Hope It’s Worth It: A 14-Hour Day of Firsts, Fumbles, and Wins - April 4, 2025

Hey Future Owner,

“Hope It’s Worth It” Kinda Day

Today tested every ounce of energy and planning I had. It started at 6:30 AM at the warehouse, loading the truck, followed by a stop at Home Depot to grab a gas-powered stake driver—turned out to be one of my best decisions in a while. (Seriously, MVP of the day.)

First Stop: The Big Tent Test

Our first install was a 30x45 pole tent for a wedding. Three-man crew. First time using the stake driver and first time setting up this kind of tent. I gave us two hours to pull it off, which felt pretty bold—but we nailed it, right on the dot. My prep helped big time. I had visited the site the day before to mark pole and stake placements (though, note to self: mark the middle poles next time).

We drove in 42 stakes total. Without that tool, we would’ve been toast. We left the tables and chairs for later so we could stay on schedule.

Second Stop: Church Setup

Next up, a 20-minute drive to the ceremony site—a church where we set up three high peak tents in an L-shape. Another first. This one clocked in at 1.5 hours. The stake driver put in work again and definitely earned its keep.

Crew Swap and Momentum Kill

Back at the warehouse, we swapped crews and reloaded for the next two stops. Stop three? A logistical headache disguised as a charming AirBnB bird sanctuary. The setup was supposed to be light—just a 20x20 high peak, tables, and chairs—but the terrain was brutal. No lighting or complex installs, yet we were crawling through the site to get everything in place. It slowed us down badly. I should’ve asked more questions beforehand—turns out the client was hosting a rehearsal gathering the same day, not just the wedding tomorrow. Missed that one. Lesson learned.

Last Stop: Circle Back

Our final stop brought us back to the first site to deliver tables and chairs and install lights. This split approach let me use my strongest crew for the hardest work in the morning, which I still think was the right call. Setup went smooth and took about 1.5 hours.

Closing Thoughts

After a full circle, I returned the post driver, clocked out of a 14-hour day, and finally headed home. Today was exhausting, and I kept thinking, I hope it’s worth it. But between all the firsts, the chaos, and the wins—we moved forward. And that’s what it’s about.

More reps, more lessons, more resilience.

—Talk soon