The story behind “Marketing Carpenter”

In 2016, I bought my first house. Now, let me set the scene: I was ready to become the next HGTV star. I had visions of transforming my humble abode into a Pinterest-worthy palace, with sleek interiors, perfectly manicured lawns, and maybe even one of those fancy bathroom sinks that look like a rock. I was all in.

But fast forward a few months, and well… let’s just say my enthusiasm for home renovation went from “I can build this entire deck in a weekend!” to “Maybe I’ll just hang this one picture… next month.” Turns out, neither my budget nor my tool collection (which at the time consisted of a screwdriver and a lot of duct tape) were exactly equipped for a full-blown renovation.

I’ll admit it: I was floundering. But, as with all great journeys, mine involved a bit of soul searching and—obviously—an unhealthy binge of DIY YouTube videos. Hours and hours of them. I probably watched more tutorials than any human should ever admit. But somewhere in between “How to install drywall” and “Why is my hammer stuck?” I started gaining a little confidence. I began with small projects—like hanging shelves (you know, the easy stuff)—and then slowly worked my way up to things that actually required power tools. Crazy, right?

Before I knew it, I was not just following instructions but finding creative ways to get the job done with what I had. I mean, did I become a master carpenter? Absolutely not. But I did learn that you don’t need the best tools or unlimited resources to make progress—you just need the right mindset and a sprinkle of creativity.

This little home renovation saga, believe it or not, is a lot like small business marketing. Stay with me here.

Many small businesses (maybe even yours) feel stuck in a perpetual loop of “not enough” — not enough budget, not enough time, not enough resources. Sound familiar? You look around at all the shiny, well-funded brands crushing it out there and think, “How can I compete with this?” It feels like there’s no way to grow, no way to break through the noise, especially with the whirlwind of marketing trends coming at you faster than a kid who just heard the ice cream truck.

But here’s the thing: I’ve been there. And I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that it’s possible to build a brand that grows—without needing a budget the size of Mount Everest or a marketing degree from Hogwarts.

The truth is, just like with my house projects, you don’t need all the tools or a limitless budget to succeed. You just need to start small, be creative, and use what you have. Maybe you’re not ready to throw a massive marketing campaign out into the world, but you can absolutely create something impactful with the resources you already have at your disposal. It’s about knowing where to focus your energy, how to work smarter, and—most importantly—how to adapt.

At Marketing Carpenter, we’ve got the blueprint, and we know how to turn those small, scrappy beginnings into something solid, something that grows. We’ll show you how to take those tools you’ve already got—no matter how limited they may seem—and build something extraordinary. And hey, we might even teach you a thing or two along the way, so you can feel confident enough to tackle even bigger marketing projects in the future.

So, here’s to building brands that stand strong—duct tape optional.