05/13/2026
Being a business owner is demanding.
It’s not a cake walk.
It’s full of responsibilities, pressures, expenses, expectations, and problem-solving moments that many people never see from the outside looking in.
And when you own equipment and keep supplies on hand… that’s a whole different beast.
Last week, one of my machines started leaking oil.
Honestly, I was scared to even look inside to figure out what was wrong because this machine is used in over 70% of my business. It runs DAILY. It’s not a “nice to have”… it’s a MUST have.
After unscrewing a few panels and opening the machine so I could visually inspect it, I realized the issue had probably been happening long before I ever noticed the oil on the floor.
The bottom pan was completely filled with oil, and every time I used the machine, it would sq**rt out a long stream of oil.
I just sat there thinking…
“Lord, what could possibly be going on?”
I took a closer look, snapped a few pictures, and started making calls.
Long story short… one of the hydraulic cylinders had cracked.
I received an estimate for OVER $3,000 to fix it and that didn’t even include labor or mileage.
Just the repair.
And truthfully?
That kind of money was not just sitting around waiting to be spent.
But something in me kept saying…
“There has to be another way.”
So I found a local hydraulic shop, stopped by, explained the issue, and the owner told me:
“Just get them off the machine and bring them in. We may be able to rebuild them.”
I found someone willing to remove them THAT SAME DAY and took them straight over.
The next day around lunch, I got the call:
“They’ve been rebuilt, tested, and are ready.”
Picked them up.
The following day, the technician reinstalled them in less than 30 minutes.
What was quoted at over $3,000…
God turned into LESS than $1,000.
And just like that… another “But God” moment.
If you don’t hear anything else in this message, hear me when I say this:
To other business owners:
Charge your worth.
There is SO much more happening behind the scenes than simply “having customers.”
You are paying for equipment.
Maintenance.
Utilities.
Supplies.
Repairs.
Knowledge.
Experience.
Time.
Stress.
Sacrifice.
And especially don’t undervalue yourself for people who do not appreciate your gift, your expertise, or your service.
And to customers:
Please stop trying to discount people’s work.
If someone chooses to offer you a discount, appreciate it.
But if they don’t… pay what’s being asked.
Because you’re not just paying for the final product.
You’re paying for the years it took them to learn the craft.
The tools.
The upkeep.
The overhead.
The sacrifices.
And the expertise it takes to deliver it well.
Small businesses carry more than most people will ever know.
But God continues to carry us too. 💜
Siobhan Hardy
