By Carl Murawski, Licensed Electrician and Construction Coordinator
It doesn’t take long to figure out that entrepreneurship isn’t easy. Rewarding, yes. Liberating, yes. But easy? Not by a long shot.
If the challenges common to entrepreneurship have you thinking of leaving the startup world behind, transitioning to a job in the trades might be on your radar screen. Several factors, including the rising cost of college degrees and the integration of AI in the corporate world, have recently made blue-collar opportunities more popular.
Those considering blue-collar work should make sure they have a firm grasp of the pros and cons before they dive in. Working as a skilled tradesperson definitely has some benefits. But making the transition also requires overcoming some challenges, especially if you are making the shift later in life.
Your experience will benefit you, eventually
Those in their 30s or older who have logged some time getting a business off the ground will definitely bring more to the table than a 19-year-old launching into their first “real job.” Entrepreneurs know how to show up on time, focus on the task at hand, and take responsibility. Those three things alone will put you miles ahead of half the apprentices on a job site.
Still, don’t expect your experience or maturity to allow you to leapfrog over the apprenticeship phase. You’ll still be starting at the bottom and most likely being saddled with tasks that are not glamorous, like running wire, hauling plywood, or digging holes. And you may be doing those jobs alongside other apprentices who are half your age.
But don’t despise small beginnings. You’ll learn a lot in the early days of your apprenticeship that will be crucial to moving your blue-collar career forward. Working as a gopher, for example, will teach you the nicknames of all the equipment and supplies you’ll be working with in the future and where to find them.
The physicality of blue-collar work will be one thing your days as an entrepreneur probably won’t prepare you for. Younger guys have an easier time bouncing back from the physical demands common to most trades, but older guys will probably need to keep some ibuprofen on hand.
The money can be great, but probably not at first
If you are like most entrepreneurs, the desire to make more money was a top reason you launched your own business. Shifting to the trades isn’t a quick path to a heavy paycheck. In fact, you’ll most likely take a financial hit at first. Long term, however, you can make some real money if you make the right decisions.
Getting licensed and joining a union, for example, can increase your earning potential. And once you’ve learned your trade well, you can make more money by getting back into the world of entrepreneurship and starting your own business.
It can be very satisfying once you swallow your pride
The desire to be the boss is another top reason people start their own business. If you’ve tasted that and liked it, shifting to the blue-collar world will be challenging. Most likely, you’ll be taking orders from people who are younger than you, which can bruise the ego.
Even if you find yourself serving as a foreman, the regulars on the job site will see you as “elderly” even if you haven’t yet hit 30. When I was working as a foreman in my late 20s, the young guys in my crew referred to me as OMC, which stood for Old Man Carl
Overcome the physical demands, grunt work, and ribbing, and you’ll likely find working in the trades can be very satisfying. The end of each day gives you the opportunity to stand back and admire something you’ve built — not submitted or emailed, but built. I personally still annoy my kids by pointing out buildings I worked on, but I’ve never proudly held up a spreadsheet and asked them to admire it.
– Carl Murawski has spent his entire adult life in the trades, starting as a mechanic, driving a tow truck, and becoming a licensed electrician. Currently, he works as a construction coordinator for a major electrical contractor, handling QA/QC, AutoCAD, and field-level problem-solving. He has never worked a white-collar job — everything he knows comes from years on real jobsites, working with real people, doing actual work. Through his YouTube channel, Carl speaks up for the trades, reviewing gear that truly performs, calling out marketing hype, and sharing the kind of wisdom that only comes from firsthand experience.
