Attitude and hard work are the only way to succeed in carpentry
This topic has become something I’m really passionate about, based on the experience I’ve gained in recent years.
So let’s cut to the chase — there’s no shortcut to success in this industry. At Lou Projects, we don’t hand out rewards for simply showing up. If you’re not ready to earn your place by proving your worth, don’t even bother stepping up. Success is built on sweat, grit, and putting in the hard yards.
I believe we’re currently raising a generation of people who expect something from the system, rather than contributing to it.
I’ve seen it too many times — people showing up thinking the world owes them something. Let me make this crystal clear: no one owes you a thing. If you want something, you’d better be ready to put in the work. Your attitude is everything. Be patient with the process.
What you bring is what you get
Here’s the simple truth: your attitude will take you further than your skill set ever will. If you’ve got the right mindset, we can teach you the skills. But if you show up thinking you’ve already made it, or worse, expecting everything to be handed to you, you’re not going to last.
You need to focus on what you can bring to the team, not what you can get out of it. This industry doesn’t reward laziness or entitlement. If you’re the type of person who waits around for others to hand you success, here’s some bad news — you’re in the wrong game.
Earn your keep — no exceptions
I don’t care how good you think you are. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what you’ve earned. You want respect? Then show up and work for it. You want opportunities? Prove that you’re worth the investment. There are no free rides here.
Too many people these days are looking for shortcuts, trying to skip the hard stuff. But you don’t get to skip the hard stuff — that’s where you grow, that’s where you prove your worth. If you can’t hack it, that’s fine, but don’t expect to go anywhere. If you’re not adding value, you’re dead weight, and we’ve got no time for that.
I’ve recently taken up Jiu-Jitsu, and I’ve noticed a few things that building and Jiu-Jitsu have in common. You earn your belts — I’m a white belt, and if my coach gives me a blue belt just because I asked for it, what’s going to happen when I roll with an actual blue belt? I’ll get torn apart and they’ll ask how the hell I got my blue belt. It’s the same in construction. There are no shortcuts for apprentices. Sweeping the site and keeping it clean is part of your training. You might think it’s not, but it IS. That’s the gold. That’s the knowledge and discipline you’re slowly building up.
No handouts, just hard yards
There’s no sugar-coating it — if you’re not ready to work, you won’t make it. Carpentry is tough. It’s long hours, it’s dirty work, and it’s not for the faint-hearted. But here’s the thing — if you’re willing to embrace the grind, to put in the effort every single day, you’ll get where you want to go. No handouts, just hard yards.
So, before you even think about success, ask yourself: are you willing to push through the tough days? Are you ready to prove what you’re made of? If the answer is no, don’t waste your time — or mine.
But if you’re all in, ready to show up and earn your place, then you’re already on the right track. Let your actions do the talking, and the rewards will follow. No exceptions.
