We are taking the island
There’s a powerful passage from Roosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, The Man in the Arena.
It’s about the person who shows up, gives everything, and dares greatly.
That’s where I’m at today.
It’s Saturday, and we’re running with a skeleton crew.
Only the true believers remain
the ones who trust me,
who push beside me,
who are still here working, all the while waiting on the money
betting on me, because they believe in the mission.
That belief? It drives me harder than I’ve ever pushed myself.
Yesterday, I ran the numbers. I’ve put a lot on the line for this project, financially, mentally, emotionally.
I’ve been writing more lately—not because I’m short on work, but because my mind is full.
It feels like I’m writing to something bigger than myself
maybe to my mom, who passed in 2018,
maybe to my future self,
maybe to my future grandkids who’ll want to know how we did it “back in the day.”
Today isn’t about advice—it’s a reminder.
We’re not just renovating buildings.
We’re trying to breathe life back into a place that’s been overlooked.
There are no plans, just constant conversations with the client and boots on the ground.
We’ve finished 5 buildings. 30 remain. And with each one we touch, we find more that needs doing.
It’s a heavy lift, but I committed.
To the time.
To the budget.
To the outcome.
This project has pushed me to evolve:
I’ve learned to build better spreadsheets and better documentation.
I’ve started working in Power BI to communicate the data more clearly.
I’ve seen real loyalty and commitment in action.
A while back, I used the “burn the ships” analogy in a post.
Recently I heard someone add to it:
“We are taking the island.”
And that’s exactly it.
Right now I’m sitting in my truck, concrete in the bed, making my way around to rebuild curbs and sidewalks.
This place, this is my island.
The money I saved to get us started?
That was the ship.
It’s gone.
We’re here.
No turning back.
All that’s left to do is take the island.
Inspection Monday.
This is where I take my stand.
