Morgan Tayek

Eric Girouard  0:00  

This is bucket top, a weekly podcast where people who work in the trades and construction that aren't just trying to survive, but have the ambition and desire to thrive.

The opportunity to trade and construction is absolutely ridiculous right now. So if you're hungry, it's time to eat.

We discuss what it takes to rise from the bottom to the top with people who are well on their way, and roll up their sleeves every single day.

Jeremy Perkins  0:28  

All right, on this episode of bucket talk, we have Morgan tyke of at Captain planks. And Morgan is a maker in the MakerSpace. Welcome, Morgan. Thank you for having me.

Awesome, awesome. So we've done some stuff in the past together giveaway. You have phenomenal woodworking skills, not to mention good taste and music. So we enjoy a lot of your reels. And you do some pretty amazing work. But clearly, you had a journey to get here. And we'd love to dive into that. So go back as far as you want. I'd love to get to know Morgan, you know, from an early stage all the way up to now how you got your start. What made you get into woodworking and you know, feel free to let us know. Cool. Yeah, so I actually other way back. I love the stories.

Morgan Tayek  1:29  

I've always had pretty interesting fun jobs I've worked for like a racing school. So we did a lot of

stock car racing experiences like Formula racing experiences with Porsches. We had Corvettes, lots of fun doing that.

I took an interest in cosmetology for a while I thought I want to do hair turned out I did not want to do that.

So I'm 32 and when I was 18, I started working. I did some work in the cannabis industry in California. And it wasn't fully legal yet and I

love it I thrive at it I did really well with it. I worked in the industry for about 10 years. And then I

it went bad it went sour right before it went legal. And I decided I wanted to get out so I was always creative always artistic always knew I wanted to do something but I couldn't paint like my family could my my mother and my grandmother some people on my dad's side all very artistic but they could paint because look at a blank canvas really bring it to life and I couldn't do that like frustrated the hell out of me because I'm like, What did you come from a long line of our session beautiful

you know, but I couldn't do it. And it made me so mad. So I just started experimenting with other things I

kind of just played with in my head the idea of different mediums and would would always intrigued me furniture, anything the way that it was built, even though I don't make furniture woodworking,

the precision, all of it, it just intrigued me and I'm terrible at math. And I'm not the most precise woodworker. But what I do is more heart driven, it's more, I can take a lot of scraps, a lot of pieces and I can make them fit. Whereas a lot of other woodworkers need specific materials, they need to do very specific math. To achieve what they're looking for mine I can kind of manipulate it hand cut it, squeeze it and make it fit.

So I really found my niche and I started out meat carving hair sticks, whittling them by hand. loved that. Then I got a little more tools. I started making yard games, I made giant dice yard Yahtzee Jenga

that I made little vital signs painted signs that I found the scroll sign once I found the scroll saw it was it was over after that it was

I gave myself about eight months of learning. And I went full throttle started completely scrolling everything that I do. And then I did that for about a year and a half. And then I went full time for it. And then I done that about three and a half years.

So as the scroll saw something that you like jump into, or is that a tool you work up to? I've actually personally never used one of us all types of saws, but that is one is that something that like, you know, is is something that you can just go out and buy and dig around with it and then get proficient in it or is it you need to have a basic understanding of other other types of tools before you can, you know hop on that and start playing? No, you know, I think that with any tool

How do I say it? I mean

With the need to, like, you should always be safe, you should always,

you know, take the right, the necessary precautions, you know, use a variety of things, try different things, but always be safe. I think scrollsaw is a very easy one though to just jump right into for sure. It's, it's not too advanced, and it's one in its own, where there's not really another saw like that aside from a bandsaw, which is more bite in your, you can't get the same corners or the same. You're not going to get the same detail from a bandsaw that you're going to get with a scroll saw. But yeah, I think I think it's also something that anybody can really buy and be proficient in. I think that it's an amazing tool it, it really unlocks a level of creativity. I feel like it's very limitless. It adds to my laser, it adds to everything else that I do it. When you add something scrolled to a piece, I feel like it only amplifies it because of the detail that you can achieve with that.

Jeremy Perkins  6:08  

Awesome. Awesome. So I do want to ask a question only because you brought it up. And I'm super intrigued by as I venture into new trades. Obviously, cosmetology is a trade, it's taught and trade schools. But I kind of wanted to get in and as comfortable as you want to be a little bit into the cannabis industry that is absolutely intriguing. It's legal here in Maine. It's legal in mass, obviously legal in California, Washington and Oregon. As well, yeah. So what was some of the what was some of the issues that you had, then that you feel resolved now? And would you recommend getting into that? That level of work or, or that craft now knowing that it's, it's, it's safer? It's a little bit more regulated, I guess, on a state level anyway. I mean, I remember hearing the stories of them saying like, we can only deal in cash because banks won't let us use it. So like, there was like that unsafe. But then, you know, you still have I mean, up here, they just had a, they just had a bust, because we're close to the border. So Border Patrol pulled over a local guy, and because their federal agents, they ended up getting arrested for having plants, even though they were legal to do so in the state, but because it was federal agents, and they had jurisdiction, these guys literally got screwed. But yeah, what was some what was some of the reasons? Like would you have stayed in it? If it was legal at the time?

Morgan Tayek  7:47  

Well, I actually so I did. I was still up until I left California. I don't know I would say just before I left. So maybe up until 910 months ago, I was still working in the industry. I still did part time work on the side, but it was always remote. I never really had to do anything that I showed up for too much. Really simple work. But I've always maintained my connections. I've always worked in the industry. So I've worked in both the black market and the legal industry. I would say now I don't know I can be a buyer I could be this could be just I have a distaste for the and I don't want this to reflect poorly on me for that ever, because they're paying a distaste for the legal market only because they make it impossible. In California at least they make it impossible for the small business owners to achieve anything now the mom and pop shops, the people who want to have one shops, one or two shops. Everybody who is thriving is funded by a corporate entity. So it's very, very big now like even marble supposed to be coming out with like this whole cannabis thing. And, you know, all these huge, huge corporations are taking over and it's so oversaturated that it makes me sad from a small business point of view. So I do recommend people get into it. And I encourage it because I think it's such a booming industry and I think it helps so many people and it's I really do I really do and I know it's controversial and there's back and forth arguments and I can see both sides all day I see how it like anything, it can become demonized or it can become bad, but

Jeremy Perkins  9:48  

I'm gonna be controversial with my statement. Is it really controversial or is it generational? Because

Morgan Tayek  9:55  

I mean, I do agree. Yeah,

Jeremy Perkins  9:57  

I'll I'll throw it out there. You know I may or may not partake with my father, every now and again up here on the farm. So it's like, and then and then realizing that my dad has been doing it for x, y, z and and I don't know, it's just, it's like, it's like, essentially getting out of your way. But to your point, again, up here in Maine it's it's a weird market to because it is we have medical shops and we have rack shops, and neither of them are the same. So you can't go purchase rack from a medical and you can't and vice versa. And I'm like, This doesn't make sense at all.

Morgan Tayek  10:43  

That's very interesting to me too. Because in California, there's really no at least in Los Angeles where I was there was no separation like there really wasn't. Here in Oregon there is so it's the same shops but there's two prices on each price tag different color. And the colors correspond with medical or recreational Yeah. And that medical is much cheaper than the recreational and I've never seen that before. So the way it is in Maine I haven't seen either because LA it's all just like one.

Jeremy Perkins  11:15  

Yeah, I happen to be I happen to be in one of my my classes for college and he was from California. And he was part of their marketing department. And he's like you went on like it's it's huge. Like we're, we're a big company. And I don't know, it's just interesting, even even hearing now on on. I mean, it didn't take long for colleges to capitalize on it, they have a they have the cultivation degree. So the actual get your hands dirty clipping buds and stuff. And then you have the business side. So your math now. Now they got cannabis degrees. And I'm just like, that didn't take long.

Morgan Tayek  11:55  

You can go to school for consulting now too. And you can start a very, you can charge a few $100 an hour just to do cannabis consulting, excuse me, I want my blanket, cannabis consulting for other companies. So say if you you were a cultivator or an extraction artist, or whatever it may be, you can charge four or $500 an hour and you can go and consult like that

Jeremy Perkins  12:18  

extraction artists. Wow. My, my days as a kid was just like, you know, I don't know. Yeah, it's still to this day, like, looking over your shoulder. It's like it's, it's, it's a non issue. It's a non issue anymore. I don't know. I mean, nowadays, I've actually I sent it to a few of my friends. I don't smell I don't smell cigarette smoke anymore, and really anywhere. But the overwhelming smell of like, everybody's everybody's smell everywhere, everywhere. It's great. So yeah, it's interesting. So back to our regular scheduled program. Let's get let's get into the the wood side of things. So what's interesting is that your family has this artistic background. Clearly, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, you just need to define that that outlet. You happen across the scroll saw and, and woodworking. Who is your inspiration for actually like who, who taught you or how did you learn? Or were you just like you had a DIY project, whether it was like a birdhouse or something and you're like then it kind of snowballed from there. What was it something like was there a pivotal moment or was it just so

Morgan Tayek  13:47  

one of my friends that I connected with through Instagram Christina and my friend Jocelyn Jocelyn Elise designs, and Christina naturally made by hand. Both of them scrolled, like, I think for maybe a year a year or two before I did and then both of them very, very talented, incredible artists and they're a big inspiration to me. Mostly self taught though, other than tips or things you know, do this this would be easier or you know, get multiple signs this way do that. And then as I built the community and as I, you know, connected with people through Instagram, I kind of made more friends in the scrolling community and grafted inspiration from everybody a little bit. One thing I've always prided myself on is I like the I like the off the wall or I guess for lack of a better term like weird or edgy or stuff. I don't you won't always see a lot of super girly pretty signs for me while I Do them and I love them, I have a hard time sharing them and not for any reason in particular, I just I really love the the work that excites me is the stuff that's a little different than what you see out there. So that's why I don't share as often I share about 30% of the work that I actually make, because I just if it's a floral sign, or a nursery sign or something that looks repetitive to my portfolio, I don't find the need to share it. I just want to get it out. And then I share what I'm excited for or new stuff or something I'm proud of, or whatever it may be.

Jeremy Perkins  15:39  

There's the business side, and then there's the absolute, like, love for what you're doing. I mean, as I'm looking your background, the graffiti art like that is that's amazing. It's awesome.

Morgan Tayek  15:49  

Right, right.

Jeremy Perkins  15:50  

That's a great picture. I love that. Yeah, yeah. And I mean, you can sense the edginess to I mean, I huge corn fan, and having you having good, great corn. Yeah, I was just like, I was like, not only am I vibin to some scrolling, but I'm also loving, loving the music's so yeah, no, I mean, you could definitely, you can definitely sense that and in what you do, and that's pretty, pretty amazing. And, you know, I guess if anybody out there knows you, like some of the best artists out there. Some of the best craftsmen tradesmen, and women are, are ones that really are passionate about their work and, and really put their heart and soul blood, sweat and tears. So, you know, again, you take pride in your work, you bring in no meaning to scrolling on Instagram.

Morgan Tayek  16:48  

Hey, that took me longer than I'm proud to say.

Jeremy Perkins  16:52  

I was like, here we go. I got it. But no, I think it's, I think it's great. So what, like, what's the next step for you? I mean, three and a half years? You know, just doing it grinding it out? Is there plans to take on new people? Is there plans to do like, really high end art pieces galleries? Like, like, what what's next for Morgan? I would love to love for you to unleash this. Yeah,

Morgan Tayek  17:25  

no, I. So next, I, that's another reason that I'm so excited about this dis remote work that I'm doing right now. Because I'm able to kind of step back and look at captain's planks as my passion again, and not just my livelihood. Yeah, while it's both, I always want to keep that fire lit, right, I always want to keep the creativity flowing. And if I'm being totally honest, I haven't spoke about any of my personal life in the last year and a half. And I don't know when I will, but things have just taken a wild turn, like life does to all of us, right. And I feel like I've been on autopilot. And I haven't been I've been proud of my work, but I haven't been completely, fully immersed in it. I've just been writing that thin line of like, Alright, I'm getting I'm Production Production, I'm gonna get this out and orders done. And then I don't even share it. I don't have photos of it. I didn't, you know, whatever it may be. So I have like six or seven signs right now that all the contents backlog, they just need to edit it, share it, get the content that I'm very, very, very proud of and they're more in the direction that I want to go. But I've been working on redoing the website, restructuring my business making a new game plan. I want some automated stuff that the laser can handle so that when I am doing this remote work, it's a bit easier. And I've closed off my customs until after summer. So my waitlist right now is about eight months, eight months. So that was about 11 months just Yeah, so I finally started getting caught up. Still more behind that I want to be but I'm grateful for the work that I have lined up and I needed to cut them off. So the goal is to catch up on all of that. Get that all done, pushed out and reformat the direction I go with my customers. I want to work mainly with hardwoods now I want to phase out of paint completely. kind of bring a new style and element to my art. I want to start doing some metal work. I want to learn welding. So I have a lot of plans a lot of new directions. I want to try and go in the next year and yeah, this this remote work that I'm doing even though captain is playing says that For full time right now, it's going to allow me to do that to step back and kind of take the time I need to reformat my business in a way that I know is really going to work for me longevity wise and put that passion back into me that I need because it's the autopilot just doesn't feel the same, you know?

Jeremy Perkins  20:21  

Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I totally agree. And there's there I've had podcasts with, actually Lee Omen, Regal Street, woodshop. He had brought it up electrician by trade, and then does all his, you know, carpentry work outside of it, you know, his wife runs a laser, and everybody's happy. And then I talked to him about like, Hey, what's your next step? And he's like, This is it. Like, I don't want to go more than this, because that I'm gonna lose the love for it. And it was it was kind of refreshing. As I asked that question, you know, there's no wrong answer. Like, for some people, their day job is their day job. And this is an outlet, this is a way to unwind relief, stress, whatever, whatever it may be. And that when you incur more orders, more demand and more people, then the stress comes on that that you are trying to relieve, you know what I mean? So no, I absolutely. It's, it's, it's crazy. And then the other thing I want to bring up are you going to make us camp i Anyway,

Morgan Tayek  21:29  

I've wanted to and I may, I may, especially if I make my way back to the Nashville area. Try try and Skedaddle up that way.

Jeremy Perkins  21:40  

So, but I highly recommend that yeah, I went for the first time last year. And, you know, I weld. I was more in automotive restoration and mechanics and stuff like that. So like, every now and again, I weld an art piece, like my wife would see something on Pinterest and like, you can't do that. And I come home with like, a welded flower. And I was like, Yeah, watch me took me way more. Probably not as pretty, but I was like, see, I can do that. But anyway, so I was there. And just the, again, the maker community is just unbelievable. I every time I get on and talk about makers it's like it's a welcoming community. I mean, we have blacksmiths to well, there's to you know, all types of woodworking epoxy now I mean, that's, that has taken the makerspace by by train or by by storm. I mean total boat hats off to you just just absolutely found a new avenue for for making it work. Really?

Morgan Tayek  22:46  

Yeah.

Jeremy Perkins  22:48  

But what was interesting is is like you know, when we brought the team up, they were now learning to weld was Lincoln you know, our our video guy Dylan, he's out there forging in the, in the in the blacksmith was like, it was amazing. It was it was like it was cool. So I highly recommend it. It's a great it's a great time it's Columbus Day weekend. I if if I don't go as a Brunt entity I would absolutely go as a personal entity it is amazing.

Morgan Tayek  23:21  

maker's campus so why would I recommend it that's the one that I think that I would want to go to the most I'm not a what not not a big Workbench con person. Nothing against it. It just doesn't seem like the event that I would have. Yeah, but Maker Camp seems like a great time.

Jeremy Perkins  23:44  

Yeah, I I didn't make it there and I can't really speak Yeah, people go

Morgan Tayek  23:49  

a lot of people have a great time. Yes. And I know some who have not, but you know, neither here nor there. I think Maker Camp sounds a lot more fun.

Jeremy Perkins  23:59  

2% and only because I've been so that's yeah, that's what is fun. But so I saw so just to get back on topic, I had seen a creator who I can't I don't know his name. But he did a lot of pieces for like like the bowls or, you know, sports teams or whatever. But essentially he takes all different types of wood and makes a mural out of it using the colors and the grains, the natural colors and the natural grains of the wood. So it's almost like a mosaic right? And it was it was it's not like in the abstract where you're like is that a face? It was literally like a depiction like the guys do with the Rubik's Cubes nowadays, which is amazing in its own right. But yeah, he does these pieces that are that are portrait pieces done by you know all different types of woods from all over the world and using their now natural colors. Is that kind of not the mosaic piece. But is that kind of what you want to get into is using the natural grains, the natural colors instead of using paint with?

Morgan Tayek  25:10  

Yeah, so the technique you're referring to actually, if what you're describing is what I'm thinking is in Tarja. And it's where people essentially you're, you're puzzling together pieces of, you know, hardwood, and you're using the natural grain and you're manipulating the orientation and shaping it and giving it dimension. And then piecing it all together like a puzzle. And you get your image, whatever it may be, whether it be a person's face and animal a shoe. But yes, yes, that is what I want to do. And funny that you mentioned that because I just did that. One of the newest things on my feed is that big walnut mountain range that I did, that's like five by five feet by two feet. And I did just that I used all hardwoods, I pieced it together going different directions manipulated that I shaped everything. I haven't shared the finished piece yet, because it's still in Tennessee, and it needs to go to North Carolina. And I did not get enough content before leaving because I suck at my job some days, man. So it's still there. And the Andrew can get it. So he'll he'll be sending me that soon. And I will be getting out some content of that. But that is one of my most recent signs that I'm I'm most proud of. And it is the direction I'd like to go. Yes.

Jeremy Perkins  26:47  

Yeah, no, and that and that's cool. And you bring up Andrew he's been he's been an awesome collaborator. He's He's very knowledgeable in the woodworking industry as well. Gotta give a shout out to cold brew. But, but at the same time, are you learning a lot from him? And like, he's got a different technique. He's more furniture and stuff like that. And And is he learning from you? You're learning from him like this? This is a cool collaboration. Yeah.

Morgan Tayek  27:19  

So that's such a cool question. Because it's my favorite thing. And I probably talked about it multiple, multiple times a week to him, like I kid you not it I am constantly constantly learning from that man. I mean, he is insanely talented, but insane. sanely precise, his attention to detail is just unparalleled, unmatched, like. And the same. I like I like to think the same with me and my work. And, you know, I've taught him a lot about schooling, you've taught him a lot about paint, I've taught him a lot about the finish side of the paint side of finishing, whereas he's taught me a lot about the hardwood finishing. So I mean, it was working, there was huge, I used tools I haven't got my hands on and I don't have in my shop I really learned a lot about like you said, he's more. I always say I'm more of we're both artists, but I am more of that like artistic. Like I said, In the beginning, I manipulate it and force it to fit. He's the precision woodworker. And that is a side of woodworking that fascinates me because it's never been my strong suit. But I I love it. It's such it's an art form that I love, you know, obviously it's, it's a world. So yeah, we, I like to say, we both equally learn from each other. I'm constantly learning from him. I mean, even when he's not deliberately teaching me, I'm just absorbing because his brain works out loud. And I love people like that. I love people who are in the zone, but they're verbal, or you can see what they're doing or they're, you know, and so being around and working on FaceTime, whatever it may be, I'm always always learning from him. He's, it's, it's really cool for our worlds to come together. But we don't step on each other's toes because we do different things.

Jeremy Perkins  29:22  

Yeah, yeah. And that that was interesting because there was a point in my career in the automotive industry that I had maxed out my capabilities at a mom and pop so a small mom and pop garage. And the shop foreman had since moved on, and he was 50 something years old, and I had taken his position, but I'm 30 something years old at the time, and I'm like, as as like, proud as I am to be in this position and as capable as I am to be here. I also don't want to stunt my growth. Right um, I'm 30 something years old, and I'm the top dog in this position like not in the, not in the whole ecosystem, because I'm sure somebody out there will be like, you don't know. Anyway,

Morgan Tayek  30:08  

everyone thinks,

Jeremy Perkins  30:09  

I know, right? So, but for me, I was I was scared, because I'm a visual learner, I'm one that can pick up on what people are doing. I'm not somebody that's going to hit the textbooks and, and be able to watch videos and really, like, get my next level of direction, like I need to almost see it in action, be a part of it. And then no problem. I'm ready to go. Right. And, and then there's also confidence to like, the confidence that somebody that's tenured like that has when it comes to situation. You know, you're overthinking it, they simplify, they're like, screwdriver, Doom things out, you're like, How'd you do that? And I don't know, long story short, is that it's good to see that you be at the top of your game. And then you find somebody else to be able to push you that much further. Expand your skills, expand your knowledge base, and then you do the same I mean, your your spray painting, I mean, you've had to have tag something. A bridge underpass the way you the way you rattle them can, you know, you know, there was a mask at some point in time you're on the i 95. On the

Morgan Tayek  31:38  

great, it's it's the it's the painting and I'm from LA, that's what it is. No, it's I was laughing when you were describing all of that, because you were talking about, you know, oh, you're over there with a screwdriver and somebody who's seasoned, we can teach you a lot and all of this, you know, and it's so true. Because it's both of us. Like I I like to think that he saves me time while I make him step back and enjoy time. So you know, I stopped I slumped down. Hey, man, like, you need to stop asking me what my next step is, because I want to sit here and I want to stare at this for another 20 minutes. And you're going to either watch me stare at this or go do something else. Because I need to do this. And this is like an artistic approach right now. Right? But then I'm actually physically doing something in woodworking. And he was like, Hold on, let me save you 20 minutes, because I don't know why you're doing this, like we are still with the dinosaurs, you know, and I'm over here like, making it harder. I have an affinity for making anything I can as hard as absolute possible like it. If it could take me an hour, I'm gonna find a way to take three. I'm going to I'm just I am so bad at that. So he constantly I mean, he helps me save time. But I like to think like, Hey, I slow you down a little bit and like, remind you to take into the login part.

Jeremy Perkins  33:06  

So I usually ask the question, like, what's your next hurdle, but it sounds like that's a TBD. It sounds like there's going to be an unveiling. So more to come with Morgan, I won't spoil the surprise. Usually I asked for exclusivity, like, Hey, you can launch it on here. But well, we'll pass that you can. You can launch it on your channel.

Morgan Tayek  33:28  

There's some big, big changes, big, big changes.

Jeremy Perkins  33:33  

Why I don't want to ruin it. But ya know, so one of the things is like, what another question I'd like to ask is, I guess, along the hurdle lines, is like, what's a big hurdle? And how did you overcome actually making that jump from like, having a full time job outside of this, and then making this your full time job, but also being able to like, recognize the signs of like, hey, I need to pick up something a little extra, make things work? And it seems like the way you talk about it, it seems like it's cohesive and calculated, maybe it's a little more chaotic, you know, off screen. But yeah, how do you? How do you manage that that ebbs and flows and make it work for you?

Morgan Tayek  34:23  

Yeah, good questions, man. Um, so I think that's a mental battle, because I have had my moments of feeling like, oh, things, like I feel a little defeated, going back to work, right. But instead of thinking of any of it in a negative light, which is really not it's an opportunity for growth. So I had some big, big changes in the last year. My life kind of switch direction. I have stuff that I'm dealing with back in California, it's still that, you know, whatever. So I'm doing my Best to enjoy what I have right now. And rebuild, rebuild what I have right now, and my business is the one thing that I've managed to hold on to, and I always will hold on to it I, it means the world to me, I love what I do. So this is just another opportunity for growth, I see it as I'm at my max with production, I'm not in a position that I want to hire an employee or I can hire an employee. And my waitlist is maxed out. So by doing this, I'm going to catch up on work, my art is going to be better, my attitude is going to be better. My mindset is going to be better. My relationships, my friendships, everything's going to be better. So I think that those like ebbs and flows, that's just natural. That's a natural part of life. I didn't come into this going full time thinking alright, man, I'm gonna retire myself woodworking. Yes, that is the goal. But you have to be ready for adjustments. That could be anything. I'm, like I said, 32 years old, I could have a kid, something can happen in life, I could end up changing direction completely. Where yeah, now I need to be okay, in my mind with whatever changes involved. So right now, this is I'm sacrificing my time for the sake of accountability, and to restructure my business and to be able to take my place myself and my business and take myself to places that I wouldn't have been able to do if I was just hustling for that next dollar and, you know, extending that waitlist out and adding the stress and doing all of that so.

Jeremy Perkins  36:49  

So for for me a lot. So a lot of people ask me, were you scared? Were you scared to start your own business? Were you scared to make that jump? I mean, we have a farm we have hundreds and probably a million dollars in liabilities, right? We have we have riders We have horses we have you name it, right. I mean, anything can happen. Anything can happen at any moment in time like to think about it is is almost nauseating. Right? So so people people say, you know, are you scared? And I think the question is more uncomfortable. And I think the being uncomfortable makes me strive and make things more buttoned up. If I was scared, I don't think I would have done it. Yes. So I think there's a lot of I think there's a lot of misconceptions on like the difference between scared and and then just taking the jump and and being uncomfortable. Yeah, I'm freaking uncomfortable. But like, I also want this right this is this is what I want to do. This is so so scared. No, I'm more excited to be honest with you. Yeah. But yeah, I mean, I'm in in phase in my life where I mean, we're a two year old business now. My my farm and everything like that, and like most businesses fail within the first two years and now it's, you know, who knows recession money, this all that stuff? Like, are people going to spend money on horses? Like, cost of goods go up everything so I am, I think keeping my head in the weeds sometimes and not going up and like Look here is sometimes better. It's like just keep your eye on like day to day tasks. But yeah, I mean, are you excited for the new phase? Are you uncomfortable? You're scared?

Morgan Tayek  38:47  

I am all of the above. I'm not scared. Not scared. never scared. Because if I get scared i This sounds so corny. Man. It sounds so corny to say out loud, but if I literally pick it scared myself, no matter what happens, no matter what kind of shit show anything turns into the world keeps spinning. Your heart keeps beating. You're alive. You're live your life. That circumstance you want to be grateful for that or not. That's up to you. Every everybody's different. I personally happy very happy. I'm here. I'm alive. But my heart keeps beating world still spinning. Everything's fine. I have a roof over my head and food on my table. Not scared, not scared. Everything else. Yes, I'm uncomfortable. But I think that a key part of it everything in life, whether it be relationships, work, art, anything it you got to be comfortable with getting uncomfortable, uncomfortable, really. You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's just the that's in anything in communication and love in life and stress and setbacks and whatever This you got to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. So this is scary,

Jeremy Perkins  40:05  

right that tattoo for all you young?

Morgan Tayek  40:11  

Go get it. Yeah, so it's just, it is it is a little uncomfortable the adjustment under percent, like when I want it, it's the silliest shit to it's like when I want to go to the grocery store and it's noon, or something, you know, like I'm like, Oh yeah, I can do that and like, Oh no, no, you can't Monday through Friday, you can't do that. You can't go to the grocery store at that time, right? You know those?

Jeremy Perkins  40:35  

Oh your God. Yeah, those

Morgan Tayek  40:36  

moments where I'm like,

Jeremy Perkins  40:39  

my wife does not adhere to those rules. She's like, not gonna. But she's one. She's one that'll work with the horses until two in the morning. Yes. Like, there's that she doesn't have that balance. It's just, it's just a revolving clock. Yeah, it's like, it's 24 hours a day, seven days. Yeah,

Morgan Tayek  40:56  

I'm treating this what I'm doing remotely right now. I'm Trump basically troubleshooting people's units within their homes. Yeah, so I don't know that I can do that late at night and still do my job. So for me it no grocery store at noon for now. And those are these stupid, uncomfortable moments that I just am dealing with. I'm like, Alright, the freedom, you don't have the freedom, but it's gonna be okay. Because you can still have those bad days. And focus on yourself at the end of the day, focus on your business at the end of the day, and you still have something coming in where there's no pressure on yourself. And that's what I wanted to really alleviate was the pressure. I wanted to do something that was going to take the pressure off of my passion.

Jeremy Perkins  41:41  

You're like an onion. There's so many layers to you right now. Like I didn't even realize that what I was unpacking when I asked you to be on the show. I mean, troubleshooting units. Cannabis industry, too. I mean, like, Are you a volunteer firefighter?

Morgan Tayek  42:01  

I don't know. Sometimes I think about it. And then I worked before I right before I went full time woodworking. So I quit the cannabis industry, bought all my tools didn't know how to use them. I watched YouTube to learn how to use most of them got inspiration. Yeah, got inspiration on scrolling from some of my friends, that too, I told you about. And then I went to work for a little bit in a law firm for a couple of years. And I did like medical records and stuff at the law firm. So it's very odd. Yeah, very weird layers. But just very, very rare. There's I've never had a normal like, serving or, you know, I probably would have been good for me. But the jobs that I did have built a lot of character and allowed me and gave me the skills and equipped me to be able to run my own business and do what I've done for three years too. So

Jeremy Perkins  42:55  

if you can't get hired out there, and you're looking for a job, Morgan will give you tips on how to get any job in any industry. Because she is a pro. No, that's awesome. I mean, you're, you're a jack of all trades. I mean, I think that that's amazing. It's a lot of people don't realize that. It's showing up on time. It's being trustworthy. It's the willingness to work. And that was kind of again, the thesis for bucket talk is is like you a lot of times you don't need schooling, you don't need this, you don't need that. To get a job in the trades. You just need to go inquire, say how do I be a part of this. And as long as everybody gets a good feeling about you, and that's usually first impression, a lot of times we'll go the extra mile, just to get you in the door, Hey, you want to do part time work, you want to sweep the shop, you want to do this? Like there's always a position for somebody who wants to do it. And yeah, I mean, it's amazing. Like you don't, you don't have to come in with this monster resume and say, whatever. If you really want to get into trades, just go to a business that you are interested in. I mean, hell, nobody asked for job applications anymore. I don't even think they have paper forms anymore. So

Morgan Tayek  44:15  

no, and I think a lot of people nowadays really underestimate the value and just being upfront with someone like, you know, we live in such an age of information and everybody needs to know everything and has to know everything and have all the fuckin answers and whatever it may be in it, you know, just you want you want to start something you want to go somewhere you want a job somewhere you've never been before you just let them know that you're eager you're willing to learn and that you're you want to be in a position at a place somewhere that you can ask questions because questions are a sign of intelligence and knowledge is power and you want to fucking grow. And you just put yourself in a position that you look like you're humble and you're ready to learn, because that is what you should be doing. You shouldn't be there like a note All you shouldn't come into anywhere with an ego or a chip on your shoulder. Nobody wants to encounter people like that. Nobody wants to work with people like that, or even. Yeah, I really deal with family members. You know, nobody wants to

Jeremy Perkins  45:14  

like that. So I'll glad one shot.

Morgan Tayek  45:17  

He knows everything. Yeah, he's got all the answers. Exactly. So it feels like I don't know, it's just one of those things that if you really want a position somewhere you want to get into a trade or you want to get into anything that's different from what you've done. If you've only been a server you want to be in an office, doesn't matter what you want to do. Just be humble, humble yourself, be open for to learn, open to learn open to do something new and to tell whoever you're applying for, you're talking to, I want to learn, I want to learn and I want to be somewhere that I can learn and I can grow and

Jeremy Perkins  45:56  

Oh, yeah. Alright, so enough of our talk of the trades and the job and everything. What do you do when the clock is punched? For unwinding? Other than I would assume we've been in the cannabis industry we partake

Morgan Tayek  46:18  

we get that's an ebb and flow to

know but what do you do on your off time?

Hello. Let's see. When I was in Tennessee, I just discovered how much I really love shooting. So that's new. That's new. I can't stop thinking about that. But haven't done that since being back. Other than that, I've done a lot of in California and did a lot of fishing. I like to surf I like there's a lot that I don't do an Oregon and I'm new here so I don't do anything. Riveting stuff. Let me tell you my dog, Enzo, we do a lot. We play a lot of fetch. Look at me.

Jeremy Perkins  47:05  

If you follow her, you know, Enzo, just yeah,

Morgan Tayek  47:08  

he's a he's a one and a half year old 103 pound golden retriever. And he's a he's got no brakes. He's all gas. He's no brakes. He'll plow through your shins like he's been he's, he's great. Yeah, I'm still getting acquainted to where I am where I am in Oregon. I'm right on the beach. Then the area's called Beverly beach. It's a Newport Oregon. It's absolutely gorgeous. Everything looks like it's out of a calendar. I love it. But it's freezing and it's always raining. And I'm not gonna lie. I'm a wussy man. I I was at the beach in California for the last five years I was you know in Glen and like desert heat before that. So not used to the rain. I used to the cold adjusting still here and I can't even tell you I don't I don't do a whole lot here. I really when I want to like disconnect or do something fun. I spend time in the shop. And I just do something for fun. If it was weather and temperature controlled, I mean I would be out in the water. I would be in the ocean. Water is my favorite place to be. I'd love to fish. Love to get outdoors. They love to hike. I love to be with my dog. I love to take him anywhere I can go. So pretty standard stuff. I like to get outside as much as I can when the weather permits it. And here it's called.

Jeremy Perkins  48:38  

Well, I think when weather permits it you might have chose the wrong area because there's a lot of rain. I'll tell you. It's cold.

Morgan Tayek  48:48  

Tennessee, though.

Jeremy Perkins  48:53  

But for me, I mean I love I love the cold. I'm actually I'm hating the fact that it's warming up. I like wood stoves. I like splitting wood. I like snow sports. Just great beer drinking weather. Like I don't like drinking beer when I'm hot.

Morgan Tayek  49:09  

So I wouldn't argue that that is that is true. But I used to love drinking beer at the river when it's like 100 degrees to just like a cold beer and it's like hot it's like you're like sweltering and dying and

Jeremy Perkins  49:23  

I don't know may call me West for this but like at that point I'm going for the glass of water

Morgan Tayek  49:28  

that to that two

Jeremy Perkins  49:32  

people who know me I like Did he really just say that?

Morgan Tayek  49:37  

Like right man. Okay good. I don't think I've ever seen him drinking water. Good one. Yeah.

Jeremy Perkins  49:44  

But ya know, I mean, it's cool. I mean, I've been I've been a tendency in Tennessee's absolutely gorgeous, I think I think if I was to live outside of Saturday I migrated from from Massachusetts up to Maine. it again in search of that more, outdoorsy, more rural feel. I guess sick of all the noise to put it correctly. Yeah. But I guess if I was to do it over again, I would find myself in like South Carolina, North Carolina. So not too far from Tennessee, and it's gorgeous there. I can't. I cannot live on the coast. I mean, I don't live on the coast. But like, if I said, Hey, I want to go to the beach. I'm there. I'm not a beach person. I like the ocean.

Morgan Tayek  50:31  

I know. You know, I thought that for a long time. I mean, I've spent my whole life basically there but the lakes in some of these states are pretty big. Where I was like, Alright, I could paddle board on there and you get like some movement. It's not just a dead lake, but it's still not an ocean. I agree with you. I do. I do agree with you. i It's hard to think of leaving an ocean.

Jeremy Perkins  50:55  

Yeah, yeah. I mean, other than we got like jellyfish and

Morgan Tayek  50:58  

stuff. Dude, I've been stung by a jellyfish have you?

Jeremy Perkins  51:03  

Yeah, but not like the jellyfish that you guys got? You guys got like Portuguese man of war. We got these little covered

Morgan Tayek  51:08  

in those covered in them. I swear. And it's funny. It's ironic because I'm Portuguese. So I got they got I was in Hawaii, actually. And I got stung by those. And then in Huntington Beach in California. I got some way a regular jellyfish. Yeah, but the Portuguese

Jeremy Perkins  51:31  

crazy stuff. So well, this is the end of it. It's been a pleasure, I'm sure that we could pick another trade that you've worked in for the next podcast, because I think this is gonna be kind of become something. But if anybody wanted to get to know more about scroll saws more about, I guess, purchasing one where to start. Your paint techniques are crazy. There's nothing again, nothing like somebody that can wield a rattle can is, is pretty good. Thank you. So I trust me I've spray bomb stuff in my life and nothing ever came out pretty. I'm like, I don't know how they do all this stuff like half the hips clogged. So if you want to learn more about what Morgan does, where can they find you, Morgan

Morgan Tayek  52:24  

on Instagram captain's planks. You can also find me captain's planks.com. There's a little message request form there. There's a chat there. And all of that goes, just kicks back to my email. And it directs you to all of my social media there too. So yeah, and anybody who has questions on any of that, I mean, feel free to reach out I sometimes take a week or so to get through message requests. But for the most part, I mean, answer questions. I like to talk to people. I don't put out huge tutorials or anything crazy, but I'll always answer your question.

Jeremy Perkins  53:00  

Sounds good. Well, thanks for being on the show. This has been amazing.

Morgan Tayek  53:03  

Thank you for having me. It was nice to finally a face to face meet you.

Jeremy Perkins  53:08  

And as a special thanks to our loyal listeners, were giving $10 off your next purchase of $60 or more at brunch, workwear.com Use Discount Code bucket talk. And that's bucket talk. 10