As I write this, I have a bottle of unscented lotion nearby. I have a fresh tattoo on my right forearm that complicates typing. What does a tattoo have to do with marine fabrication businesses? Allow me to explain.

I spent years planning this distracting itch on my arm. I thought of the idea while reading a poetry book and its accompanying illustrations in 2018. I tested my interest in a permanent option on this spot with several temporary tattoos, researched inspiration that aligned with my idea and reviewed portfolios featuring similar styles.

Once my vision was clear, I scheduled a consultation with the artist I chose. By the time this column reaches you, it’ll have been nearly seven years since I began dreaming of this tattoo.

Meanwhile, I still had a job to do. I managed daily tasks, yearlong projects, kept my family running and spent money on several other things (Mailman Harry gets a Christmas present every year because I put him through it with my online orders). Always lingering was this change I wanted to make and how to move it forward. This balancing act is one that our industry understands well.

Planning for our industry’s long-term future is a common theme in this issue, with features on cultivating new leaders and sustainable boating practices. Neither topic is easy to tackle while you’re trying to run a shop—we don’t sugar-coat that. But they are important to invest in, bit by bit and day by day, to get us where we want to be. 

I hope these pages inspire you to make progress that moves your shop toward its long-term future—even if that progress feels miniscule right now. We’ll be with you along the way.