Time is unlike money or even that missing sock from the laundry—it’s the one thing you can never get back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. That’s why I value my time almost obsessively—or rather, efficiently. I know how precious it is, so I make sure to get the most out of every second.

At Uncarved Block, I run a tight ship. I’ve set up processes so that every task takes only the time it truly requires/deserves, and if something’s going to take longer, there’s an extra charge. It’s my way of saying, “If you want my time, it’s valuable—because I’m not getting any more of it.” It’s a principle rooted in fairness and honesty, and it’s a reminder to all of us to respect our own time a bit more.

Take Uncarved Block holds, for example. Some of you may have noticed the black-and-white yin-yang insert is now part of the hold rather than inserted after,  adding a coulpe more steps to production. Why? Because of time. While inserting that yin-yang into a single hold may not take long, doing it thousands of times eats up hours/weeks/months that I could use elsewhere. Sure, I love the look of the original design too, but in the end, I value my time more.

You might have also noticed a discount for selecting “random color” holds. This isn’t just for fun; it’s about efficiency. Random color means I can take the hold off the shelf and ship it without extra steps. I also avoid inventory tracking for colors—it’s another time-saver, sparing me hours of updates that could will 100% lead to mistakes and frustrating customer service fixes for both you and I.

I’ll admit, I can be hard to get a hold of. If I don’t need to be at Uncarved Block, I’m not there—and my business phone stays behind. That means I’m off running, climbing, mountain biking, sipping tequila, culling ferals, long walks at sunset, napping etc—enjoying life on my terms.

Most people, however, don’t think this way. I know people on a salary working way more hours than they realize, and if you broke down their pay per hour over a year, it’s hardly better than a teenager’s allowance. They pour in time and energy, making countless sacrifices, yet vastly underestimate the true worth of their time.

To quote Henry Rollins: “No such thing as spare time, no such thing as free time. No such thing as down time. All you got is life time… go!" 

I take my time seriously. I organize it, guard it, and make the most of every chance I get. Every minute saved in hold production is another minute I can spend on things that matter to me.   Don't get me wrong, I genuinely enjoy making, designing, and selling these products, but they don’t define me, nor are they the most important part of my life. In the end, every moment counts, and I’d rather spend mine building a life I love than wasting a second I’ll never get back.