Matt Williams: Mr. Toolbelt

March 9, 2023

Matt Williams: Mr. Toolbelt

“I started it when I was working for somebody else doing it at nights and weekends until I made enough to make it on my own or felt like I could. So, it started in 2011. About 2013, I took the plunge to go full on.”

– Matt Williams

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Matt Williams, also known as Mr. Toolbelt.

Matt started doing woodworking while he was employed by another person, working nights and weekends until he had enough money to support his own business. In 2011, he began his small side hustle, and in or around 2013, he decided to go full-time. Ten fruitful years after it started as a side gig, his firm is still going strong!

In this episode, Matt talks about his company’s internal dynamics, his early years in management, and how he advertised their services ten years ago when they first opened for business. For most business owners, reaching a milestone of ten years is difficult. But he explains that it was a careful balancing act between trying to perform the work, managing behind the scenes, and doing all that SEO. Sure, it was a lot, and it took a lot of work, but things got a little easier once he hired his first employee. After that, it was more accessible and easier to work ON the business rather than IN it.

Listen now and get the whole story!

“Take the plunge. Do what you love to do with your life. Life’s too short. Get out there, whether you do it on the side, and then eventually it blossoms into what you do full-time. But just take the time and do it. Do what you love with your life. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.”

– Matt Williams

Hands-on Management as a Leadership Approach

To be a hands-on leader entails making the extra effort to learn alongside your team members, to get your hands dirty, and to take on responsibilities that, given your position, you might not ordinarily contemplate taking on. Matt always makes sure to manage everything in the background, and if they require assistance, he still jumps into the field and starts to work, unafraid to put on his tool belt. You gain superior knowledge about your company by being hands-on. At every level of the organization, you may observe what is effective and what is not. You are the initial individual your staff members turn to whenever they encounter a difficulty.

“I got five employees, can always use more, but good quality craftsmen are hard to find these days. So that’s them. I run everything behind the scenes and if we need a helping hand, I still hop out in the field and get to work. I’m not scared to strap on my tool belt.”

– Matt Williams

Want to get in touch with Matt Williams?

Contact him through:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.toolbelt/