We recently connected with Mitchell Kablak and have shared our conversation below.
Mitchell, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
I cannot say exactly where my self-discipline comes from. But I believe self-discipline is a choice. It’s not something that you just have or don’t have. Everyone has the choice to be disciplined. And it starts with a spark. Whether that’s some motivational video, seeing someone living the life you want to achieve, or simply having the thought of “I want something better”. Everyone faces sparks like this throughout their lives. But it’s the choice of the individual, do you fan this spark and start a fire inside you? Or do you just brush it off and carry on, forgetting about it? I chose to start that fire. And I must say, there is no better feeling than seeing that fire light and spread. Seeing the first bit of success from your labor is amazing. But like any other fire, if you don’t continue to feed it, it will die out. So I guess that’s what keeps me going. That first taste of success from discipline, if I had to say it would’ve been when I was 14 years old. I wanted to be big and strong, so I started lifting weights. It worked. I didn’t have this mindset back then, but I guess that started the journey of my discipline. To be able to say “Hey, I want to improve this aspect of my life so I’m going to actively put my energy towards making that happen” and knowing within that it’s possible. And now to this day, discipline is what dictates my life. It’s what pushes me to improve financially, physically, my relationship with God, my relationship with my fiancé. And the fear of not reaching my true potential with all of these. I don’t want one day to meet God and for him to say, “Look at all these gifts I’ve given you that you wasted. You could’ve done so much good”
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am Mitchell Kablak, I’m a carpenter and cabinetmaker, and I am the owner and founder of Specialized American Woodworking.
The journey of carpentry for me started back in 2016. I was 17, junior year of high school. My wood shop teacher recommended me to a guy in the industry was looking for an apprentice. I decided to take the job, thinking it was just going to be a summer job. I had no desire in me to be a carpenter, and throughout the years of being with that company full time I tried several different business ventures. None of which were a success and actually cost me thousands and thousands of dollars. I actively tried not to be a carpenter in the early years but fate had other plans. I grew to love the trade, and I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity of learning the craft from truly amazing carpenters, some of the best in the industry.
I started S.A.W. About 4 years ago when I was 21 years old. At the time I started it because honestly I just wanted the adventure. I wanted to experience the thrills and the highs and lows of running a company. I also just knew inside me that it was just something I wanted for my life. I had no concrete “vision” for SAW, no mission statement, nothing like that. It was just me. I unknowingly allowed the vision for SAW to be unfolded for me. It’s something to grows day by day. I love what the company has become so far. We’re constantly pushing for improvement. We strive to bring more guys into the trade and provide them with a path to grow. We specialize in Interior millwork installations and custom cabinetry. We love putting our care into every project we take on for our clients.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Knowing what your gifts are. Self discipline. .
Perceptive.
Stay open minded in regards to your overall life picture. Stay on the path.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
Instilling a good foundation of the Catholic faith.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: S.A.W.____
