Unpredictable future

This letter has been hanging on the wall in my shop for almost 10 years.

It reminds me where this chapter of Trailer Alarms really began.

In December 2014, while driving home from a family Christmas trip, I got a phone call from the owner and manufacturer of the Pro-Tec trailer security system.

After being their top dealer for several years, and selling more systems than all of the trailer manufacturers combined, he asked if I would be interested in acquiring the company.

It was exciting.

It was also intimidating.

I asked for a couple of weeks to think it over and, more importantly, talk it through with my wife.

By March 2015, I was in North Carolina loading equipment, inventory, and years of history into a truck headed back to Texas.

There were plenty of unknowns.

You don’t know what you don’t know.

Eighteen months later, I made the final payment.

This letter confirmed the business was completely ours.

Since then we’ve redesigned products, brought manufacturing in-house, started 3D printing our own enclosures, developed new software, worked directly with programmers, expanded into new markets, and even changed small things that make a difference, like printing installation instructions as orders are shipped instead of keeping hundreds of preprinted copies on the shelf.

Every now and then I look up at this letter.

It’s a reminder that some of the biggest opportunities come wrapped in uncertainty.

I’m glad I answered that phone call.