“Embrace the suck and get to work” 👏👏👏Needs to be the motto for most people. Well said!

I do like to work hard. I worked hard out my life. It’s time to enjoy things now.👍

This video should be required to waych in every high school in America.

Life lessons with Chris in the woodyard, better than a college degree!

The best advice for a wood business I’ve seen and also business in general. Great practical advice.

Well said not many know what work really is and in business you will be working harder and longer than working for someone else . When you think you have time it means work not playing 😊

I so admire your ethos and work ethic Chris, I'm 77 and retired but I worked hard all my life and I'm now comfortable. Respect. Graham UK

wise words my friend. "This is what makes the money, doing the work". I started off with a small chain saw, an axe and free wood. I remember one of the first summers I started in the business I worked all summer and ended up producing 30 face cords. Sold that wood and bought a splitter and slowly built up my business. You have to be in for the long haul. Finally got a dump trailer this year. Efficiency is key in this business, you have to look at data to make informed choice. Saving 10 minutes here and 5 minutes makes the difference. Awesome video my friend, thanks.

All by hand you gotta be strong AF!!! 600 face cords a year is nuts!!!

I totally understand what you’re talking about but I can tell you one thing what I’ve learned. I learned I had a few chainsaws in my life. I had Husqvarna and steel, but I can tell you all of them. I love my 500.i

I've had quite a few old timers tell me "if you're going to buy it have enough to buy it twice". I also see making money in 3 main ways: work for it, cut spending, and investing.

Good lessons here- slapping me right upside the head before I go out and make some of these mistakes.

As they say in NASCAR .... to finish first, first you must finish!

My Old Lad used run huge meat factories - as in he was a hired in "General Manager" places used hire to solve their problems. He'd work for a few years in one place, make it profitable, then get head-hunted to somewhere else. Usually when he left, the place went bust soon after. It was a pattern. His "Version" was work the equipment that was there to its absolute limits 6 days a week & if it broke, fix it Sunday & work it to death some more. If a piece of gear was absolutely needed - and these factories had dozens & dozens of employees, often hundreds - he'd hunt down some used gear on the cheap. Every "Consultant" those factories would hire had the same spiel - "Buy equipment!" - The Old Lad spent his life ignoring them & making Owners money. He'd leave for pastures new - the "Consultants" would get a hold & money would pour into new equipment - shortly followed by bankruptcy. My favorite phrase is "PWTDYG" - inherited from him. "Waah! We don't have a such-and-such!!" Tough.. do it with some s**t we do have, even if it takes longer. Love the videos Chris - great advice in them all. Work hard & PWTDYG.

Chris- you killed it today bro! These words of wisdom are applicable to any industry. By far one of your bests videos. Thanks again for inspiring us, but keeping it real.

You are correct! I live on an 82+ acre lot with about 35 acre woods. I go in cut dead trees into limbs and logs, drag them out of the woods with a tractor, cut into fire wood size pieces, split with a 3-pnt hitch log splitter, haul to home, stack and cover. I do all of this just for my own heating. All the work I do, I could not sell it for what I think that it is worth!

Personal opinion here, Best video hands down. Preach that accumulated knowledge

Did you see Chris loading the front of the truck bed WITHOUT hitting the window? XD He's not just talking about it, he's doing the work. And you can tell he's got experience doing it, cuz all the glass is still crack free. Well done, sir.

Nothing needs efficiency and dedication like the firewood business.

Wise words from the one place that holds all of the integrity... experience! Hate to sound like an old man but all the 20 somethings need to watch this video. Thanks Chris!

all life lessons. love it!

Crap I'm off today so I'm spending my time with you. One thing you said makes the most sense! Embrace the suck. If you're dedicated to work hard, find a different solution.

Best video yet!

But, the one with the most stuff at the end WINS! ;)

You are correct about all five It’s physically hard work and bad conditions 24/7 Plus your not getting paid for a year and once wood sales you have to restock the supply

I got out of firewood in 2010 .at that time I was selling a bit over 300 cord a year, with a 25 year old ton truck, 2 254 huskies, an upright woodsplitter I built mounted on a 35 massey tractor.Also had a forest equipment repair business and a 25 hour week job. Didn't set around much. Have to keep pushing

Instead of tossing profit out the window, Chris tosses his profit in the back of a pickup. You 'da man.

Im a tree surgeon who has been delivering wood for 1 year and i couldn't agree more, 50-70 metres lorry load not split, so alot more then that split on a 800 pound kinetic splitter and now finally ive brought a mdl 37 ton splitter as i can't keep up, his advice is bang on

Best video you have posted

Looks like I gave this the 900th 👍. Great advice. Thank you

definitely words of wisdom!!!

Amen brother preaching to the choir

I feel like you could save a lot of time with a dump trailer and loader. With that time you could be cutting and splitting more wood :p Love your videos btw

My old chain saw locked up so I had to get a new one. I paid of it on the first job using it. I am now saving for a dump trailer.

PREACH!!!!! Even outside of the Woodyard I wish more people understood all this.

Nice video. A lotta people are just buying booze and fastfood long before they ever think of buying decent equipment. Vice's rule their lives

Great video

When I had an idea to go buy something bigger and better my grandpa use to say "Better watch it boy, you`ll fly high and alight in a cow dab"...lol. You are absolutely right. Just go to work with what you have and build from there.

Agree, i work in a jail. Currently 19 years in. Amazing seeing many new hires. They dont want overtime. We have some land, we are in rural northern Michigan. I want a new splitter. I totally agree. Splitters, equipment will put you in the hole. Your probably in a 10-30 percent who actually make money on firewood, you bust your butt, plus understand business side of this. Great job. Have a excellent week ahead.

You need to get a dump bed for that truck. Must have.

100% correct!! Take heed everyone

Thanks pops

Good advice. Nuff said.

Your spot on ! Fire wood is nothing but blood , sweat and pain but it gives me some kind of satisfaction that I can't express . Good talk !

Good morning from Piqua Ohio.

Very informative thanks

Doing upgrades on equipment you already have is a good way to get cheaper equipment to run like better grade equipment

Probably the best video yet 👏👏

Wise words, Sir.

But....but....but....I want it now!

All true! Great talk! God bless!!

I bought my Stihl ms250 about 8-9 years ago and then bought my champion 27 ton log splitter about 3 years ago then just got my ms391 saw this year I believe I am set for what I need. Got tired of cutting big wood with my 250 and since I got my 391 with a 25" bar game changer.

Man I wish our politicians had your work ethic and business ethics lol!!!

Great video!

Great video Chris !

Well said. Great video!

Wise words. When he says grow "slow" -- he means do some math, be smart, work within your means. It is very hard work. But, can be super rewarding too. If you want a "$10,000 splitter" & you're selling cords @ $250, you need to sell 40 cords to pay that off. Now, you don't have to do that in 1 year, but 40 cords should probably be close to the goal, if you are doing any substantial firewood in general. Again, this doesn't even touch any other costs you may have for a trailer & truck, or dump truck, & chainsaw & gas, oil, chains, your LABOR, & possibly your help too?? Those need to get factored in as well. If you have the clientele to match (let's just go with the 40 cords) -- Then, it possibly is a no brainer. You will save your back & produce the firewood exponentially faster with a professional grade splitter. You will be able to "pay off" the splitter investment in 1 season, or several quick seasons (when factoring in the other expenses we mentioned). However, as Chris is saying -- If you are just starting the business/venture; & only know 3 clients or 10 clients that only want 1/3rd a cord (face cord), or half cords, then your "demand" is 10 cords or less, you NEED to build clientele. Advertise, get your name out there. Figure out what you are selling (are you going to be the cheapest, but give "crap" quality; or, are you going to go higher quality & sell at premium price??). you can split tons of wood with just an axe or maul very fast. Then, a super cheap splitter ($1500 average) can split the pieces down to a good size (I always go by size of your fist -- it will dry the fastest for you & be easy to handle for all clients, older or weaker folks have tough time with big pieces -- you can always split "special" piles that are bigger or longer for folks who want that product specifically). You may want to consider STACKING as an extra feature service (CHARGE for stacking) -- you can charge hourly or however works for you for extra dollars (especially if you're not super busy with tons of firewood clients) -- Many clients love that extra offer & will pay $50, $100, $200 to have you stack; especially if you deliver 1,2,3 cords. That's a ton of wood for a person to stack. If you're willing, it can be good income. You can also advertise splitting & stacking trees that clients had a tree company cut down for them. You can advertise building firewood sheds (they aren't hard to build, tons of different style builds online) -- You can do basic, or very fancy styles. You can advertise you hauling wood & debris off people's properties. Charge them for it, but then you are getting wood for "FREE." There's a ton of things you can do to build your business & spread your name out there. The more you're willing to do, the more you will spread your name / BRAND.

Good messages. Appreciate like minded guys fighting the good fight

Put some of the morning wood in that load! Haha

Sound wisdom, no matter what business you are in. It was also nice to see no truck windows were harmed in the making of this informative video! 😉

this all makes sense. these day we think, work smart, not hard. but hard work is how we get things done.

That speech is for every job from firewood to the corner office. It takes hard work for almost everyone to be successful. Think poor, be rich. Chris your next job should be motivational speaker. I still love the firewood.

Superb advice... watching here in the U.K... I scavenge wood from farm's.. put the graft in.. I shoe osses too.. get ya back bent.. 🤠💪👍

I've ran my firewood business almost 20 years before I'm now starting to become more automated had 5 guys working for me. They wouldn't show up on heavy days bad weather ect. Down sized 2 guys bought a convayer this last year been great it dont call in sick

Man did you ever hit the nail on the head. Great advice.

I have a Stihl MS290 18" farm boss and it never leaves me down

Very great video, it all true in what you had to say

Good show, subbed! 😉

You know Chris that's probably the best video you can ask for thanks for sharing 👍

Great advice, thx 😊

I would add that buying new equipment isn't always the right answer.

Very good advice.

Tools help you work efficiently

thank you, Chris!

Your advice applies to starting a business as well as life in general. Living beneath your means and understanding the difference between a want and a need is rare thing these days. I was lucky enough to finally get these principals through my head by the time I was 30. It makes all the difference in life.

Sweat is the most powerful substance there is! My wife and I have become very successful by hard work and thrift. You nailed it when you said save your money and pay for things with CA$H! Love your work ethics.

Truth, nothing but truth ! Very well said, Chris. One of the best life and business speeches I think I've heard in quite some time 👍👍

Well said.

Very true. Without the work, you are never gonna make money no matter how much equipment you have. I think the same way with my landscape business and the same is true for most businesses.

Thanks Yoda! A teacher Yoda is

Watching this I wonder what is your background? It’s not only your idea, but how to get it across... and you did it well. I was thinking about my construction business and how I used your thoughts to make it successful. I’m 64 and still do heavy work daily. My business brain doesn’t shut off on weekends. My efforts made us the largest in our field in our state. The only thing I did differently from your conversation is that I spent the money on equipment. It wasn’t a shiny thing purchase. I calculated that buying equipment that cost 10x what my competitors paid allowed me to complete projects that took my competition 8-12 hours in 2-3 hours. Since it drastically reduced costs every job is significantly more profitable. The equipment is now paid off and I am enjoying the fruits of my labor. I also capitalized on the time savings by using those saved hours going door to door looking for clients. Now they look for me...

Great words of wisdom very inspiring! I am exactly the kind of person who needed to hear this! God bless you thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us!

Well said! GNI

Absolutely agree. It's what people don't want to hear but it's the truth.

I play guitar... the same goes for guitar players and probably a lot of other hobbies or side gigs I suppose. It's the "if I only had" such and so piece of gear I'd be able to do more and be better. I think it's a natural thing. We fool ourselves out of doing the practice and hard work to get where we want to be. I'm guilty of it. I have a new Stihl saw that I used one time to cut down a large tree on my mom's property. I want to do some small side weekend jobs because I like this type of work.

My absolute favorite video to date! Truer words were never said my friend.

Big amounts of firewood in that yard to handle by hand, one by one piece, quite time consuming, but that is great fitness and strength training for sure. Has it been evaluated to use wooden pallets and big nylon spunn bags for handling by the tractor. Can't be a big investment when one got a tractor in the first place, and save quite some time handling

This is how I built my remodeling business. And now branching into the firewood realm. I've been consistent by working smarter not harder. And have never been afraid of getting my hands dirty. Oceans of blood sweat & sometimes tears got me to where I today.

Thanks Chris for a dose of common sense and reality, I think this just talked me out of a $5000 purchase.

I don't even have a wood stove and I watched this entire video because the guy is interesting and telling you about life at the same time.👍

Good, sound advice. The most important thing for me is fun. If you enjoy what you do you will turn up early and stay late etc, you naturally think about improving the process, maintaining equipment etc.

I agree. I'll stick to my Countyline log splitter lol. Take care friend 👍🇺🇸

Good morning, Chris. Sage wisdom on a Monday morning. Shiny object syndrome will keep one broke. Have a grand day. Goodnight Irene.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. This is my favorite Firewood Channel. Thanks Chris!

This is a great video for the kids coming up. Just remember that you said a dirty work to the new people coming up. Work. This just don't apply to wood industry. This is all industry. Keep up the great work. God Bless.

The other thing I’ll add is be ready to not actually make any money the first two years. Most of the money i make is used to buy logs, and pay back the money I needed to get the bare necessities to be able to deliver wood and process it. My only loan is for my trailer but I put down nearly 3/4 of it from my saving so it can be paid for in 2 years. Now I do work a normal full time job so that helps. Small steps.

Best advice on firewood processing I have ever listen too.

The most important tools are a Phone, an organizer and a watch…

You are a wise man Chris. I know and agree with all you have said but I am still tempted to buy toys! Thanks for bringing me back to earth.

Chris blows away the smoke 💨 of many firewood pipe dreams. Cold hard reality of embracing the suck that sustained effort and delayed gratification of shiny upgrades are required for most all long term business successes.