Rusted reality vs the marketing department

in praise of real work

The more you look for something, the more often you notice them.

When we bought our first car, the salesman said: Just look around. All you’ll see for the next while are Toyotas everywhere.

It was true. We loved our little Echo hatchback and everywhere we looked we saw people just like us! Rolling from Costco to hiking trails there were hundreds of other young couples just like us exploring the world.

Our neighbourhood is no different with tradespeople

Most places?

They tend to hire people with vans or trucks with name branding on the side.

I spoke to a dude and he told me:

People like the branding. It makes them feel safe. They know what the’re getting. Or at least they think they do.

Pressed further he admitted, you can be just one guy in a truck, but if you have a truck that’s wrapped in plastic, people will think you’re bigger than that and they’ll trust you more.

I asked him about my truck as a handyman truck.

Truck people know your truck. These posh twats? They don’t know shit about trucks or about doing work. That’s why they hire us. Get a white van and cover it in logos if you want steady work.

I felt a bit sad when he said that. My truck is well loved. It’s well cared for. My truck has been maintained. My truck and all of its discolourations is a rolling testament to the practical art of repair.

A clown recovers.

The therapist makes aware.

But a handyman?

They are engaged in the practical art of repair.

Maybe we should have fewer milquetoast lives wrapped up in plastic and logos and spend more time with people who understand the practical art of repair.

Now that I drive an old truck, I notice them all of the time. There are others, just like mine, twenty, thirty or more years old and thriving. They’re out there everyday hauling scrap and serving men doing real work.

There are a lot of men out there performing regular maintenance and repairs.

These guys keep the world moving.

The more you look for them, the more you’ll notice.

*** your marketing job is not real work.