The truth about ditch digging: what they never told us

"Study hard, or you’ll be a ditch digger."

That phrase used to scare the sh*t out of me.

It was meant to be a warning, a reminder that hard work in school was the only way to success.

Turns out, that was a lie.

Yes, that’s me digging a ditch.

Okay, not entirely me, but I’m right there in the mix.

And let me tell you something—they never taught us this in school:

> Digging ditches is the backbone of infrastructure. Roads, drainage, utilities—none of it happens without earthwork.

> Done right, it’s not just essential—it’s profitable. Damn profitable.

> It’s just one piece of the bigger equation—plumbing, earthworks, foundations — trades that have their hands in EVERY Structure.

I don’t blame my teachers for trying to push me toward academics.

They simply didn’t know.

They didn’t realize that contractors, developers, and trade business owners (plumbing, HVAC, electrical) often out-earn most degreed professionals.

I believed the story too.

I have the gold college ring and framed degrees to prove it.

But looking back, knowing what I now know about business, my drive, and my ambition; I should have been a ditch digger.

If I had started moving dirt at 18,
I’d have spent 29 years building an empire.

I’d be one of Caterpillar’s top clients.

I’d have a fleet of machines shaping the land.

I’d probably…

Well, we can’t rewrite the past.

But we can change the way we teach the next generation.

Working outside isn’t for everyone, but for those who grew up building forts, playing in the dirt, and dreaming big, it’s not just work—it’s fun.

At 18, I wanted to be a doctor.

At 47, I want to build things.

Looks like the kid who played in the dirt won after all.