"Don't Call It A Comeback, I've been here for years" ~LLCoolJ

These quoted lyrics might not be familiar to everyone reading this but for me it's a reminder I hold very close.

I was raised in California, where life flew by and the rat race was something most folks scratched and clawed at to keep up with.

I realized at a young age I was going to have my work cut out for me if I planned on getting ahead.
My father was a General Contractor. From watching him, it became obvious that working for yourself was the answer.

What I didn't exactly see was his struggles. He did everything. He hustled, did the bidding and the work.
He had no help to speak of so at times he was stretched pretty thin.  All in all though, he seemed happy to be doing his own thing.

This is exactly what I wanted for myself. I knew it wouldn't be easy. I didn't even have a skill set yet.
I did however know that hard work and training in the right areas would be the answer.

Growing up over the years, I began to pick up on how to do certain things in the construction trade.
Obviously I started out as a laborer, breaking my back for chump change like most people do.
But as I got older and more experienced, I began to get the confidence that is expected of a craftsman.

I quickly realized that I needed a specialized trade if I wanted to stand out from the pack.
I had enjoyed carpentry, concrete and roofing but still wasn't as good or as knowledgable as others.
There must be something I could excel in above everyone else.

One day I walked into a Mom and Pop Flooring Shop.
I was there to pick up some vinyl flooring for a project at my aunts house.
At the time, I had never done any flooring except for carpet and that was as a helper, not an installer.
I met the owner (was a nice 'ol guy) purchased the materials and soon was on my way to installing my first floor.

When it was finished, I had to return a roller I borrowed (used to smooth out the gas bubbles in vinyl flooring).
The owner asked me how it went and asked if he could see the work I had done, knowing it was my first vinyl job. Hesitantly I agreed and took him to see the floor. What happened next I wouldn't have expected.
After leaving my aunts house the shop owner turned to me and congratulated me on a job well done.
A minute later, he asked me if I'd be interested in learning the trade while working for his company.
It really didn't take any thought, I simply said Yes.

Over the next 10+ years, I worked for several other flooring companies and eventually started my own business. Finally I knew why my Father had always preferred working for himself.
Freedom, control, good pay and only customers to answer to. What could be better?

I honestly thought I had found my niche and worked hard and long to establish myself  in it.
I was good at what I did and was respected among my peers and other Pro's in my industry.
Nothing at the time would stand in my way of being successful.

At the end of 2002, I decided to try my hand at installing new mediums like natural stones, granite and marble.
Not only was I installing floors but now I was also installing counter tops, building fireplace surrounds, hearths, mantles, etc.

The work was very similar to what I had done as a Flooring Pro, so It was an easy transition to make.
The company I was now working for was owned by a friend of mine. I felt good about my place in the company and did all I could to add incomparable value to what we offered.

I soon was becoming one of the best in my local industry and customers would ask for me by name.
That is something most people could only strive for but for me it was actually a reality.
I felt as if I discovered a new me. I was better than most at my job and soon was the #2 guy in the company.
The sky was the limit. The best part was that the company was only a few years old at the time and was on track to surpass a Million Dollars in Production. My position was definitely secure.

The wife and I bought our first home and paid off all our debts(but the house of course).
We were very happy and had many plans for the future.
In Sept of 2004, all that changed.

One morning while moving slabs of stone around in the yard, I was crushed by nearly 2000lbs of falling stone.
Talk about a hurt! I had never experienced that kind of pain in my life. I was battered, bruised and had torn ligaments in my leg. At the time, we weren't sure the extent of the damages or if I'd ever make it back to working there again.

I immediately underwent intensive physical therapy which continued for 3 months or so.
I was determined to do what I could to make a comeback.
In Dec of 2004 I returned to light duty status and was very happy I made it.

Over the next 8 months, I struggled to perform my normal daily duties as the install foreman.
It was difficult and at times nerve wracking and painful to keep up.
I should have purchased stock in "Aleve" as I was taking 5 or more tablets a day just to keep the edge off.

That year, our company had done work in 5 of 7 Parade of Homes entries and I had personally been asked to work on a 6th for a millionaire homeowner who desperately needed a fossil stone repair made the day before the judging of his home.

After the Parade of Homes had ended, and to me, feeling that I had reached a pinnacle of sorts, decided to resign my position. No one was happy about that but I just couldn't see continuing on in so much discomfort and pain. I also was afraid at times, of hurting my coworkers by dropping or slipping while carrying heavy stone.

It was time to look into other areas of possibilities.
My employment would be dependant on the amount of labor required to do a job.
I began to think about what my future work potential would be.

Soon after, I took a position with a local building contractor who put me into management.
I was now doing no-brainer stuff as a shop manager. I ran a forklift, took inventory, handled shipping and receiving, etc. Wasn't much to it, especially nothing really custom. I worried that I wouldn't be happy there.

As the months went by, I started having more and more discomfort and pain.
I knew there was an underlying problem but couldn't put my finger on it.
Everyone around me began to doubt my integrity and wondered if I was truly hurt or playing lazy.
And it wasn't just at work, it was everywhere and everyone, even my family.

I was becoming the person that people talk about behind their backs because they couldn't tell if I was faking or not.

Things around the house weren't getting done, money was no longer coming in like we were used to and on top of it all,my marriage was beginning to pay the ultimate price.

When are you going to get off your ass and do something?
Don't you think you need to get back to work already?
Your wife shouldn't have to support both of you!

The comments were coming in from everywhere.
My closest friends and peers were doubting me.
I was slipping into my own great depression.

At this time it had been nearly 2 years since my stone accident.
It was obvious that I was no longer improving. I couldn't figure it out!
Doctors began dismissing my pains by saying it was all in my head and began pushing pills at me.
Screw their pills! That was not the answer as far as I was concerned.

I knew there was a reason why this was happening and I needed to find someone that would look into deeper. A good friend and local Chiropractor was just the person I needed to see.
After placing some IFC (a type of electrical stim) on my neck, he noticed something that was seriously not right. He immediately called another doctor and demanded that an MRI be done right away of my entire cervical and thoracic spine.

What we discovered, changed my life forever.

We will consider that enough for today. Please come back again to read Part 2 of this Comeback Story.

Thank You and I Appreciate Your Support.

To Your Health and Success