Passing Down Wisdom: The Legacy of My Friend Jimmie

Passing Down what you have learnedShow more

The Most Important Lesson My Friend Taught me.

My friend Jimmie was a real craftsman. He cared about what he makes because he was surrounded by his work, when he drove to town, he passed by farmers, businesses, and homes that contain some of his work. He put a little bit of himself in every job.

He took time for every one who stopped by his shop, to talk to them and really understand what they needed, what problem they needed to solve. He would listen intently, and use his years of experience to solve their problem, often in unexpected ways.

I was confident when I stopped by his shop that he would likely have a solution to whatever problem I was trying to solve. Often when I went there for his help it was because I had tried and failed many times to solve it myself. Having someone in your community that you know you can rely on is very comforting.

When I bought my tractor, I think he was as happy about it as I was. Because he knew how much I needed a tractor on my small farm. I remember the day I told him I got it, I walked into his shop and told him right away. He said “bring it over, I have something for it”

So I drove my tractor the 3 miles to his shop, and he promptly opened a bin on a shelf and pulled out a broken ball from an old trailer hitch. He took the ball, and welded it to the bucket of my tractor. He said you are going to use that a lot. It’s a great place to hook a chain or strap to, when you need to pick things up, or pull things around. You can use it to lift trailers and move them around and all sorts of yet to be discovered uses for that simple modification.

And that has certainly turned out to be true, I use that little ball on my tractor bucket to do all sorts of things! There are countless stories just like this one about my friend Jimmie

So of course when I started this barn business and I needed a shop to manufacture my brackets, his shop was the only choice. I knew that he would care about the product he made, because I knew him personally. I knew his character.

It’s people like him that are what is Great about America.

Small town people, helping each other. Making products and services to a higher quality because they live where they work. They see what they make, everyday. If you have ever riden around in a truck with someone who would point and say, I helped build that, or I plowed that field, or I dug that ditch, or I bagged groceries at that store, or I hauled potatoes from that farm… etc. the list goes on and on. Then you know what I am talking about. You know somebody, or maybe you are somebody just like my friend.

If you know someone like that thank them. If you are someone like that Thank You!

You, are what is great about this country!

And if you are, pass on what you know. Teach others, take someone under your wing. Wether that is a son, or a grandson, a daughter, a granddaughter a niece a nephew, a neighbor, or a friend.
Because time is short. You never now when you won’t have the opportunity anymore.

That is what my friend Jimmy did. That was his name, the man at the beginning of this story.

On September 2023 at 67 years old my friend Jimmy passed away.

But that is not where his story ends. A few years ago he took on an apprentice. His Grandson Brenden. He poured himself into his grandson and taught him the trade, taught him what he needed to know to carry on what Jimmy started.

A few days after the funeral I asked Brenden, what he was going to do. He said “The shop will be open” I said, “I am very glad to hear that. I know your Grandpa taught you what you needed to know, and I know you can do this”

That brings me to the point of this video. I want to ask you, plead with you. Be like my friend Jimmy. Pass on what you know, teach others your skill and your character.

If you are willing to learn, then find people like Jimmy. Learn from them, and then pass it on.

Support local craftsmen like Jimmy. Support small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Yes, it might cost you a little bit more at the checkout counter, but what you will gain means so much more than those few dollars or a few cents in change. You will make the world around you just a little bit better. A little more resilient and that difference in price will be made up 10 fold. You are not an island, you need to be a part of and a productive member of your community.

Go, Learn, Teach, Build, and Thrive.

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