04/19/2026
Just read this and it sums up my 30+ years in the trade. If I’ve ever failed to call back, not answered a message it’s most likely I was swamped on that particular day.
Nobody talks about the stress.
The physical demand.
Being mentally overwhelmed and close to burnout.
If you have a husband or partner that works in the trades then he probably never mentions this.
He's not working a typical 9-5
Before work starts he's planning, he's out getting materials, he's organising who's doing what.
Then it begins, he's got a full day of physical graft but he's also looking after the needs and concerns of the customer. Answering phone calls through the day to keep work coming in. His back is aching, he's out in the cold but he does it with a smile because he's trying to be pleasant around the customer.
As soon as the physical work is finished he's then writing quotes, chasing late payments, visiting other customers to look at more potential work, its a cycle that never ends.
Everybody else has finished at 17:00 but he's still going late into the evening tieing up loose ends.
Sorting accounts, paying building merchants and trying to shuffle jobs around because some customers are desperate now and some cancel at the last moment.
He knows he should be spending more time with you.
He wants to spend more time with the kids.
He knows there's little jobs that need doing around the house or for your family and friends...
But the truth is he's running at maximum capacity.
Thats why you catch him sat in his van starring into space, thats why sometimes you can talk to him and its in one ear out the other.
He's not purposefully ignoring you or trying to avoid you.
He's trying to calibrate whats happened that day and what he needs to do the next day.
Running a business as a self employed Tradesman is full on and non stop.
Remember he does all of this for you.
This is him providing, this is him trying his best to give you the nicest life possible in the only way he knows.... Hard work.
He doesn't tell you about the stress and struggle because he's been through it all day and doesn't want to re-live it and burden you with it.
He doesn't want no big praise for this either. No big special thanks are necessary.
Just a kind word, peace in the home and a little bit of appreciation.
Thats enough to keep him going, to make it worth it, if he feels respected and valued then he's ready to go again tomorrow 💪❤️
