10/18/2026
Throwback story time! 😅
About 20 years ago, I went to give an estimate in a cookie-cutter neighborhood where literally every single house looked identical. Fast forward to the next day—feeling totally confident and skipping the GPS—I pull up, grab my gear, and spend the entire day painting a house’s exterior shutters, trim, and garage door.
All day long I’m wondering, “The homeowner said she’d be here, why is nobody answering the door?” But I just kept right on working.
End of the day rolls around, and I finally call her.
Her: "Where are you? I've been home all day waiting for you."
Me: "Well, I’m right here, and I just finished painting your house."
Her: "Um... you are NOT at my house."
Turns out, I had accidentally pulled up to the wrong house on the wrong street and completely painted a total stranger's place! I stuck my business card on the door, told the neighbor to let him know it was an early Christmas present, and headed over to actually do the job I was hired for.
The best part? The guy whose house I accidentally painted loved the work so much he insisted on paying me anyway—and asked me to come back and finish his front door. Plus, that one accidental wrong turn on the wrong street ended up landing me three brand-new jobs from the neighbors.
Moral of the story: Always use your GPS, even if you think you know the neighborhood, because sometimes a massive blunder turns into a massive win! 🎨🤦♂️
