I wanted to tell you about a frustrating misstep I had in my journey as an Investor, Entrepreneur, “Venture Builder”, and Founder. We had just exited our first venture after working ~4 years with the PE firm who acquired us in 2012. I rec’d a call to acquire a business in a similar space as the first venture – Oil & Gas. The problem was
I found myself relying on the same “playbook” or “framework” that worked in 2007 (date we founded venture #1), but we were one decade (10 years) further in the future.
I had taken my eye off the ball.
I was no longer a student of the game.
This made launching this venture harder than it should have been. We ended up exiting that business in 2020 and with the help of a great team (we were able to 2.5X the revenue), but here is the lesson and the CHANGE I MADE in 2019.
In whatever you’re passionate about, go after it with a child like curiosity to learn everything you can about it – like there is no tomorrow.
Here are some blacksmith tips & tricks: – Find those you admire and study them like crazy – Read books about the topic you love – Listen to podcasts on the subject any chance you can – Reach out the experts who can help you get clear, think bigger, and push faster.
Never give up, fellow Founder… Sometimes it just takes a small mindset tweak to launch.
Yesterday, I posted about the intersection between ‘the blacksmith’ and ‘automation’. Today, I want to recognize two of our RemainSafe teammates who wake up every day (and stay up very late in Carol’s case) serving customers who desire human contact, human touch, and a good ole fashion phone call to learn how we can help them feel safer, more secure, and more confident.
RemainSafe was Blacksmith Ventures first acquisition and this week we are proud to announce that we are moving into our new fabrication facility in Decatur, Alabama. This means new job creation, new challenges, and new struggles to deal with but that’s what we have grown to love and expect on this journey through entrepreneurship.
As entrepreneurs, we have the unique ability to forge creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset to MAKE REAL PRODUCTS and HELP REAL PEOPLE.
If you are an ALABAMA resident, the State of Alabama just announced a Storm Shelter Tax Credit where you can get a 50% (up to $3,000) tax credit on your purchase of a ‘qualified’ storm shelter.
When the clock struck 12:01am on January 1, 2021, we were knee deep in finalizing the acquisition of SteelSafe Shelter, Inc – a decade old storm shelter manufacturer based in Madison, Alabama (USA). Still today, our vision for the acquisition hasn’t changed. We strive to build a nationwide emergency preparedness brand thats sole purpose is to provide safety, security, and confidence to a world that needs it now more than ever. I (not we, us, or them) didn’t properly capitalize the company post acquisition, so for this business to continue, we needed to come out of the gate hot, on fire, efficient, and growing or we ran the very large risk of falling flat on our faces. An entrepreneur is by nature a risk taker, an optimist, and someone who believes (right or wrong) that no matter what they encounter, they’ll figure it out. Well, the events that would unfold in 2021 would prove to be the biggest test of resiliency, perseverance, and growth in my entire career and placed me with my back against the wall of defeat.
Here is our first team meeting back on January 4, 2021. Today, our company looks very different. Let’s turn that into Lesson #1.
1st RemainSafe Team Meeting in 2021
FEMA Compliant Storm Shelters
𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 #𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
Culture starts at the top. Whether you consider yourself the CEO, Founder, President, doesn’t matter. Your biggest and most important job is defining the company culture. That starts with each conversation, each action, each phone call, and each email. You, “Leader” must show up each day ready to help, learn, grow, and evolve. People don’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be present, committed, and engaged. They need open and honest communication.
So, why does our team look different today? I believe each person (or at least each normal human being) desires to do a good job. I also believe people need certainty… In the early days of any startup (or new acquisition), things are messy. Situations change, information changes, and decisions change. When you start a company, you hire into a culture. When you acquire a company, you inherit a culture. Your culture will determine how successfully you navigate difficult and changing situations.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗸𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁
Remember I mentioned we needed to come out of the gate red hot? Well, we did. We were firing on all cylinders. We had began the name change to RemainSafe to allow us to broaden out our product offering and regional coverage. We sold roughly 50% of the historical annual sales in Q1 alone. We met a wonderful human being named Dirk who founded a great company called New Day Storm Shelters out in Tulsa, OK that we aligned ourselves with to offer his product to our market. We were having fun. We also began to expand. We set up various subsidiaries around the southeast US. We set up RemainSafe of Chattanooga, RemainSafe of Auburn, RemainSafe of Memphis, and were looking at Nashville and Florida for expansion.
Installation of an underground tornado shelter in Nashville
Remember when this was going around?
But, something else happened in the first quarter that jolted and shaped us forever. Fultondale, AL experienced a deadly EF-3 Tornado in late January. Jordan Triplett and I visited the area to volunteer and it forever reinforced our why, our drive, and our mission to create a safer, more secure, and confident place for our customers.
Fultondale Alabama following the deadly tornado
𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟮: 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱
In April of 2021, we started hearing rumblings of supply chain issues. We ended up seeing our costs prices exceed our sales prices following a 215% price increase in metal alone (all of our shelters are made 100% from steel), yikes. We saw material increases in everything (wood – yep, handles – yep, stairs – yep, paint – yep). Crazy times… On top of that, material availability became a huge issue. The demand for tornado shelters outpaced our ability to supply product. We were in a pickle. We needed to work harder and smarter, but we were striking out at every turn. This is where the residency of entrepreneurship comes crashing in. When the world is crashing around you, nothing is working, and failure is imminent, how do you respond? My advice? Never, ever, give up on your dreams! Get innovative, Get creative, Get HELP.
𝗗𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴
One day in the middle of this poop show of supply chain failures, I received a call from an entrepreneur who wanted to see if I’d be interested in helping him take his product to market. It was a patented, software solution designed for the aggregate mining industry (think rock, sand, asphalt, concrete, etc). Some say don’t chase shiny objects. I say, always keep your eyes and ears open entrepreneur. You never know what new opportunity is coming your way without ever knowing it. Long story short, we jumped to help these entrepreneurs with their new invention with both feet. Lead with gratitude and a giving heart and watch what happens, entrepreneur. Here is a picture of us onsite at our first mine. So fun. Oh, by the way, we named the product AXL Eye.
I was beginning to realize that I really love working with entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners. I also really love helping companies go from zero to the preverbal “hero”. But, how do you do that without looking like an unguided, unfocused, squirrel chasing every shiny object? That was the question that needed solving. The most wonderful part of this journey of discovery was that it certainly didn’t come from me and it didn’t come from just one person. It came through a tribe of people pouring into me. I wrote about it on Linkedin post. I remember being on the phone with our early team – the ones who have been with me for years (some even decades) – Kevin, Katie, and Jordan – and we talked about the ability to help entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners at scale and how we could in turn make an infinite impact on those around us. We coined the opportunity to help others BlackSmith Ventures. This would be our path (aka Holding Company) that would allow us to impact entrepreneurs, give relevance and impact to our investors, while growing the best product and service companies imaginable. Here is a video I shot on it:
Check out that hat above… I found that a Buckeyes while traveling through Alabama for RemainSafe. Carol, Jordan, and I were going back to Fultondale, AL six months after the tornado struck in late January. The words “Faith”, “Family”, “Flag”, and “Freedom” are coined by our team as the 4-Fs. These are the ingredients that make me who I am.
I was on a call with my mentor, David Daugherty, one afternoon in late Spring 2021, when he said a few words I’ll never forget. He said, “Andy, it’s time to “𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙇 𝙐𝙋”. Those words unlocked a chain of events that I can’t explain in any other way than Devine Intervention.
My number one lesson from 2021 is this entrepreneurs . Surround yourself with the best and brightest and watch where your company, career, whatever goes. When I was failing in my pursuit of triathlons, I learned that a good coach and good company changes everything. In business, I believe the same. I put myself in a place to meet some amazing people and that has changed my trajectory forever. Who would have thought an Alabama boy would now run in circles with amazing people like Anric Blatt who have helped shape investment the investment world on an international level. Oh, did I mention I was invited to speak on my first podcast with Steve Nudelberg, woozier, what a guy. Check that out here.
Fast forward to today, December 31, 2021. I’m getting ready to watch College Football and simply reflecting on how far we have come. What does BlackSmith Ventures look like today?
BlackSmith Ventures is a modern-day holding company engaged in acquiring/funding subsidiary businesses and unique technologies and supporting their entrepreneurs/business leaders to achieve more rapid growth in the Emergency Preparedness, Clean Energy and Logistics Industries.
RemainSafe is navigating past the supply chain issues and tomorrow we’ll open the doors on our new manufacturing facility in Decatur, AL. We are committed to bringing safety, security, and confidence to the Southeast US as storms continue to increase. We just saw the most deadly and active tornado month of December eve
CISTANT is a solutions company created to help take the friction out of Logistics. AXL Eye (remember this from above) was recently acquired by CISTANT and will be our flagship product in 2022.
Purified Simple Solutions is our Clean Energy company created to provide low emission solutions to the Oil & Gas, Food, and manufacturing sectors.
This year has been one of the biggest test for me ever, but one that I will cherish forever as well. The power of culture, expect the unexpected, and surrounding yourself with the best & brightest guided me to where we are today and set the foundation on what we want to conquer in 2022.
My word for 2022 is SEA: Simplicity, Effectiveness, and Acceleration. Cheers to closing out a great year and cheers to those who stick with me each and every day.
While this video (watch here) sums up 2021, I couldn’t be more excited about navigating 2022.
How to Choose the Right Steel for Your Storm Shelter
You’ve decided to build a storm shelter on your property, and there are two ways you can go about it—you can build it yourself, or you can hire a blacksmith to create one for you out of steel. The latter option has several advantages, not the least of which being that you don’t have to lift thousands of pounds of steel into place! Before you decide on building or buying your shelter, though, it’s important to know what kind of steel works best.
The Physical Properties of Steel
Metals can be broken down into two categories: ferrous and nonferrous. Nonferrous metals, such as aluminum, copper, gold, and lead are generally soft metals that can be pliable at room temperature. Ferrous metals include everything from stainless steel to simple iron. These tend to be harder than nonferrous metals and more durable. When it comes to building a storm shelter, you’ll want a material that’s both strong and resistant to rusting or corrosion. Our material of choice for the best strength, cost, and purpose is carbon steel coated with the best primer and paint. Here is more on the process.
The Manufacturing Processes That Form Steel
When considering a storm shelter, most people look at durability and price. However, another factor that could determine which shelter is right for you is what type of steel was used to make it. There are a number of different manufacturing processes that form steel into different shapes and sizes, each with their own benefits and drawbacks. Knowing more about these processes will help you make an informed decision on what type of steel will suit your needs best. Let’s take a closer look at three popular methods: hot rolled, cold rolled, and forging.
Forging steel involves heating a solid piece of metal until it’s malleable enough to pound, bend, and shape. Forged steel can be created through two distinct methods: drop-forging or die-forging. Both techniques generate high temperatures in order to soften and reshape metals but each generates those temperatures differently. Drop forging requires less heat than die forging because it relies on gravity to drive down heavy steel hammers onto heated bars. Die forging, on the other hand, uses hydraulic pressure to press heated pieces into molds with dies that have been shaped exactly like what you want your finished product to look like.
Cold rolled steel is a type of alloyed steel that has been formed by rolling sheets of hot rolled steel at cold temperatures between -200°F and -400°F. This process results in a material with high strength, moderate ductility, and good toughness. Because it’s formed through heat-treating after it’s cooled down, it can be produced in thinner gauges than other types of steel—which means less material used overall.
Hot rolled steel is made from an ingot that’s heated up to between 2,000°F and 3,000°F before being drawn through rollers while still red-hot. The rolling process compresses and lengthens steel in order to produce large sheets of flat material with a consistent thickness. The end result is a product that has good strength, ductility, hardness, and toughness—making it a popular choice for manufacturing many different types of products.
Choosing Your Material
When it comes to building a storm shelter, you need one that’s sturdy and durable. That said, steel is one of your best bets as it has excellent tensile strength and can withstand strong winds; however, there are different kinds of steel and each one requires a different manufacturing process. This makes choosing a material somewhat complicated, so here’s a rundown on what you should consider: Hot Rolled Steel: Also known as HR or HRS, hot rolled steel comes in flat sheets or coils. It’s an economical option but doesn’t have great ductility, meaning it tends to be weaker than other types of steel. Cold Rolled Steel: Cold rolled steel (CRS) is produced by passing sheet metal through rollers at high speeds. CRS offers good ductility and resistance to abrasion but isn’t as strong as other options like galvanized or stainless steel.
You could also opt for another type of steel such as galvanized or stainless steel. While these two options tend to be more expensive than HR or CRS, they offer better corrosion resistance which means they could last longer when exposed to harsh weather conditions.
What Are Other Factors In Selecting The Right Storm Shelter?
Once you’ve decided upon a 100% steel residential storm shelter or commercial storm shelter, you’ll want to ensure that the storm shelter meets these codes and standards:
Memorial Day isn’t just about the start of summer and barbecues and pool parties; it’s about honoring those who served in the United States Armed Forces who gave their lives fighting for our freedom. It’s about remembering the sacrifices of our families, friends, and neighbors who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our way of life. It’s about letting these men and women know that we will never forget their contributions to this country and we will always be grateful for their efforts, even though they have been unable to enjoy them on Earth with us.
Those Who Served
While Memorial Day is considered a summer holiday in America, it should also be observed as a time to reflect on our veterans. While some citizens may think it’s enough to simply remember our veterans at 11 am on November 11 (Veterans Day), there are many other opportunities for Americans to thank those who served—not just from our military, but from all branches of service.
Freedom Isn’t Free
Ask any member of a U.S. military service about what Memorial Day means to them, and chances are you’ll hear freedom isn’t free. It’s an old saying that’s come to embody everything we appreciate about our great nation: freedom, family, faith and flag. Here are some ways to honor those who have served and continue to serve in America’s armed forces by giving back on Memorial Day…
1) Call or visit your local veterans hospital and offer to volunteer. Most hospitals need people to help out with things like walking dogs, filing paperwork or taking patients out for physical therapy sessions. They also need volunteers for events like Veterans Day parades and special veteran-centric concerts; even if you can only spare an hour or two every month, it all adds up! 2) If you have a larger time commitment, consider becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister. The organization pairs up children from military families who are struggling in school with mentors who have been through similar experiences—they’re trained to provide support and guidance so that these kids don’t fall behind. 3) Donate blood. Did you know that over half of America’s active duty troops are ineligible to donate blood? That means there is always a shortage on supplies, which puts our armed forces at risk when they’re overseas. By donating blood (or plasma), you could save someone’s life—and honor those who gave their lives for ours. 4) Help raise money for veterans by participating in charity runs or walks.
Thank You to All Our Veterans
It’s easy to forget that one day a year isn’t enough to show our gratitude to those who fought and gave their lives in service to their country. This is why we must do everything in our power, both big and small, to thank them. If you know someone who has served our country, take some time on a regular basis—and especially today—to express your gratitude for all they have done. And if you don’t personally know anyone who has served, consider finding ways to help out organizations like Wounded Warrior Project or Team Rubicon. There are many opportunities available for helping veterans adjust back into civilian life after serving overseas; volunteering with such organizations can be incredibly rewarding as well as provide insight into what challenges veterans face upon returning home.
Remembering the Fallen
On Memorial Day, we remember those who have lost their lives to protect our way of life. We honor and thank them for defending our country and ensuring that we are free to speak, protest, and fight for what we believe in—freedom. This year, as you spend time with your friends and family over barbecues and backyard get-togethers, take a moment to reflect on those who have fallen. They died so you could be here today. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. As General Douglas MacArthur once said, It is not how these men died that mattered; it was how they lived. May we always live by their example and remember to honor those who made sacrifices for us every day. Thank you for serving our country! Happy Memorial Day!
Honor Them by Serving Yourself, Help Others, Tell Others
There are no formal rules or obligations on how to spend your Memorial Day. But if you’re looking for an alternative, it may be worth considering serving others—whether that means volunteering at a local food bank or helping out your friend who is hosting a barbecue. Or simply telling others about why you’re honoring those who served and lost their lives can also go a long way toward honoring their memory in more ways than one.
What Makes America Great?
In a globalized, interconnected world, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes America great. But there are many reasons to be proud to call America home. America is one of the few places that entrepreneurship is alive, thriving, and that little thing called the “American Dream” is open to anyone.
Live Your Best Life Every Day
It’s easy to forget how grateful we should be for those who lost their lives in service, especially on days like Independence Day or Labor Day. Don’t let today go by without reflecting on why we have a special day dedicated to honor those who gave up everything for our freedom. Pay tribute and take some time to share your gratitude. If you need help getting started reach out. We’d love to get you connected.
Community Storm Shelters: How They’re Saving Lives After Tornadoes Strike Across the Country
If you’re in the United States, you’ve no doubt seen the recent news on the spate of tornadoes sweeping across the Midwest and southeastern United States this week. If you’re following along at home, it looks like severe storms have torn through communities in at least seven states so far—Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee—with some of those states reporting multiple twisters touching down as part of the same system.
The high death toll from tornados this year
More than 300 people have died in over 20 tornados that have struck across parts of Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Meteorologists warn that more could be on their way and that southern Indiana could see a substantial tornado outbreak between 4 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET Sunday evening, AccuWeather reports.
How community storm shelters are being put in place for safety
Storm shelters have traditionally been exclusive to residential homes, schools and public places, but they’re now making their way into corporate settings as well. You may know that there are storm shelters in place throughout many of our public institutions and shopping malls, but what you might not know is that a growing number of companies are also taking shelter seriously. Given how devastating tornados can be, it’s understandable why so many companies want to do everything they can to protect their employees, customers and other members of their community.
What you can do to help in your business
There are a few things you can do to help ensure you and your business are prepared for disaster. FEMA compliant storm shelters are an effective way to help ensure your safety during a tornado or other natural disaster. These shelters offer protection against tornados, as well as hurricane force winds, and other potentially life-threatening scenarios. Installing one is an excellent first step toward helping reduce damage at your company in case of a future tornado strike—or any disaster.
Blacksmithing in the 21st Century: How Innovation is Forging a New Future
Blacksmithing—the art of shaping metal into tools, weapons, and other items—has an extensive history dating back thousands of years. For almost as long as there have been blacksmiths, there have been attempts to change how they work, with varying degrees of success. While the advent of electricity, then computers, and now software has brought about some major changes in the ways some blacksmiths make their products, the art remains the same in many ways. For example, the core skills needed by blacksmiths have not changed much over time; it’s only really their tools that have evolved over time.
BlackSmith Ventures is an early-stage holding company that invests in companies with disruptive and innovative products. They are focused on starting today, building tomorrow—providing investors with immediate capital gains while holding their investments for long-term growth. The company follows a specific mantra to ensure profitability of all its investments: Imagine, Innovate, Evolve. BlackSmith Ventures helps entrepreneurs build businesses that can scale quickly and profitably as they develop new technologies and products.
Why consider working with us
It’s an exciting time to be working in technology. The convergence of hardware and software has created endless opportunities for entrepreneurs and independent creators who want to take their innovative products to market. Working with BlackSmith Ventures will accelerate your company’s path to success. Together, we’ll create compelling designs that help you stand out from competitors. Whether it’s raising funds or creating new opportunities, we’re ready to forge ahead with you every step of the way!
The basics of how our company works
BlackSmith Ventures works with early-stage companies that have innovative products and need help getting them to market. There are four core types of services we offer to our clients: manufacturing, project management, product development, and PR & marketing. The biggest catalyst to scale is mindset and resourcefulness. Two key principles of what being a BlackSmith.
FAQs about working with us
How do you suggest to adapt when disruption happens? You need to be aware of what changes are happening. If you’re running with something that’s long and established, maybe not so much. But if you have something new and innovative, then you have to pay attention to how your customers react to it. Does it change how they do things? If so, how will your product evolve accordingly? Follow us on all social platforms for encouraging tips and tactics in a “do it yourself format”. Want to work more closely, reach out to any of the BSV family to learn more. If you describe the relationship in one word its family. If two words, its partnership.
Our Founder
Andy Smith is the Founding CEO of BlackSmith Ventures. After successfully exiting his first two (2) ventures, he envisioned a Holding Company that can help fellow entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners scale, grow, and take product companies to market. Our team has been with us since we started BlackSmith Ventures and have contributed significantly to all aspects of growth. They have worked tirelessly with us over the past several years to create a business that doesn’t just forge new products, but forged future businesses.
How to know if you’re ready to take your product to market
Is your product ready to be taken to market? Is it innovative enough to beat out the other similar products out there? Does it solve an actual problem in the marketplace? Having answers to these questions is essential, but they’re not always easy to get. If you’re getting ready to make the big decision to take your product to market, here are seven critical things you need to ask yourself and your team in order to determine if you’re really ready or not yet.
Underlying business model
It’s critical that you not only understand what makes a business model work but that you have knowledge, expertise, and experience in that area. It’s also important to make sure your partners and team members have those same attributes as well. Do they bring value? Can they help expand and strengthen your network? Those are questions only you can answer, so think long and hard about it before moving forward.
Profitability
When determining profitability, you should consider not only what it will cost to develop and release your product, but also how much time and resources it will require for day-to-day operations. There is a steep learning curve in all aspects of business. Managing employees, handling customer complaints, and meeting deadlines—these all can take their toll on an entrepreneur’s energy and enthusiasm.
Market coverage
Identify your target audience and define how many people in that group will be impacted by your innovation or serve as potential customers. And keep an eye on competitors—it’s helpful to know who else is trying to develop a similar technology or sell a similar service/product. Also, identify and reach out to potential “connectors” in your industry who can direct you to new contacts and open up new conversations.
Brand building
Good brand building is synonymous with David verse Goliath. It is only through constantly challenging yourself, setting outrageous goals and not listening to others that you can create a business. A startup company must have an abundance of passion, an optimistic attitude, and willingness to follow their instinct. If you haven’t done all of these things yet, then you are not yet ready for a new venture.
Product branding
How do you get more customers? Better yet, how do you get loyal customers? The answer is brand. Branding helps establish an identity for a company and increases its visibility in the marketplace. Branding goes beyond logos and company slogans; it is about connecting with clients on an emotional level and making them feel good about doing business with your company.
Product development
First, your product needs to be developed. Many products are just an idea, a sketch on a piece of paper, or an element that’s under construction—like a book that isn’t finished yet or web service where only part of it is working. Whether you and your team have developed your product or not, there are several key questions that can help determine whether it’s time to go from prototype to launch: Is my business plan (or script for my app) done?
Marketing distribution channels
There are many ways a new product can be marketed, including online via social media and e-commerce websites; offline by distributing samples of a prototype in retail outlets or getting your product into big box retailers; and word of mouth from trusted sources. A good approach is to focus on just one marketing channel at first. You’ll have better luck with one type of marketing than trying to do several channels at once, which can be hard for startups with limited resources.
Where does the term ‘Blacksmith on the corner’ originate?
A blacksmith’s shop used to be a common sight in most towns and cities, whether or not they were actually full-time blacksmiths. For most people, the phrase blacksmith on the corner used to be common before it became something from the distant past of our grandparents’ generation. But how did this term come about? Where does it originate?
The Origin
One of the most traditional ways to make a living is as a blacksmith. This craft has been around for thousands of years, and while it has undergone many changes in that time, there are still many individuals who specialize in iron-based projects. Many people know how to shoe horses or mend broken wagon wheels when they need it, but few recognize their business acumen.
Wrought Iron
The time frame for blacksmiths in Colonial America was short. While demand for iron goods existed, it was hard to find skilled workers. European settlers found Native Americans who worked with iron, but because of their religious beliefs, they often didn’t want to do outside work or labor. Some of these talented men and women did take jobs as blacksmiths, but they were few and far between.
One Man Show
In most cases, it is a reference to an old Blacksmith who would shoe horses in front of his shop. People would say blacksmith on the corner as a way to let their friends know that they were close and should meet up soon. The phrase continues today as a friendly and universal greeting between men, no matter what race or color, suggesting unity among men to each other and society at large.
The End
Like its namesake, BlackSmith Ventures was created to forge creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit in business. We are here to help YOU take your new or innovative product to market. Follow me @AndySmithLife on all social platforms, subscribe to our newsletter, and let’s start forging together!
Andy Smith
Entrepreneur and Founding CEO of BlackSmith Ventures
10 Ways Stress Affects You (And What to Do About It)
Stress can hit your mind, body, and spirit in many different ways, and it can be hard to figure out where exactly it’s coming from. Stress can also creep up on you gradually over time, with seemingly small sources of stress adding up over weeks and months until one day you realize you’re stressed out! In this article, we talk about 10 different ways stress affects you, plus we offer some advice on how to deal with those stressors in healthier ways to get the most out of life.
1. Puts everything into perspective
Stress will always be a part of life. When it starts to take over, it’s easy to forget how lucky we are. Research shows that just taking some time out of our day—even if it’s just five minutes—to stop and reflect on what we have can help us deal with stressful situations more effectively. After all, a grateful heart is always at peace.
2. Makes me frustrated
If I’m stressed about something, I tend to get impatient and frustrated more easily. This can be a problem if I’m driving, for example—it may cause me to snap at someone in traffic. Or it may cause me to snap at my family because I expect things of them that are unrealistic. Either way, getting stressed doesn’t help anything; in fact, it usually makes things worse.
3. Makes me emotional
Sometimes, stress can be so overwhelming that it becomes difficult to see clearly or rationally. When we’re overly stressed, our brain chemistry is thrown off and we become more emotional than usual—but since our emotions aren’t rational or calculated, we often don’t know how to deal with them appropriately. In these cases, it helps if you can work out your feelings through journaling or talking with a friend.
4. Makes me forgetful
Before I knew it, I had left my umbrella at work. My mind was so preoccupied with deadline tasks and bill payments that I completely forgot something as basic as an umbrella. If you’re experiencing stress on a regular basis, it’s important to learn how to manage your thoughts and emotions better and develop healthier coping strategies. Here are some healthy ways you can help reduce your stress
5. Makes me feel ill
In my first venture, December was a very stressful time for us as a business and personally with the busyness of the season. I would notice weird rashes on random body parts… Completely unexplainable and would seem to disappear as we moved into the new year of January…When we’re stressed, our bodies immediately want us to find a way out of our current situation—and you just don’t know how it will show up.
6. Makes me less productive
Time is money, and when you’re stressed, you might not be functioning at your peak level. The National Institute of Health’s research shows that when we’re in fight-or-flight mode, our body diverts blood flow away from our brains and toward our muscles. But we need a clear head to make logical decisions. If you’re feeling stressed and want to get things done, here are some ways to manage stress so it doesn’t impact your productivity
7. Creates fear in my life
As much as I try to pretend it doesn’t, stress has a negative effect on my life. I know that some of my actions are actually caused by stress. And that causes me even more stress! If I keep ignoring how stress is affecting me, it can get so bad that it could be harmful or dangerous. When I ignore how much stress affects me, I also miss out on an opportunity to do something about it and make positive changes in my life.
8. Creates anxiety in my life
One of the most common effects of stress is an increased level of anxiety. When you are under stress, your body produces more adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones raise your heart rate and blood pressure, which can trigger feelings of panic or worry. Of course, high levels of anxiety will also make you physically ill, so finding healthy ways to cope with stress is essential for leading a healthy lifestyle.
9. Creates worry in my life
One way stress impacts me is through worry. I worry about a lot of things throughout my day, but there are also many that I forget about as soon as they come up. My mind will automatically go back to a worry, even when it isn’t something that is currently relevant in my life. Sometimes, these worries will resurface when there is no reason for them to be in my thoughts anymore and cause me anxiety just from how often they have been bothering me lately.
10. I want to learn self-defense!
Many people want to learn self-defense because they are afraid of being assaulted. Others wish they could defend themselves in case of an attack. Still others desire combat skills for their own sake, believing them to be fun or helpful in other ways. No matter what your reasons are for seeking out self-defense training, there is a right way and a wrong way to get started! The key is to start small, be self aware “enough” to recognize the stress drivers and remember that we can only control what we can control…
I tell our tribe of fellow blacksmiths that we simply need to “win the day”… and remember, it takes a village so find your tribe and unleash your potential.
. Surround yourself with the best and brightest and watch where your company, career, whatever goes. When I was failing in my pursuit of triathlons, I learned that a good coach and good company changes everything. In business, I believe the same. I put myself in a place to meet some amazing people and that has changed my trajectory forever. Who would have thought an Alabama boy would now run in circles with amazing people like 
