Why are you doing this?

The feature of this month’s issue is JT Services. From septic system installations and septic pumping to plumbing, portable restrooms and even storm shelter construction, this Oklahoma company does it all.

I first became familiar with one of the company’s owners, Jason Birdsong at the 2025 WWETT Show when he was introduced and took the stage as the newest president of NAWT. During his introduction, the presenter quickly highlighted some of the things Birdsong and his company had achieved over the years. And let me tell you, it was impressive. We are lucky enough to highlight some of those things for you this month as Birdsong agreed to be featured in the Installer Profile.

One of the things about Birdsong’s story that stuck out to me especially after hearing how dedicated and successful he and his wife Erin’s company is, was that at one point, they almost threw in the towel. I won’t spoil the whole story, but needless to say, they didn’t.

For the Birdsongs, it took reevaluating what they were ultimately working for. They had to ask themselves what their end goal was and most important, answer that question truthfully. 

Raise the question

I think that’s an important inquiry for everyone to ask themselves. It can apply to business owners, managers, office administration, technicians and anyone in between. 

Are you working to build a business you can leave your kids? Are you there to support family or friends in their business venture? Are you putting your dues to gain experience and learn the industry so someday you can run your own company? Whatever the reason, focus on that goal and shift the way you approach each work day to fulfill it.

I also think it’s something people need to keep asking themselves throughout their career. 

It’s easy to get complacent and comfortable in a position. It happens to a lot of people when they get to a point in their profession where they live comfortably, have a routine established and are somewhat coasting without stress. It’s in a situation like that where it’s the most challenging to keep pushing yourself; but those that do, prosper.

Ask for help

When the wear and tear of the daily grind gets overwhelming, you may relate to the Birdsongs and might contemplate calling it quits, moving on to something different. 

When you feel down and out and like this might not be working for you, think about what you really want to achieve and the reward that you’re seeking. Never be too proud to ask for help and realize maybe you are holding yourself back. Very successful people in this industry like the Birdsongs have gone through similar situations and there are a lot of people out there willing to help and talk.

Remember why you started

The all important question posed earlier of why you are doing this is a big one. But there’s a similar question that may help you to answer the first one. It might be just as helpful when things get tough. 

Why did I choose this field?

I recently had a nice conversation with Josh Munson, an installer from Premier Sewer & Septic located in Illinois. You’ll get to know him later down the road in a feature story. When gathering some background information from him I asked how he got started. Munson had a lot of options and ideas of what he could do with his life. But as he phrases it, “the little kid in me still wanted to play with machines.” I’m sure a lot of you can relate, because operating equipment is just plain fun.  

Sometimes it’s the most simple reasons that keep you in the game and those are often the ones we lose sight of first. 

If you’re looking for a little inspiration, I hope you find it in the pages ahead. Thanks for checking out this month’s issue of Onsite Installer!