There are a lot of things that I really don’t like to do such as… helping people move (no, I’m not interested in that free pizza and the back ache that will follow), raking and picking up the leaves that my humongous trees drop for me every year, throwing away unnecessary stuff (junk) that I’ve collected over the years, going to the dentist (for obvious reasons) and the list could continue..
One of the things that I really don’t like to do is put it together furniture. You know, the kind that your wife ordered online that she promises will look so good and the advertisement says it’s easy to assemble. And then the box shows up with like 7,822 pieces of wood and 9,845.3 screws that will be part of this fun project. And most of the time the directions are written by someone who is probably very nice but also someone I’d like to have a few words with about their direction writing skills. The directions are usually in English but I can’t understand most of the “simple” steps.
And then about halfway through you discover that a critical part is missing!
When I was a younger man, putting together furniture was not uncommon as it was more affordable than buying the stuff we needed already assembled. Putting together furniture often came along with a few choice words out of my mouth and a tool or two being thrown to the ground in disgust. Oh, and let’s not forget about all the awkward and uncomfortable hours that my family had to endure while I expressed my “joy” in doing this activity.
As I have aged, I find that this doesn’t bother me so much…because my wife has figured out that my blood pressure is better regulated if we just buy the dang (sorry for my language 😊) furniture already put together.
In short, life is good when I don’t have to put together furniture!
However, this last week my son called me and advised that a big box arrived at his home containing bunk beds that he and my daughter-in-law purchased for two of my grandchildren. He asked if I could come over and help him to put it together on his day off. Now you would think that I would start to groan. But the opposite happened! It was like a miracle! You see, this was for my grandchildren! I could just imagine their sweet and tiny bodies resting in their new beds that their daddy and me put together. I’ll do anything for my grandkids and I’ll do it with a genuine smile. Plus, I got to use some of my power tools which is always a bonus.
I think my wife was shocked with my new found attitude when I was asked to put together this furniture. “Where was that genuine smile and enthusiasm 20 years ago?” she exclaimed!
This was also a time that I could bond with my son and just talk about anything that came to our minds, which usually centers around discussing sports, the best way to use tools and his wonderful children. And speaking of his wonderful children, they were in and out and all over the place adding an extra level of challenge to the project.
Their daddy would get mad at them and tell them that we were working and I would get mad at their daddy and tell him that they were perfect!
And then it happened. The project was about 75% complete after several hours of work (another area that the directions lied about). We discovered that we had installed 4 of the base support boards upside down. This would mean disassembling most of the project and starting over. I just smiled at my son and he looked at me and without words the expression on his face told me, “Now I can see why you don’t like to put together furniture, Dad!”
Just as he started to take the bunk beds apart, I advised him to stop and I asked him if there was a way we could fix the issue without completely starting over. After reviewing the situation, we came up with a solution that worked perfectly. With a little bit of teamwork, we were able to disassemble only a few areas and correct our mistake (which I will always blame on the poorly written instruction guide). We only lost about 45 minutes of work and we were back on track.
Eventually the bunk beds were finished and when we let my grandchildren in to see the finished masterpiece. The screams of excitement and joy on their faces made every step and even the missteps completely worth it. When my oldest grandchild, who’s only 5 years old ran up to me and hugged me and then his daddy and said, “Thank you daddy and Pop, I love 
it!” I wondered if there was extra dust in the room or if somebody was cutting onions in the area as for some reason my eyes got a little moist.
My wife and I stayed for dinner and afterwards we noticed that the kids were not around. We eventually went into their room and noticed the lights were off. On the bottom bunk were three of my grandchildren reading a book under a booklight that they had already attached to one of the support boards of the bunk bed. The same support board that we had to fix when we made an error in construction. And at that point, the dust and the onions showed up again.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
EVERYTHING!
Putting together an online business from scratch his hard work. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike it in the same way I dislike putting together furniture, but it does come with its challenges.
There is a lot of work and a lot of planning that needs to take place. Unless you have a good coach and mentor, you’re stuck with relying on yourself to figure things out. Yes, we do have the internet to assist us but it is much easier when you have someone to show you and walk with you. I am hopeful I was that person for my son when we assembled the bunk beds.
It’s also best if you have the right tools ready to work with or it will slow the process down. Fortunately, I do have the tools that are needed to complete the back-end part of my online business. I hinted in my last blog post I will be sharing the system that I use very soon. This system has all the tools and does everything for me so that I can focus on my customers and not just the system. Please stay tuned.
Now, when you are assembling your business, you will find that you will make mistakes. You will probably be like me and become very frustrated. You may even say a few choice words and consider scrapping the whole idea or just starting over from scratch.
When you encounter these errors or roadblocks, I implore you to take a deep breath, get a cup of coffee or tea, step away, and then think. Think clearly about the situation without emotion. Think about a solution that will have the best way for you to get back on track. Call a mentor or a peer and ask for advice. Then get back to it and make it happen. You may find that the mistake or bump in the road that you thought was impossible to overcome is completely fixable with a few adjustments in your approach and most importantly, a huge adjustment in your mindset.
I will be honest, I have made many, many mistakes when putting together this online business. I’m still making them. But I’m not giving up and I’m finding ways to overcome the challenges that I face on a regular basis. I also find that when I set aside my silly pride and ask for help, I can overcome issues a lot easier.
I am finally seeing some success, and as my business is being put together, I can operate it as it was intended. Just like my grandkids have a fun place to sleep or play on, I have a business that I created that I can enjoy as long as I want… and I want to work it and enjoy it for a very long time.
Are you having fun putting your business together? I understand and know that it is not always pleasant. But I do hope that you are finding the joy in the outcome and finding fulfillment in the fruits of your labor. What do you do when you run into challenges and obstacles that you find difficult? How do you put yourself in the right mindset when you get into tough situations?
Without a doubt, I will see my grandkids later this week and see them playing on their new bunk beds. And I will look at my son and smile and this time he will look back at me without saying any words and have a look on his face that screams “It was worth it, Dad!”
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. — Arthur Ashe
It always seems impossible until it’s done. — Nelson Mandela
The reward of a thing well done is having done it. — Ralph Waldo Emerson
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
I built my empire from the ground up. Mainly because I dropped everything.
Why don’t bunk beds ever get along? Because one’s always on top of things… and the other’s under pressure.
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Ernie, this was such a relatable and honest read. The furniture story had me smiling, especially the part about your grandkids reading under the bunk bed you almost had to rebuild—what a full-circle moment. It’s amazing how those small “life tasks” end up teaching us the same lessons we need in business: patience, flexibility, and a sense of humor.
I really appreciated the reminder that we don’t have to start over every time something goes sideways. Sometimes it’s just about stepping back, reassessing, and adjusting course—something I’m learning the hard way in my own journey. Looking forward to hearing more about the tools you’re using and how you’ve streamlined things. Thanks for sharing the real side of building something meaningful.
Hi Alison – I had to learn the hard way not to start over every time I became frustrated or made a mistake. In fact, I continue to be a work in progress. In many ways I am thankful for the times when I have not been as successful the first time I tried something as it taught me perseverance, patience and problem-solving skills. Don’t get me wrong, I want to do it right the first time and be successful every time. Like I said, I’m a work in progress :). Have a wonderful day and thank you for your visit and nice comments!
Oh Ernie, this one had me grinning from start to finish — and yep, maybe a little onion dust in my eyes too 😭 You have such a way of turning everyday chaos into something heartwarming and meaningful. I can just picture the kids climbing all over the half-assembled bunk beds while you’re trying not to launch a screwdriver across the room!
But seriously, the way you tied it all back to building a business… spot on. The missing screws, upside-down parts, and confusing instructions feel very familiar! Your reminder to take a step back, breathe, and find a workaround instead of throwing the whole thing out was exactly what I needed this week. You always find a way to sneak wisdom into the messiest moments.
Thanks for sharing this — and tell your grandkids that their Pop is a legend. 💪🏼👏🏼
Hi Sarah – You were always so kind with your visits and wonderful comments on my blog posts. There are so many times when we made mistakes or do things the wrong way from the beginning that cause us to consider giving up… giving up is not an option for me at this point in my life and at this point in my career. I hope that my grandkids see the love that I have for them but more importantly I hope they feel it! Thank you again for your visit and have a great week!
Gotta love these blog posts Ernie! It is refreshing both to read your great stories and how all of it does fit quite nicely into how we build our online business.
Sometimes we need to take a step back and take apart a few things – not necessarily all of it – and see if that can’t be a solution. Something we’ve sometimes can’t master in our young days…
Glad to see that even though we sometimes hit a bit of a wall, our efforts can be quite fulfilling! (onions included)
On a last note, I think I’m one of the rare ones that has no issues with a dentist!
Hi Marc – I completely agree! We do need to step back and look at things from a different angle in order to get things right sometimes. Following directions is one thing, but truly understanding the reason for the directions is another thing that must be considered. I truly appreciate your visits to my blog posts and for taking the time to comment. Have a great week and thank you for your visit!
Ernie, this is such a heartwarming and inspiring post! I love how you turned a frustrating task like assembling furniture into a beautiful story about bonding with your son and creating joy for your grandkids. Your mindset shift is so encouraging, and the way you connect it to building an online business is great. Mistakes happen, but your advice to step back, think, and keep going is super motivating. Keep sharing these awesome insights. I love them!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my post. Your heartwarming thoughts about my experiences and observations are appreciated. It really is about mindset most of the time. We can’t be perfect, but we can strive for perfection with realistic expectations. Putting together furniture is a chore for me. But it is much easier to do when I know that I am doing it with my son and for my grandkids. With the right mindset it becomes a joy and not a pain. Have a great week ahead!