That Shop Guy- Meet Jacob
Employee Spotlight is a series intended to share a glimpse of our team. We hope that you can get to know us a little better.
JACOB’S ROLE AT BLAST IT CLEAN
Jacob is a returning employee of Blast It Clean. Jacob is our go-to shop guy for all fixed-base projects. He also assists with the on-loading and offloading process and does other various tasks around our shop. When he’s not sandblasting or painting, you can find Jacob cleaning and organizing the shop and ensuring that we are meeting OSHA standards.
"Jacob has brought a lightness to the office. He is fun to be around and can make you laugh. He has done a lot in aiding with our front end and helping with our fixed-based projects. We appreciate his loyalty and hard work to the company"
— Carisa, Director of Finance
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I enjoy playing video games and hanging out with my son and daughter and going out occasionally once every 6 months. The kids like to go to Get Air Trampoline Park in Independence, MO.
WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would go back and tell my mom to buy Bitcoin and then hold it until 2020 and then sell all of it.
HOW HAS BLAST IT CLEAN HELPED YOU IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT?
It taught me how to work harder being that Blast It Clean is a labor-intensive industry.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING HERE?
It is a small and close-knit company and everyone knows everyone. I like the culture and the company events that build morale.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
To live comfortably and be able to pay my bills and do things with my kids. I have no desire to be crazy rich - just comfortable.
WHAT DOES TRUE LEADERSHIP MEAN TO YOU?
Years ago, generals and leaders were in the midst of the chaos and were on the battlefield keeping their troops going. The only way you could win your men over was to be there. Leadership is not a person who sits in the corner and just dictates and tells people what to do. You have to be willing to show up and work with the team and get dirty.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN THE WORLD WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
The way we teach kids in schools. The education system is broken. We are taught to sit down, shut up, and obey instead of being free thinkers.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU PROVIDE TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN WORKING AT BLAST IT CLEAN?
I hope you like traveling. It’s hard work but the pay is good, the people are cool, and the culture is great.
WHO DREW YOU TO BLAST IT CLEAN ORIGINALLY? AND HOW HAS THE COMPANY CHANGED SINCE?
Tyler and Chris [current operations manager and crew leader] drew me to Blast It Clean. I’ve known Chris since 3rd grade. Culture has changed greatly for the better and the way the company is run as far as scheduling.
WHAT IS AN ABILITY YOU WISH YOU HAD?
Telekinesis - the ability to move objects with your mind.
WOULD YOU RATHER BE A TINY ELEPHANT OR A BIG HAMSTER? WHY?
A big hamster. They are huge and terrifying. No one wants to be a tiny elephant. That's pointless.
IF HOLLYWOOD MADE A MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CAST AS YOU AND WHY?
Tom Holland or Josh Hutcherson from Hunger Games. Josh is built like me and Tom Holland’s personality is close to mine. Everything is always funny with Tom and he makes life enjoyable.
IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD DO?
Call a few lawyers and financial advisors to set my family up for life and start my legacy. I want my family to tell the story of our legacy and I want it to start with me - that generations will tell for years. I only want to be remembered by my family. I want to be admired by my great-great-grandchildren whom I will never meet.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FAMOUS FOR?
I wouldn’t want to be famous because I don’t like to be noticed. I like to be low-key and just observe. If I had to be famous it would be for philosophy. It’s one of the only things that I’ve ever taken an actual interest in when I was in school.
WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US ABOUT YOU?
How dumb I pretend to be vs how smart I am. There's a book called The Book of Rat. “If you want information, feign ignorance”
IF YOU GOT A YEAR OFF WITH FULL PAY, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT?
Define full pay. My current salary? Or more?
If you gave me my current salary I would go to a quarterly auction to buy property and a house.
After that, I don't know. If I had to abstain from working entirely, I’d see how much I could save by the end of the year.
LET JACOB HELP YOU
Now that you know a little bit more about Jacob, let them and the rest of our team help you with your next project. Call Blast It Clean for stripping, cleaning, and painting.