25/09/2025
The booth was hopping yesterday. Hopefully we can have that same energy today!
I know I’m generally a talker, but I hope to write something of significance here this morning.
First: Peter Miller, I’m proud of you. I can remember sticking my neck out there wearing a silly outfit and doing a podcast, just talking from the heart about things I love. I heard it all, from “it’ll never work,” to “I’ll pay you for it.” Within the first year I heard, “I was gonna do this,” to “here’s what I would do different.” Stay the coarse brother, this years Shed Sales Summit was pretty awesome and I’m confident it’ll just continue to grow and get better and better.
Second: JMAG, and any other participants on the NSRA committee, WOW, what a great lineup and overall excellent 2 years the experience has been for those attending the NSRA. We became a member this year, and in particular recognition; Kyle Summers your efforts don’t go unrecognized by those attending, even if you do look silly in that headset you were wearing around the whole time, 😆. It’s been good laughing with you over the last few days. I sure missed that, and what do you say; it’s about time for you to revisit the mic for an episode and give us a WOO, it’s long overdue. Consider this your invitation if you’d be willing?
Third: Marty, Debbie, Matt and the team at SBJ, and the Expo, I appreciate your kind words over the last few days. Shed Week is officially here and you guys are knocking it out of the park. Biggest event ever so far, or so it feels. If folks are not here because they simply can’t be, I totally understand, but for those who choose not to be, they are really missing out. By the way, that includes vendors, this is the best networking Shed event of the year, hands down.
Fourth: my team, all who have been involved with Shed Geek in any capacity. My wife, my son, my daughter, and literally every other one of you, I
have just one message: “the anchor holds.”
Fifth: Those who voted for me to receive the “Shed of Honor” award, thank you. I don’t say this with false humility, but I’m simply not good at receiving recognition. It’s a personal thing for me, that extends from my youth, and I’m surprisingly still a bit introverted to be honest in spite of what you see. I’m suprised I didn’t cry my eyes out on stage. That you would consider me worth nominating means the world to me as I have poured myself into this industry the last 5 years in particular but even the last 12 of my life. Also, congratulations to Sam Byler and Richard Miller for their awards, they have been great friends along this journey and deserved that public recognition.
Sixth: This is maybe the one taking up so much space in my mind. The hugs, the memes, the private text, emails, phone calls, gifts, the poems, and the support so many of you have offered privately in the last few weeks are simply overwhelming. “We are a common people.” This is the phrase I have stuck in my mind. I didn’t grow up “common” but my do I feel the love from the culture. Who knew that saying and doing less, can lead to so much more. In the middle of the show floor yesterday I spent 30 minutes talking with two lovely people about conscientious objection. We weren’t talking sheds, we weren’t discussing competition or even allies. We were talking about how to be more like Jesus and how to make the world better, an area, we all admitted was something needing approved upon in each of our lives. It has been my favorite moment so far. Although we often get it wrong, it is the reality that we don’t give up, we try to do better next time, and we simply keep going.
Sorry for the heavy post this morning. I’m actually in a really good mood, 😆. Looking forward to seeing you all today if you are in Knoxville, and looking forward to the next year of everything the shed industry has for us.
