2024 will mark my twentieth year as an electrician. I started as an apprentice in 2004, working for a gentleman who would become my mentor in the trades. In 2010, I took my test to become a Journeyman Electrician. Five years later (2015), I took my test to become a Master Electrician. In the beginning of 2021, I was offered a job in a more corporate atmosphere than I was used to. In this job, I used my knowledge to become a subject matter expert and project manager to support a large field team in repairing and installing EV chargers. Two years into this job, with a great deal of financial uncertainty, I found my position "impacted" by company restructuring.

Being laid off is nothing new. Over the last twenty years, there have been moments of uncertainty, but the construction market in Central Texas has always been strong. What I walked away from the corporate world with was a better understanding of how businesses view and track money. What I also walked away with is the understanding that I never want to work for anyone else ever again. In the corporate atmosphere, those with the least amount of knowledge typically do the most talking and make most of the business decisions, leaving everyone else to deal with the ramifications of what may come.

But enough about the past. This brings me to the title of this blog: "Stepping out in Faith." I should have started my own company years ago, but the thought of it always came with a great deal of fear and uncertainty. But in this season, it is faith over fear. The name "Friendly Neighborhood Electrician" came to me suddenly even before I decided to start my own company. It represents what has been understood about me from all those that I have interacted with over the last twenty years: the relationships that I have established in the trades and in the community. I am easy to get along with while maintaining honesty and integrity. I have never felt the need to upcharge or sell people things that they didn't need or want. More often than not, my interactions with my customers revolve around the idea that something is broken, and I'm going to fix it.

So here is to the future, one that I have faith will be ever so bright.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Sincerely,

Justin Hatchett

Your friendly neighborhood electrician