Today we’d like to introduce you to Ed Miller.
Ed, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In my freshman year of college I switched from a major in Physical Therapy, to Philosophy. It was a very idealistic move because I didn’t have a plan with it, just a fascination in the nature of things. Any realist would have stuck it out in physical therapy for the future job security. Looking back on it, that decision set the course for my career as a handyman.
I took my curiosity in how things work, and inclination to solve problems in many directions after college– mostly into technical things. I learned how to tune and rebuild pianos, how to be a woodworker, and spent a lot of those years fixing generators and distributing power in the film industry. At one point I even worked for a professional home organizer. When my wife and I were lucky enough to buy a house, my path started to become clearer. Renovating that house, and then again our second condo really brought all of my various skills into focus, and allowed me to learn a ton of new skills in the process. At about that point my friends and family were regularly asking me for advice about projects around their homes, and I began to piece the idea of this handyman thing together.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been fortunate since the very start of my business to always have enough jobs come my way. It’s not really something I can take credit for, I think the density of housing in the Boston/Cambridge area is the reason. The hardest thing has always been learning how to manage it all. I’m a one-man operation. So I’m not only the guy who comes into your house to do the work; but I’m also fielding all the inquiries, scheduling all the work, and doing all the back-end administrative tasks. It can be a lot at times. Finding ways to improve how I manage the business is consistently the biggest challenge I face.
Porter Square Handyman – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Porter Square Handyman specializes in the installation, assembly, and hanging of all kinds of things. As well as the repair and improvement of various things around a home or office– including doors, trim, cabinetry, wall, floors, shelves… to name a few. I believe that what sets my company apart is the value it offers, beyond just the projects it completes. When I form a working relationship with a client, my goal is to make it easy for them. So I show up on time, return calls, clean up after myself, and always perform work with my client’s best interest in mind. These are things I care a lot about.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Being a ‘Jack’ of many trades often requires a willingness to dive into things, even when the experiences you have don’t necessarily include the exact problem in front of you. There are so many things to know, and so often the circumstances are unique. I’m confronted with projects that challenge my knowledge and skills all the time. No matter how difficult some of them may appear at first, I always find my way through them– which is usually followed by a strong feeling of pride and accomplishment.
Contact Info:
- Website: portersquarehandyman.com
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