Do What You Love: A Tradie’s Reminder That Time Is Short and Work Should Matter
There are few things more certain in life than this one truth, none of us are here forever. It sounds heavy, but for one builder, that simple fact has become a kind of motivation. The idea is not meant to be dark. It is meant to shake you awake. Because once you accept that time is limited, everything changes, the way you work, the way you live, and the way you see what really matters.
When he was asked what advice he would give, his answer came fast and clear. You are going to die. It is the one thing no one can escape, so you might as well make your time count.
The Wake Up Call We All Need
In the middle of the daily grind it is easy to forget why you started. There are quotes to write, invoices to chase, and sites to manage. The work keeps coming, and before long, life becomes a loop of jobs and deadlines. But every now and then, someone reminds you to stop and think.
You are not going to be remembered for every task you completed or every dollar you earned. The people who love you will remember how you lived, how you treated others, and whether you seemed happy doing what you did. That realisation is not depressing. It is freeing.
When you remember that life is temporary, you stop waiting for the perfect moment. You stop playing it safe. You take more chances, start that business, change direction, or finally do the thing you have been putting off because you were scared.
The Meaning Behind the Message
It might sound blunt to say you are going to die, but that truth strips away the excuses that hold most people back. Too many tradies fall into the trap of survival mode, working endless hours, saying yes to every client, pushing themselves without ever stopping to ask if they are happy.
The message here is not to ignore your responsibilities. It is to recognise that this life, this version of you, is temporary. You get one go at it, and it goes faster than you think. Once you accept that, you stop wasting time on things that drain you and start focusing on what fills you.
You might have different beliefs about what comes next, and that is fine. Maybe you believe in another life after this one. Maybe you do not. Either way, what if this is your only chance to make an impact, to enjoy your work, your family, and the people you meet? Wouldn’t you want to make it count?
Why It Hits Harder in the Trades
The trades have a way of grounding you in reality. Every day you build things that will outlast you, houses, fences, sheds, structures that stand long after you have moved on to the next job. But even those will eventually wear down, replaced or rebuilt by someone else.
It is a humbling thought. You might spend decades perfecting your craft, but at the end of the day, it is not the work itself that lives forever. It is the impact you have on the people around you. The apprentice you teach. The client you help. The family you provide for.
That is the heart of this message. Do what you love, not just because it pays well or looks good, but because it makes you feel alive.
Doing What You Love
Loving what you do is not a luxury. It is a necessity if you want to build a life that feels worth living. The builder who shared this advice is not talking about some grand passion or perfect job. He is talking about finding joy in the ordinary, in the smell of cut timber, in solving problems, in the small victories that make each day satisfying.
Doing what you love means building a career that matches who you are. It might mean starting your own business so you can work your way. It might mean teaching apprentices or working on projects that matter to your community. It might even mean stepping away from the tools entirely to follow a new path.
The point is, you only get one run at this. If you spend it doing something that drains you, you will never get that time back.
The Power of Perspective
When you remember that time is limited, it changes how you handle challenges. Suddenly, the stress of a tough week or a slow season does not feel so heavy. You realise that most problems are temporary, and worrying about them endlessly only wastes more of the time you have.
It also changes how you treat people. You become more patient with the apprentice who is still learning, more grateful for the clients who trust you, and more forgiving of yourself when things do not go perfectly. You stop chasing perfection and start chasing purpose.
Passing the Message On
Tradies are doers by nature. They measure their days by what they finish, not what they feel. But sometimes, the most valuable lesson is not about how to build faster or smarter. It is about remembering why you build in the first place.
Sharing this message on site might sound strange at first. But it matters. Reminding younger workers that life is short encourages them to take care of their health, chase meaningful work, and not waste years in a job that makes them miserable. It also helps older tradies reflect on what they have achieved and what kind of legacy they want to leave behind.
Finding Joy in the Everyday
Doing what you love does not always mean changing everything. Sometimes it is about changing how you see what you already do. If you are on site with good people, building something real, you are already doing something worth being proud of.
Appreciate those moments. The sound of the saw cutting through timber. The teamwork that gets a job done. The satisfaction of standing back at the end of the day and saying, I built that. That is purpose. That is living.
Conclusion
The advice might sound blunt, but it is as true as it gets. You are going to die, and no one will remember every job you did or every tool you owned. But they will remember how you lived and whether you enjoyed the time you had.
So do what you love. Take the chance. Build the business, change direction, spend time with people who make you better. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to start living.
You get one life, one chance, and no guarantees of another. Make it matter because the clock is already ticking.