It was a hot summer afternoon in Garwin, Iowa. The sun was beating down on my little workshop, and I was trying to make my first custom bike frame. I thought I had it all figured out—until I didn't.
I was welding a joint on the frame, and I got a little too excited. I pushed the torch too hard, and the metal melted right through. The frame was ruined. I was furious.
But then I remembered what my old boss used to say: "Every mistake is a lesson." So I started over. I studied the weld, I learned what went wrong, and I made a new frame. This time, I took my time. I measured twice, cut once, and welded with patience.
That first slip taught me more than any class ever could. It taught me that mistakes aren't failures—they're opportunities to learn. And now, every time I make a mistake, I know I'm getting better.
That's the spirit of what I do. I take the broken and make it beautiful. And I invite you to come along for the ride.