennonite church just up the road from us and we're burning and I'm wearing just this ratty, you know, cutoff t-shirt, you know, hardly wearing anything. ⁓ you know, and I'm raking up about a couple hundred yards from dad and this guy passes me and he whips in right behind dad and dad stops raking. I look back and dad's having this conversation with this guy. ⁓ have no idea who this is. Very nice gentleman. Yeah. Yeah. I have no idea who he is. ⁓ so I'm like, whatever. So I finish up with what I'm doing. I start strolling back and I see the guy look back and he keeps doing this double take, keeps doing this double take. And I'm like, okay. And so I get up to him and he immediately turns around and he goes, what's wrong with your arm? You know, what happened to your arm? And I said, my dad's a raging alcohol. all I said. Just right off the top of ⁓ head. He's a raging alcoholic. And the guy just in sheer horror was like, You guys have a nice day and drove off and I was like, and that's how kind of how I've dealt with annoying people. And, I don't know if he was annoying or he wasn't, was a nice man. No, but, ⁓ that's just, like, I don't know why that came to my head because you're not an alcoholic. You don't even drink. No. So I'm like, just, I ⁓ like, you've done that. You've thrown me ⁓ under the bus for long time. Yeah. It's pretty, in the hot tub. One time we were in Wisconsin somewhere and I'm in the pool and I can hear you in the back in the hot tub with a bunch of kids. And you're, you're, you're telling everyone that you're doing this and you're showing how it's made out of rubber. Your dad tore it off and put a rubber one on. Remember that? Yeah. You were like 10 feet away. Your back's just above the, dad tore it off. I'm like, Dylan. Yeah. know, remember that? Yeah. So you get to Omaha and I think you were, you were at Ash Grove and then they, no, were you at Ash Grove second? you went, no, that was third. My first job was I worked for Midwest labs. I was sorting dirt for Midwest labs. And I actually liked that job. I didn't pay very well, but I liked it. Um, it was actually kind of high stress a little bit because, know, so you're sorting soil samples from fields all across America. so each bag logistically costs $400. So when you spilt a tray logistically, it was so you, you know, you did not want to spill a tray. And so that was really cool. And that was a good organizational skills, things like that, you know, And then I applied for a job at United packaging. United. that's an Ashgrove outfit. Yeah, it is. Yes, it is. It's over in Fremont. Worked out there, had no idea what I was getting into. And I even tried like saying all the wrong things in the interview, because I realized right off the bat, I'm like, this is not for me. You know, they wanted, they needed an electrician is what they needed. I am not an electrician. And also I don't know diagnostics. don't know coding. I don't know any of that. And I was left with an office that had no computer and old receipts. That was it. It was just a file cabinet. And so I was fixing, but I learned a lot about photo eyes, you know, uh, pallet tie, palletizers belts, gearboxes, learn all of that. Uh, Ingersoll ran. you were a plant maintenance plant maintenance for the entire plant. Gotcha. And so for a guy who's like still fresh out of college really, you know, and only has some fabrication welding experience. I'm full in, I'm a full on maintenance guy. And the guy was like, you'll do great. You'll do fine. You'll do great. And I, my first day there, Sid, he was retiring. He goes, you have eight days with me. You need two years. And I was like, he, he, he, once he left, he's like, good luck. there was a few times where it was so stressful. you know, the plant was shut down because I couldn't figure out a bagger. It was an IO card or something that wasn't reading right in the bagger. And so I'm like, I don't know what to do. So I'm trying to call Sid, but Sid's out fishing, you know? So I mean like, what do I do? And so the whole plant's down because there's nothing being bagged. So nothing's operating. so it was productions down, right? Yes. Because of me. And so, and this was like two months in, you know I mean? No training. So it was eight, you know, and that was the other thing. So I was there for only 10 months and it was like the most stressed 10 months. I think I told you on the phone, you called me, I was in the office just surrounded with paper. You know, there's all these receipts. I'm trying to find out, you know, you know, when did he order from motion industries, this belt or that. And I think I told you that and you were like, so how are you liking your job? And I said, like, I'm essentially a monkey with a handgun. That's all I am just just running around. It was just the worst experience. And, but I learned a ton. Like the wealth of knowledge I got there was, I mean, it just set me up really well when I transitioned over to Ashgrove Cement. It was a transfer, so to speak. So I transferred over and I started out in the yard maintenance there and then bidded onto a welding night shift job. So nice. Yeah. But you learned a lot that those places. ⁓ yeah. What I loved about Ashgrove is the training. Yeah. You learned everything. I mean, like, especially what I like about it is that you start out in the yard. You don't start out what you want. You know, I wanted to be a welder. Well, they start you out in the yard. So you learn, you know, how to on-road, unload rail cars. You're driving loaders, big loaders too. I mean, you're doing all you're doing a lot. So, so they, just kind of get well versed in the whole plant once you kind of get to know it. And then when you actually get into the position that you either, you know, obviously sometimes you don't even have a choice because if someone's seen your leaves, everyone gets bumped. I gotcha. You know what I mean? So if you are in that system is difficult to work in union, your union. ⁓ very union. Yeah. It just, don't know how I still don't know how you did it actually might be, you know, but anyway, so you go from there and then you meet this gal. You are going to move back to Montana and you're leaving a pretty good job, right? But you said you'd laid off, I, there was no guarantee of coming back. mean, because they had mothballed the quarry. They have they closed it. They had turned off both kilns like they were because when COVID hit, I mean, because they loved you, didn't they? Yeah. But again, as a corporate entity, CRH made of 80,000 employees. They don't care nothing about you. No, they don't. They believe in no debt, which is fine. But like they would rather get rid of, you know, inside. And I was fine with that. I was itching to come home. Omaha would just rub me wrong. And again, it's not even that the city was bad or this, that the other. It's just not the culture that I wanted to be in. Right. and so I to be back home. I just had this really strong love, but I also had to be there for a time because Montana was an idol for me. Sure. Kind of had this arrogant assumption that, yeah, everyone's better in Montana. No, everyone's just as messed up everywhere else. We're, just own flavor of that. We're our own flavor of messed up. ⁓ And, and had to get checked a little bit and I think Omaha was a humbling there in that regard. There's a lot I learned in Omaha about myself. A of things I didn't like, ⁓ know, burying. But meeting my wife there, ⁓ and just ⁓ amazing And the work experiences I had really set me up from where I'm at. today with what I know. know, essentially I really honestly probably would, I would consider all the work experience I've had so far as university. I mean, it was just like really intense, you know, university. And, and so when they laid me off and I was like, sweet, I get to go back home. It wasn't just automatic. You know, I didn't just like, Oh yeah, let's just move back. You know, we, kind of had, you know, we prayed through it. We talked through it. Like, you know, cause I asked her what, before we even got married, said, was like our third date, you know, I've never been on a third date. Did you ask her? Yeah. Or tell her. I asked her. Okay. So no, I know I told her actually. I didn't, I didn't ask her. So I, well, cause I've never been on a third date before. Right. Never been on a third date. Most. mean, I'm, I'm, I'm not for everyone. Are you intense? yeah. Very intense. I'm not for everyone. And I get it. And most, you know, and I'm again, I totally understand, but by date three, this gal is still wanting to go out with me. Yeah. And I just said, just so you know, I'm, I'm definitely planning on moving back to Montana. Cause she's from Kansas city. Right. And so city, city gal, Montana boy, do you want to go? Cause it's a two very different cultures. You know what mean? And I, I, and I definitely don't want to try to manipulate someone, you know, ⁓ I want you on the same page. And that was the thing that her and I both, that was what I was looking for is a lot of these gals were like, no, I just kind of want to stay in my suburb or whatever. And that's fine if you want to do that, it's fine. but you know, I want to be back home. And so I just threw that out there. said, or what are you thinking on that? goes, okay. Yeah. You know, I was like, all right, you know, the rest is history. You know, and I have grace for Becky too. And not to talk about that very much, but just to mention that it's, you know, I always feel like Montanans don't leave Montana. Well, no, they, of them, almost all of them, they get off and they're like, what did I do? And they want to go home. It's very common, right? You know, And so a lot of Montanans don't leave well. And I think it's any, and that's probably everywhere, meaning what you're used to, what you grew up with the ice cream shop on the corner, church, all those things are real. ⁓ then when you're leaving that behind and going to do something completely new, it's not easy. Well, I think the element that bothered me was that everything is domesticated elsewhere. Everything like there's just nothing wild. ⁓ is, you know, manufactured. Yeah. know, every park you go to everything, you know, it's just like, that's what I liked is just like, actually seeing something as it is. Yeah. It has not been manicured. It has not been sprayed, cut, trimmed. It's just like in, in Montana is really just wild. Right. It really is wild. It's starting to become more commercialized than everything else. But I always think of them that the, the, the, of our family members have said they visited with us and we'll go, we're out on a trail. I can think of the trail. I can't remember the name of it, but we're all hiking and they're like, And there's this cliff sides down to the river bottom and it's pretty steep, like dangerously steep. And they said, there's no signs. Why is there not a sign there warning you to not go to the edge? They can't believe it. Right. You want to mean? So Montana just doesn't even think that way. Well, even like when I went up to Arches national park in Utah, that was the same thing. It'd be a 2000 foot drop and you got four year olds running around. It is kind of the same thing. Any of these like outdoorsy places with a lot of natural beauty and grandeur, you know, there's a wildness about it. ⁓ I say that was a part that, I just felt like everything, even the noise, you know, I realized like, was very noise sensitive in Omaha. You know, I come on, there's, there's just always this hum. I didn't like it. And even today, you know, I was working out in Fairfield today. It's five o'clock in the morning and at the gas station there at Mountain View Co-op, not a sound. ⁓ Right. literally not a sound. ⁓ It And I remember we had people come out and stay at our house a couple of times and they would say, it's so quiet. Right. Is there no one driving by? It's like, no, it's nine o'clock at night. Right. Like, so it's just, it's just, uh, that's the one part I would say you're, you're in Omaha and you're so, in my opinion, um, kind of get closer to the mic a little bit. Cause that's okay. The, and talking about this idea of just I mean, you really kind of took it on the chin the last few years because of what you've chosen to do. And Becky's been with you right there. I have no complaints. You know, obviously as watching you guys and what you're doing or what you're trying to build, but I do feel a momentum building behind you. But the, the initial time you get to Helena starter home is six 50, 650 K. Right. Right. You know, you chose Helena, which you and I've talked about that. I'm like, Why would you tell him that, know, but, it's okay. You love your church. You've made, you're making a community there. You're making a life there. It's actually a great town for kids. It's a great town for families. I would say it's very good that way. So you're like, exactly. So you, you've found your place and I'm happy about that. Um, but you know, tell, talk about some of the struggles you've had in developing a, uh, fabrication business, getting, know, I always say it takes three to five years. to start anything and you got to get introduced to people that are in the know or in the club in Helena, whether you believe it or not, there's a club that you got to get in on the inside of as a business. And once you're in, you kind of get all, you get work. And they got to kind of like you, right? So you get in on the club of a town. Every town has its own little character, just like Fairfield did. What was, you we had a set of rules on how to operate in Fairfield. What was number three? Don't state the obvious, never state the obvious, you know? And so, you know, you just, you just kind of keep your mouth shut. But Helena has rules, but you know, early on, you know, some of your early challenges, you know, I know you and I've talked about it endlessly. It just, you know, you just beat yourself up. I think in just being speaking truthfully hard on yourself. And I'm like, Hey, you know, don't quit because everybody quits, ⁓ know, winning is not quitting because everybody quits. believe everybody quits. Very few people go. the absolute full length time to find out if that's going to work or not. Right. Right. So talk about your first year. First year honeymoon phase, you know, everything was kind of, you know, I'm just going to keep it really simple. but ⁓ will say did not know very much about finances, didn't know anything about pricing, didn't know anything about that. And so it was really foolish, ⁓ spent money on things that didn't initially need, you know, and then of course didn't know how to charge for them. Sure. No, anything about overhead. Didn't know the deal. mean, this is how dumb, know, I didn't know the difference between revenue and profit. Right. You know what I mean? Like, Oh, he brought in quite a bit. Why did we only have this much? You know, like you're not, again, you're not, you're not, I didn't know any of that. Now I have Excel spreadsheets, you know, but before it was just kind of all guesswork. And so really ignorant of the finances was one, um, the marketing side, I feel like it did okay on, you know, cause I wanted to be more in person. You know, I didn't want to, you know, spend on Facebook or Instagram ads and stuff. And I had to in some cases, but, that didn't really pan out either. doing that. What's been your best marketing in person, in person, in person, in person and referral, ⁓ but take, but that took time because, I remember a lot of guys who started businesses in Helena said the same thing. They said their first four years were absolute heck, heck there ⁓ just it was like, but once you get into the, the business click there. Everyone knows you. It's real. And you actually are reliable and you don't, you're not terrible at your job. Now if you're terrible at your job, you're over. Tell the truth. Right. Tell the truth. Even if it's, yeah. And so, kind of, you just kind of people get used to you. They get to know you, they get to trust you. And then you start, and now I'm starting to get this momentum. but like, and that's on the welding side, the fabrication side. I will say initially, one of the other things realizing too is when I jumped into this business, didn't realize, I didn't really look at the market well enough. Like, is this like, I'm trying to be a welder in general. Okay. But if you're going to be in Helen or in Montana, you need to be a very specialized niche in what you do. If you want to try to be a mom and pop store, fixing lawnmowers or whatever else, good luck. Um, you know, I didn't really have a specific niche. I'm good at what I do and I'm good at a lot of different things. So I'm just like, might as well capitalize on all of that. Um, you kind of got to be a bit more specific. Who are you going to serve? Like, you know, cause there were jobs that I would do that would make me no money. I'm like, but they're wasting. So this is a waste of my time. So that it was really just finding out that a lot of what I was doing was a waste of time. You know, I'm like, okay. So like, okay, that's, that's not a good job to pick. You know what mean? So then what's left. So you just been rifling down through all of these bad options that you finally get to our, this is actually, this is actually helpful because, um, cause because businesses should help the community. Like you should actually offer a service and get paid for it. And so if you're of no help, that's what I had realized about knives too. That was another mental challenge. It's just like, you're making fancy men's jewelry, you know, you know, check, check the ego. You're not making something that's absolutely needed. There are people who are like, oh, I need a handcrafted knife. No, you don't. And this probably sounds like a terrible marketing for anyone who's making knives out there, but just check your ego at the door. You're making, you're really making things for people that have a hobby or an interest, not a need. Right. Is that what you're saying? Right. Yeah. So it doesn't fulfill a need and you got to realize it's not recession proof. When money dries up, unless there's that, unless you're really well known in that top 1 % that really want what, you know, they want a handcraft, you know, and I would say, the knives do and or any type of making or art that's needed because we want, need people working with their hands. There's a lot of creativity in that. there's a lot I learned from that cause there's a lot of learn from knives that goes into welding as well. Well, to talk about that, ⁓ one of my things that I have in my list about the pioneer person is they, they, they have a sense of creativity. They're creating new things. And I always say on this podcast that the pioneer is the start of every story. ⁓ know, they, they, they literally start, There's nothing that has occurred in our culture and even in history that someone didn't say, I can see a better way to do it. I can see we need to do this to whatever, right? They start everything that's new that comes down the pipe. And what does that take that takes creativity? And it's one of my complaints is like, just can't even think anymore. Hardly. It seems like we're not producing that creative person. Right. ⁓ Is it, mean, might disagree with that. no, no. I, again, like there's, again, art has its place, right? But at the end of the day, you can't eat it. Okay. You know, I mean, if I'm going to ask, I mean, and like, and I don't get angry at people anymore. I used to take it so personally when people were like, Oh, that's expensive. I can't buy that. You know, I'd take that person. It's like, but put yourself in their shoes. You know what I mean? If you're going to sell a $400 knife and you know, and you know, you're like, I might as well spend that money on Costco. Yeah. Those are economic realities in today's world with inflation and what's happened during COVID and all those things. Those are real things you're dealing with there. But the truth of it is, is that, in art, like I, I always tell people when I tell them about your knives, ⁓ go there. They're, they're like, they're, they're literally like pieces of art. They're not, you, you're afraid to use them. I have, I've given them out to customers. I've told you this and I have one in a dynamic fluids, Justin Hunter. And he goes, I set it on my desk and I'm afraid to use it because it's so pretty, you know, and it's so beautiful. It's substantial. Everything you make, you make a very unique knife and it's very substantial. It's not sleek. It's going to, it feels manly. Right. Do agree with that? Yeah. Well, that's the thing is that's what frustrates me when I hear that. Cause it's like, I spent all this time learning metallurgy, you know, reading books, you know, making sure the heat treatments, right. They can pass a nail chop antler chop all this stuff. And then like, I don't even want to use it. dude, I designed it to be destroyed. know, but they are, it is, it is that way there, you know, and I'm not saying you're a master or anything like that, but you've gone from, I remember making knives in Dylan's or Jacob's garage and that garage has never been the same sense truly, but to where you're at now, it's, it's, it's like, I can't even think of a good analogy from where you started to where you are now and how you you know, cause you do care about it. Like you just mentioned, you know, you check on the hardness. is it? A Rockwell tester? Yeah. You have a Rockwell tester. You have all these systems in place to produce a really high end product, ⁓ it's Damascus or straight steel, right? know, ⁓ you care about it. And sometimes like you will get going talking about it. and you don't catch yourself, am I right? And what happens? And the other person's eyes glaze over. it's like, okay. two hours later. Yeah, because you love it and it's creative. And I think there is something of value to be found in beautiful things being made. Yeah, yeah, there's a value in it. It's just, that's just the hard, you do have to understand the harsh reality. There's a lot of good artists out there who are not making money. And that's just kind of how... that goes, but you also got to learn too, cause here's the other frustrating thing too, especially in knife making is that, a lot of guys, I don't want to become a good snake oil salesman. Like if you don't need it, I don't want you buying it. ⁓ don't want to pity buy. don't want to, again, I'm not, ⁓ this is really something you don't think you want or need, don't buy. And and you know, tell the truth, even if it hurts. Right. And again, it probably makes me awful. don't take advice from me on, on, marketing knives. Don't, you know, listen to someone else who, who's really good at it. I'm not it. So, but, ⁓ but the thing is every person who has bought a knife for me has bought multiple for me. You know what I mean? They're like one guy right now, he's bought four for me he's going to buy another one. He's, he's just like, these are just unbelievable. He says, I put them through the paces. They work great. And so that's what I like to hear. And that's, ⁓ and one of the things I'm learning right now is learning how to do reviews. better. Right. You know, I, you don't have hardly any reviews, you know. Well, the danger that's occurring right in our culture is that through education process, the education ⁓ in, ⁓ I want to say the mid thirties to forties turned into functional training. we to functional where you're going to end up being trained to provide this skill in the culture. ⁓ And, that's what you're going to do the rest of your life. We've almost hold creativity and critical thinking out simply because we want you to do a function. So our education system, even parenting is turned into function. When you're a little kid, you're asked, what do you want to do? And a lot of times you're going to provide a function on what be a fireman, a boy might say. And again, it should be more than that because if you're going to turn everything into pure utility, pure... I'm a buy that trailer because it can haul this much and I could, know, everything's utility. Then there's no creativity. And again, it really makes a culture. And that's kind of the reason why I went in the knife making, cause I had a lot of people go, is that really what you want to do? I'm yeah, it is, you know, and really it's my rebellion the decaying dullness ⁓ everything. know, again, it's just like, I want to be a maker. Yeah, I might be shorthanded, but I want to use my hands. I like making it like creating. And I also just don't like doing what everyone else is doing. And that's, and you've talked about that in your first podcast is like, and I, and it is, it might be a character flaw in me in the sense of just like, and I, I really don't, you know, like they're even like, even in knife making or welding, there's certain things like, you know, well, you can do what they're trying. I'm like, I don't want to do what they're doing. Like, and maybe it is a pride thing of just like, want to stand out. I want to be different. I don't know. But it's just like, but that's, that's where I struggle with is like, I just don't want to do what everyone else is doing. Well, I've told you how I make decisions is like, if I see the herd going that direction, I literally look, there must be something over there that there, because I'm not a herd follower. never will be. And I'm difficult that way. I'm kindly difficult. I always say that I'm kind about it, but nah, I'm not doing that. You know, and so, and I think you're built the same way. And I think, I think the, you know, at the end of the day, your knives, like I've had people be negative with me about you being a knife maker. I've had people say stuff to me like, I ain't getting a real job, you know, or whatever, that kind of thing. I'm like, nah, I think he's onto something here. And I think, ⁓ not only has it improved over the last five to 10 years, right? You just see the quality going through the roof and what has happened to the value of your knives over that period of time. quadrupled. Right now you're selling things for quadruple or more. Oh yeah. Even, you know, and, also I've, you stick it out long enough. You're going to meet really good people. You know what I mean? I've met some really great customers and I just got a phone call from a really good customer out of Kalispell. He called me and just said, Hey, you know, I have this guy that wants to buy, you know, an X amount of knives every year from you so he can sell in his store and it's not a consignment. You sell them at your, your price. And then, you know, all that stuff. And so There's just a whole bunch of different connections that I'm getting all across the country, you know, not just in Montana, but, um, and just getting to meet people, a lot of guys from California and, and, uh, Utah and, I think over in Florida, a lot of guys in Florida. And so, no, it's really good. not quitting is winning because everybody quits. Right. So you don't quit. have no, you, where you've gone in five years, you don't know where you're going to be in the next five. Right. You know, and so you got this fabrication side. You're adding a plasma table, which is pretty powerful. My goodness. The capabilities of them crazy things, you know, so your shop is full of tools do ⁓ a myriad of things from you. You work on cat case equipment, John Deere ⁓ right? Yep. All the things you do ⁓ also with the knives, right? Yeah. So, I wanted, when I started my business, I wanted I wanted a dual purpose of like, we can make art, but I also want to help the world go around. I want, that's kind of like my selling point, I guess, if I were to have like a catchphrase, like I want to make your world go around. You know what mean? I want to be in and out of your life. You know what I mean? I can fix your equipment, do it quickly, do it correctly. You know, and some jobs they're out of my capacity. like, okay, you know what I mean? I don't like turning down. don't have a crane. Right, right. Well, I hate to turn down work, but I also don't want to do. you know, if it's going to take me longer because I don't have what I need, proper thing, right? You know what mean? It's like, this is not really fair to you for me to charge you for this. You know what mean? So again, that's again, telling the truth where it hurts, but but yeah. And so I guess, adding the plasma table, what's that gonna, ⁓ mean, ⁓ mean, I know quite a bit about him because I've been learning about him, but what's the, what's, where's that going to take you? anywhere. mean, like, again, that also can be on the art side as well. You know, I thought, you know, at least for the knife side, you know, I was thinking about making a, uh, just a bare bones skeleton handle, you know, that can do a paracord wrap, you know, and sell those for obviously a lot cheaper, you know, so I can have a more production oriented or production. mean, there's still a lot of handwork, you know, I got to bevel them and everything else and, and heat treat them. Um, but I want to pick a steel that's of higher quality, you know, my law, I mean, I'm picking really good stills where I'm working with now. But I would like to try to maybe move into the more stainless steels, uh, to where you can get a cheaper item. That's, know, you can punish a little bit more, um, and get kind of a better value out of that. And so that's one, one thing I'd like to be able to do is just be able to pump out, you know, say 80 knives out of one sheet or whatever, you know, it depends on the size of what you're doing, but come up with a design that's unique. Um, and you know, skeleton handle, you can redo the paracord leather wrap on your own. You know, and that's, ⁓ that's fairly common for a lot of those, a of those nights are out there. So I'd like to make something that's definitely unique now on the fabrication side, of course, you know, we got parts, we got signage, we got all sorts of stuff that you can do there. It'll make, and then also like bridge work, you know, ⁓ there's sometimes there's a lot of base plates, things like that bridge plates in base. Yeah, I don't know. but I mean, like, I remember there was one bridge we were working on. There was just like all these little, again, you don't think it. It's that complicated. It's just a little four by six metal tab. so, you know, you don't think it's that complicated, but little four by six with two holes in it, you know. Now imagine having to make 500 of them. Right. You know what I mean? So, okay, we're going to cut them out of a piece of flat bar and then drill all the holes when you could just, you know, put a whole sheet on there. I'm going to stop that real quick and let's just go get that.