Many moons ago when I lived in Milwaukee, the city would have an exposition at the Milwaukee Auditorium that was called The Home Show. Builders, home designers, and contractors would set up booths and show off their wares, from new types of shingles, to vinyl siding, building techniques, and different home shapes like domes and A-frames.

One of those years, the big feature at the Home Show was going to be a booth sponsored by This Old House, a public television show about home restoration. The guests were going to be none other than Bob Vila and his co-host, master carpenter, Norm Abram. I was so excited when I heard the news that I couldn’t wait!

In the profession that I chose, Bob Vila made the term home improvement, a household name. As a maintenance guy himself, he restored a Victorian house in Newton, Mass, winning the prestigious Better Homes and Gardens ‘Heritage House Award’ for 1978. Because of that, Vila was noticed by PBS, they wanted him to restore a house on public television in a one off, 13-episode segment. However, Vilas’ camera presence, his knowledge and his on air persona could not be ignored, and when the ratings for this public television show went through the proverbial roof, PBS signed him on as a regular to restore houses. The rest, as they say, is history.

So, with growing anticipation, I went to the Home Show to see Bob Vila, and as a huge crowd amassed around the ‘This Old House’ booth, I pushed my way forward to the front. And there he was, Bob Vila in the flesh! He was signing autographs, while a program played about home restoration and maintenance in the background. Suddenly he looked right at me as I stuck out my hand, he grabbed it, smiling, and said something to the affect of ‘Hi, how are you?’ and then he moved on to someone else, and then to someone else, as the crowd swarmed around him.

I stuck around, shook hands with Norm Abram, picked up some brochures and other goodies at the table they had there, and enjoyed the rest of the show.

I came away from that experience with the first inkling of thought swirling in my head about doing home maintenance, home improvement, and DIY projects. Afterall, if Bob Vila could do it and have this much fun, I could do it as well! From there, I slowly built my business up job by job, and the rest, as they also say, is history.

That’s where it all began for me in the business of home improvement. I call it, ‘The Bob Vila Factor’, as I tell people whenever they want to know how I came about to doing what I am doing. The other interesting thing about all of this is that, Vila is also an accomplished writer who has written several books, and once again, for me writing about do it yourself projects, ‘The Bob Vila Factor’ strikes again.