I was recently asked about the biggest problems we saw while restoring the 100-year-old flour mill that is now Skipio headquarters. I immediately thought of a big wall on the west side of the building.
The city had told us to tear out a cement pad and silo sitting right next to the building. As we moved the silo, the cement pad tore out the west wall and most of it came crumbling down.
I was devastated! Here was this 100-plus-year-old brick in shambles, totally ruined… Then the roof started collapsing. An absolute disaster.
The city then said we couldn’t do anything with the wall until we could show them a specific plan, an architectural plan done with a structural engineer, of how we were going to proceed.
After months of going back and forth with the city to get our plan approved, we finally rebuilt the wall. And when we updated the roof, we added dormers to let in natural light. Not only did we have a stronger, more attractive wall, what was once a dark space with little natural light was now both welcoming and usable.
As for the silo that started it all, it’s now the first thing people see when they turn down the road to come to Skipio.
So many times we hit walls. Things fall down and crumble. We don’t know if we can get up. We wonder how in the world we will ever rebuild.
But you make plans and try new things. Bit by bit, you become stronger. Your business runs smoother. Plus, it looks a lot nicer. The rebuilding process can and should personally rebuild you, helping you become more teachable and determined. All of that growth makes people want to be around you (and even get involved in your business).
And the next time things fall apart, you’ll be ready to take on the challenge.
