Striking a work-life balance is something everyone finds themselves trying to do at some point in their lives.
To achieve that, it takes solid planning, a tight-knit support system, and a bit of good fortune.
In this interview, Brent and Dmitry cover roofing and depression and finding a work-life balance.
Many people struggle to find that happy medium
One of those people is Brent Simmons, owner of Restoration Roofing in Memphis, Tennessee.
“It’s fear. It’s self-doubt. Stuff will happen,”
Simmons says in describing the negative emotions he often feels as a business owner.
As a young business owner, Simmons hasn’t seen it all, but he’s seen a lot. Whether it’s the insatiable customer or something as common as scrambling to staff a jobsite, Simmons’ job never seems to end.
As a business owner, all the responsibility falls on his shoulders. His livelihood is attached to his business, and with three kids, the constant desire to make things work can become overwhelming.
He’s had exploratory thoughts of moving on from his roofing business, yet he always comes back to the same conclusion: he loves roofing, and with a great support system, there has never been a good enough reason for Simmons to walk away.
“My wife has been a big supporter of mine. She’s encouraged me throughout the whole thing. I wouldn’t be doing it without her,”
Simmons admits.
Simmons’ wife also helps him with warranties, allowing him to focus on other aspects of the business. Consequently, Restoration Roofing continues to grow. That’s been both good and bad.
The fluidity of the roofing industry will always provide peaks and valleys, but what no one ever talks about is the added stress that affects many people in our industry.
Many days Simmons goes home both physically and emotionally exhausted. That doesn’t leave much time for recovery or an emotional cleansing.
“I don’t ever take days off. That’s really hard for me to do,”
he says.
For as much as his wife is a constant source of support, Simmons also realizes that she too has a tough position as a mother. It’s why Simmons is reticent to seek emotional support from her.
This leads to Simmons internalizing many emotions, a behavior that can have negative ramifications over time.
“My biggest problem is being there for my wife and kids. You have to be so many certain people on a given day. It’s hard to switch, and it makes you feel like a failure at times,”
Simmons explains.
The furthest thing from a failure, Simmons knows there are issues for him to deal with. Fortunately, Simmons has already recognized his stressors and has begun to deal accordingly with these issues.
For many people, taking the first step is always the most difficult aspect on the road to recovery. If you’re in need of help, feel free to reach out to Brent Simmons via Restoration Roofing’s social media.
Sometimes a simple conversation can have the most impact.
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