Small Business Spotlight: How EMT Hopeful Found Calling In Contracting
The global pandemic threw a proverbial wrench in everyone’s plans for 2020. Vacations, work, school, and daily life all changed.
However, hard times usually grant us the opportunity to reach new heights. As Michael Jordan once said, “if you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it.”
Tyler Cobb of Tyler’s ToolBox Construction and Handyman Services is one of the folks who climbed their wall.
Everybody’s Got A Plan Until…
Before Tyler decided to open Tyler’s ToolBox CHS, he had earned his EMT-Basic Certification. An EMT-Basic Certification is the first step towards becoming a paramedic.
Tyler, driven by service and helping others, moved to College Station with his long-time girlfriend and planned to become an EMT.
Unfortunately, the hiring pool was scarce due to the pandemic.
“My intention was, whenever we got up here [College Station], to do that [EMT]. But with COVID, no one was hiring.”
Climbing the Wall Infront of You
Tyler had to think of other options for work. Preferably one where he could help people.
He used to work in the summers at his Papa’s business, Cobb Repair, and his dad would give them little odd jobs around the house.
“There’s always been a pretty good draw to building things. I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always loved it. You know, working with my hands — creating something from a cup of sticks.”
His Papa was their hero, a serviceman, and former tank driver.
He was a man of few words. When he talked, you listened.
It’s easy to see why Tyler was drawn to construction and repair when he had a role model like that. It was through the experiences with his Papa that Tyler found inspiration for a new business.
After brainstorming business names with his family, Tyler’s ToolBox Construction and Handyman Services was born.
“I enjoy helping people. I’ve always been about that. I’ve tried various ways through college. Through nursing school to EMT. This — right now, this is the way I can help people. I like making people’s homes feel more like home.”
Growing Pains
Tyler set out on his new business venture in August of 2020 but would learn that the winter season is rough for contractors.
He kept his business afloat during the slow winter months by taking as many small jobs as possible, focusing on saving fuel, saving leftover material, and maintaining trust with his clients.
One tip for success Tyler says is making sure he is as detailed and upfront in his initial bid to the customer as possible.
“Whenever you run a bid you try to get as much of it in there as you can. Whenever you give that bid to somebody, unless there’s a drastic change to what you’re doing, you do your best to stay with it because it’s part of being an honest, decent person.”
Then tragedy struck Texas.
An unprecedented freeze caused an energy crisis across the state, leaving millions without power and hundreds with damages from burst pipes.
Tyler got to work helping people that had water damage.
He landed his first large contract where he worked with other tradesmen by restoring a kindergarten school that had taken damages during the freeze.
Helping rebuild the kindergarten school gave Tyler two feelings.
The feeling he was truly his own boss running his own business and the feeling he was doing the work he’d been looking for. Work in the service of others.
A Winning Mentality
Though he started his business during one of the most difficult times in the world, Tyler employed a winning mentality when climbing the walls that stood in his way.
When he’s working to finish a job he tells himself, “Just one more thing, get the job done, don’t go home early, do just one more thing.”
Tyler says this mentality is what helps him stay successful, along with being multi-faceted in his skills and listening to Japanese lo-fi beats on Spotify.
Once the job is complete, he finds it rewarding that he was able to create something that will last — a legacy in his work — something high quality.
Contact Tyler’s ToolBox CHS
He can climb the metaphoric walls in his way or build the ones keeping your roof up.
The services he offers include the siding on your house, masonry repair, tile, bathrooms, sinks, counters, cabinets, roofing, windows, trim, most flooring, structural remodeling (like new walls), and he especially loves custom woodwork.
If you’re in College Station, TX, and want your home to feel more like home, contact Tyler’s Tool Box CHS at (817) 875–9101 or tylerstoolboxchs@gmail.com before his schedule fills up!
