Tag: writing

The switch up

For a long time, Wood Bully lived in two worlds at the same time. One foot was firmly planted in the day-to-day public construction grind—quotes, timelines, weather delays, materials, client expectations, and the constant pressure of doing everything right while still staying profitable. The other foot was already standing in media—filming builds, telling stories, educating, entertaining, traveling, collaborating, and building something much bigger than a single job site. For years, we tried to balance both. And for a while, that worked. Until it didn’t.

The truth is, the construction side started demanding more and more of our energy while giving us less room to grow creatively and strategically. Not because we don’t love building—we do—but because running a public-facing construction company comes with a level of responsibility and risk that makes innovation harder, not easier. Every job meant real clients, real deadlines, real stress, and real consequences if anything went sideways. At the same time, the media side kept pulling us forward. The audience was growing. The impact was growing. The opportunities were growing. And we were constantly asking ourselves why the thing that was clearly working had to be treated like a side hustle.

So we made a decision that looks big from the outside, but honestly felt inevitable on the inside. We chose focus. We chose to stop splitting ourselves in half and go all-in on what Wood Bully has already become: a media brand built on real construction knowledge, real personalities, and real storytelling. Moving away from day-to-day public construction wasn’t about walking away from the industry—it was about serving it better. Through content, we can reach millions instead of dozens. We can educate, challenge, entertain, and push the trade forward without being limited by one project at a time.

What’s important to say clearly is this: the Wood Bully channel is not changing. The builds don’t stop. The chaos doesn’t stop. The honesty doesn’t stop. The sawdust doesn’t magically disappear. If anything, this shift allows us to do more—bigger builds, better production, deeper education, more behind-the-scenes, and more time spent actually creating instead of constantly firefighting logistics. We’re not becoming a talking-head media company. We’re doubling down on being builders who know how to tell a story.

We’re excited because this move gives us control. Control over our schedule. Control over our creative direction. Control over how we grow and who we collaborate with. It allows us to build sustainable systems, invest in our team, and think long-term instead of job-to-job. It also lets us protect the Wood Bully brand in a way that public construction simply doesn’t anymore. No rushed timelines. No compromising quality. No forcing creativity into the cracks of an already overloaded calendar.

This isn’t an ending—it’s an evolution. Wood Bully was never just a construction company. It was always a voice, a perspective, and a way of showing the industry as it actually is. Going full-time media doesn’t take us away from that. It finally puts us exactly where we were heading all along.

The Most Important Lesson I’ve Learned Working in This Industry

If there’s one thing this industry has taught me — the kind of lesson you only learn after years of trial, error, and stubbornness — it’s this:

If you don’t know what you’re building toward, everything around you will pull you in a hundred directions at once.

And not gently.

This space is loud. Everyone has an opinion, everyone has a strategy, everyone swears they’ve cracked the code. And if you’re not anchored by something real, you’ll find yourself scrolling Google for escape plans and foreign residency requirements before your coffee gets cold. (Hypothetically. Maybe.)

People see the final outcome — the polished videos, the polished projects, the audience numbers — and assume there’s a straight line connecting all of it. But nothing about what we do is linear. Growth has a personality disorder. Some seasons feel electric and effortless; some feel like you’re dragging the entire internet up a hill.

What has surprised me most isn’t the workload. It’s the emotional weight of leading something that has its own identity now. Wood Bully and Bully Media aren’t just “our businesses” anymore — they are a living, breathing thing with expectations, momentum, and people who rely on it. There’s a responsibility that comes with that, one that grows louder the bigger this gets.

And that’s exactly why Gordon built this the way he did.

Not for attention.

Not for clout.

Not for internet fame.

He built it because he hoped that someday, all of this effort would circle back to his family — to more time, more stability, and more choices than either of us had growing up. Wood Bully started as a way to build something that would outlive the hustle. Something that could create freedom, not chaos. Something that could rewrite what “work” looks like for our family in the long run.

The part people don’t see is that purpose evolves.

It’s not a moment — it’s a discipline.

A practice.

A constant recalibration.

Purpose is what forces you to make decisions that aren’t popular but are necessary.

Purpose is what keeps you from taking shortcuts when the easier road is right there.

Purpose is what stops you from letting ego run the show.

Purpose is what keeps the entire thing aligned when the outside world feels messy.

And in a space where trends flip every five minutes, where platforms reinvent themselves overnight, and where everybody swears they found a “new formula,” that purpose has become the only compass worth following.

I’ve learned that success isn’t one big decision — it’s a thousand tiny agreements you make with yourself:

Who you want to be.

What kind of company you want to run.

What kind of impact you want to leave behind.

What kind of example you’re setting while you build it.

Everything around Wood Bully has evolved. The audience, the content, the direction, the opportunities — all of it has changed dramatically from where we started. But the intention behind it hasn’t drifted even an inch.

We’re here to build something that outlasts trends, noise, and algorithms.

Something anchored in the kind of values that don’t go out of style.

Something our kids can look at and understand exactly what we stood for.

That — not the numbers, not the platforms, not the industry chaos —

is the reason we’re still standing.

And the reason we’ll still be standing ten years from now.

Q: How do you price brand partnerships? Is there a formula to make sure you’re not undercharging or overcharging?

When I asked Gord this question, he didn’t hesitate. He said, “No. There’s no formula. The best advice I was ever given—and it actually makes sense—is you charge what the market will allow.” He explained that in this space, we’re not negotiating with regular people who saved up for their backyard. We’re dealing with corporations. These companies are handed budget money, and their job is to take that budget and generate as much buzz and visibility as possible. So when they come to you, they’re not coming with emotion or personal sacrifice. They’re not stretching their personal savings. They’re looking for a return.

“That humility, that blue-collar shame that gets built into us from the time we’re kids—the idea that we shouldn’t ask for more, or that we don’t deserve more—that’s wrong. Corporations don’t care what your rates are. They care what fits in the budget. They’re not taking it personally. Smaller companies might take it personally, and honestly, you might have to avoid those, the same way you avoid small construction jobs that cause more trouble than they’re worth.”

He pointed out how strange the landscape is. “These companies will go pay ten times more to a magazine that nobody reads anymore, or a TV show that doesn’t give them proper credit, or some outdated website with no audience. They’ll throw huge amounts of money at dead marketing channels, but hesitate with creators who get millions of views. That’s the part people forget—you’re not just making content. You’re editing, producing, hosting, broadcasting, and your likeness also costs money. You’re basically the production company, the network, the actor, and the editor, all in one.”

Then he made the comparison that most creators never say out loud: “We actually perform better than TV. Our company reaches more people in a month than HGTV does. So technically, we should charge more than a traditional TV commercial. But we don’t. And that’s because the space is still new, and a lot of the decision-makers are older. They don’t always understand the value they’re getting.”

What about when a brand gets offended by your price? Gordon was blunt: “If someone’s offended that you asked for the rate you feel you deserve, that’s not someone you want to work with anyway.”

He also talked about something that creators rarely discuss publicly—the tension with certain marketing directors. “Some smaller companies hire marketing directors who went to university, got their marketing degree, and they’re very proud of that. They look down on people like me—a construction worker who one day tossed his apprentice a phone and started this whole thing. But now they need me to push their product. They’ll give you attitude, try to micromanage your edit, or ‘fix’ your video. Yet when you look at their socials? Nothing going on. They might know a lot academically, but they don’t know what I do.”

He wasn’t bitter about it—just realistic. “You have to ignore the egos. Keep moving. Don’t let someone else’s pride or credentials make you doubt your worth.”

Then he said something I think every creator should hear: “You can’t take yourself too seriously, but you’ve got to know what you’re worth. And you can’t work backwards. You can’t work for free. You can’t work just for money. And you can’t let your ego drive the bus.”

He talked about creators who will do massive work for almost nothing, just so they can say they have a “paid partnership.” “That’s an ego thing. It’s not business. For me, I’ve always stayed away from paid partnerships. I don’t want my whole page to turn into a commercial. I don’t think that helps build a brand. In fact, I think it hurts it. You’ve got to be selective. You’ve got to pick partners who understand value and respect your work.”

In the end, Gord’s answer wasn’t a formula—it was a mindset. Know your worth. Know the market. Don’t let old-school thinking or someone else’s ego convince you that you deserve less. And price based on value, not fear.

Why We Choose the Brands We Work With (And Why We Turn Others Down)

People see us working with big brands now and think it’s always been like this. Like companies just magically showed up one day wanting to partner with us. But anyone who’s been following us for a while knows that’s not the truth.
We built everything from scratch.
We showed up everywhere before anyone even knew our names.
We paid out of pocket for every trade show, every flight, every hotel, every meeting — all because we believed in what we were building long before the industry believed in us.
So when people ask, “How do you decide which brands you work with?”
The answer comes from years of showing up, learning, getting burned, getting back up, and figuring out what actually matters.
Here’s how we choose — and why we turn others down.

  1. We Only Work With Brands We Actually Use
    This one is simple: if it’s not something we genuinely use on the job or in the shop, we’re not putting our name on it.
    We’ve spent years in the trades. We know what works and what doesn’t. We know which tools hold up on a real jobsite and which ones barely survive unboxing. So if a brand reaches out and the product isn’t something we’d use in our actual work, it’s a no — even if they’re waving money around.
    Our audience isn’t stupid. They can tell the difference between authentic and “I posted this because they paid me.”
    We don’t play that game.
  2. We Choose Brands Who Respect the Work Behind the Work
    People think content is easy until they’re the ones doing it.
    A 30-second video might take:
    • an entire day of filming
    • lighting
    • audio
    • editing
    • reshoots
    • approvals
    • travel
    • and then the posting schedule on top of it
    Brands who understand that this is a production, not a hobby — those are the brands we work with.
    If someone wants champagne content on a fast-food budget, we politely decline.
  3. We’re Not the Shopping Network — We’re More Like National Geographic
    This is a big one.
    Some brands only care about ROI.
They want instant sales, instant “use my link,” instant numbers to justify the partnership. And that’s fine — for creators who operate that way.
    But that’s not us.
    We’ve never wanted to be the “link in bio” people.
We don’t run our platforms like a shopping channel.
    Our storytelling, our videos, our series… they’re more like National Geographic:
You watch, you learn, you get pulled into the world — and along the way, you see the tools and gear we use naturally.
    We’re not out here trying to sell products just to make money.
We want to showcase brands we believe in — not shove them in people’s faces.
    And that’s why you don’t only see the products we use labeled as “paid partnership.” You see them:
    • on real jobsites
    • in random shop days
    • in competitions
    • in behind-the-scenes vlogs
    • in travel builds
    • in the messy, unfiltered real stuff
    Because we use them whether the camera is on or not.
    That authenticity is why our audience trusts us — and why the right brands want long-term relationships, not just one-off ads.
  4. Loyalty Matters — A Lot
    We treat brands the same way we treat people: if you show loyalty, we show loyalty.
    We’ve had companies who supported us before anyone else cared. Companies who took meetings when we were nobodies. Companies who respected our time, our craft, and our growth.
    Those are the brands we stick with.
    And yeah — we’ve had the opposite too.
The ones who wanted everything for nothing.
The ones who talked down to us.
The ones who treated tradespeople like we’re disposable.
    Those partnerships don’t last more than one email.
  5. We Run a Media Company — Not a Side Hustle
    This is something a lot of brands don’t understand at first.
    We’re not two people with phones making videos in between jobs.
    We run Bully Media Studios.
We run Wood Bully.
We handle logistics, travel, production schedules, deliverables, crews, equipment, strategy — all of it.
    We don’t guess.
We don’t wing it.
We’re professionals, and we expect the brands we work with to treat us like partners, not “influencers they can squeeze.”
    If a brand can’t respect that, they’re not for us.
  6. Sometimes “No” Is the Best Thing for Our Business
    And honestly? It took time to learn that.
    Early on, every offer felt exciting. But the more we grew, the more we realized that every partnership affects:
    • our reputation
    • our credibility
    • our audience’s trust
    • our relationship with other brands
    • our long-term opportunities
    A bad partnership can do more damage than no partnership at all.
    So now, if it doesn’t align — we say no.
    Whether it’s the wrong product, the wrong energy, the wrong expectations, or the wrong intentions…
No is a complete sentence.

The Real Reason We Choose the Brands We Choose
Because we built this entire thing with our own money, our own time, our own hands, our own risks.
Because no one gave us shortcuts.
Because we fought for every opportunity.
We choose brands who believe in the work we do — not just what we can sell.
We choose brands who value the relationship as much as the content.
We choose brands who support authenticity, creative freedom, and long-term growth.
And because of that, we have the confidence — and the experience — to turn down the ones who don’t.

Hood Kid to CEO: How One Tutorial Video Changed Everything

Long story about me;

7 years ago I decided to make a tutorial video on one of my jobsites (well not mine, I didn’t have a company). This video starts with that. Crazy how much my life has changed from that day. As a kid that grew up in the hood, in poverty (not bragging) from an early age I decided drugs and alcohol weren’t going to help me escape the ghetto so I’ve been sober my whole life.

I grew up in a hip hop neighbourhood and became an aspiring rapper at 15 and really gave it a good run for a few years lol (this explains why i would always associate wealth with fame). Also for some reason I didn’t believe I was entitled to college or university simply based on class and finances. I know scholarships existed but I wasn’t that smart lol, anyway after dropping out of high school I got a job building fences with my uncle (his boss was an X cop who hired X cons) I took the job as a legitimate way to take care of my son (yes I had a son as a teenager) It started with pounding chainlink fence posts and running wire but he would take the occasional wood job. After my first 1 I fell in love with it.

I started to convince him to sell more wood fences, porches and decks although we didn’t actually know what we were doing (respectfully). I purchased all the how to books from Home Depot and watched every HGTV show possible (wish I was joking) anyways over time I moved on to work “real construction” instead of “Mickey mouse” which actually wasn’t full of talent like the union members claimed. After deductions the only thing bigger was the egos.

So I went back into decks years after working different types of commercial construction and worked my way up to “Project Manager” (actually not as fancy as it sounds, it was just a foreman with extra homework) anyways after a life time of slowly working my self to the bone everyday rain or shine trying to claw my way out of generational poverty… I was still poor, actually bankrupt and my high interest shitty car/pickup got repossessed and I was just sick of taking advice from people, I decided to make a drastic change!

So, armed with a Grade 8 education, $20 and a 301 credit score I started a business! The goal was to build something better for my family (and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t for my self as well). I spent allot of time coming up with the name so it would make sense, be original and be trademarked. Secretly I wanted a TV deal and I genuinely believed I would need to own a company to do it. So, I had a company to build with no budget and I needed to get production companies to notice me. The only obvious choice was to start making videos (this was pre TikTok). I figured I could really build the brand and sell some decks while testing my chops as an entertainer, which now brings us full circle to that first video, the “pay attention Brian” thing was pretty much an accident I didn’t know the first thing about hooks or media branding.

Since then, I’ve started a media company (with some very big companies as clients) and it is more successful than the construction company (by a lot) I’ve gone from never leaving my home town to travelling to 100s of cities in a short amount of time (I don’t remember them all) sorry, and I’ve met some incredible talented and intelligent people (I don’t remember them all) sorry.

I reached over 1,000,000 total followers at some point last year! Also, I’m not poor anymore (hurray! Let’s skip the part about “survivor guilt” that came with it for now). It’s great but It didn’t fix everything I thought it would, but hey the house is bigger, the food is better and the cars are faster lol. That being said! I’m extremely grateful to be in the position I’m in, it wasn’t easy but it was possible. If you’re still reading this far and you’re not sure if it’s possible? It is. To all the haters thst told me to put my phone down and get back to work, you’re wrong again buddy! Lol I’m not bragging I’m just sharing my story, hope it inspires! Love you guys!

Gord

Travelling + Being a parent

People romanticize travel like it’s some dreamy montage of airports, hotels, new cities, and “living the life.” But when you have kids—five kids, to be exact—travel stops being glamorous real quick. For us, travel started back in 2020 when my youngest was almost three, and honestly? It hasn’t really stopped since. Most families take a vacation once or twice a year; we somehow built a life where suitcases never get fully unpacked, passports live permanently in our backpacks, and every month we are figuring out what’s next. And sure, there are cool moments. There are memories we’d never have if our life looked “normal.” But nobody warns you about the part where traveling without your kids creates a version of parenting that looks nothing like what people imagine.

People hear “touring all summer” or “trade show season” and picture adventure, momentum, and opportunity. And yes—it’s absolutely all of those things. But it’s also the reality of hugging your kids goodbye for weeks or months at a time, missing birthdays and school events, and knowing that life at home keeps moving whether you’re there to see it or not. Even though our tours, trade shows, and appearances are all within North America, the distance still feels huge. You’re working, creating, and building something meaningful, but a part of your mind is always anchored at home. You think about the routines you usually run, the conversations you’re missing, and all the little things only a parent really notices.

And when you are home? It’s not the “rest and reset” people assume it must be. It’s catching up on everything that piled up while you were away. Laundry, meals, school updates, appointments, schedules, and the hundreds of small decisions that keep a household running. The stress doesn’t disappear just because you’ve crossed a border back into your own driveway—it just shifts from work mode to home mode. Running a household from the road becomes a full-time side job: coordinating schedules through spotty service, FaceTiming during the only hour that overlaps, helping with homework between commitments, and managing life from hotel rooms and highways. It’s a juggling act that no one trains you for.

With five kids, there’s always someone who needs something—support, structure, attention, reassurance—and when you’re away, you feel every single missed moment a little differently. Not in a dramatic or guilt-heavy way, just in an honest, “this is the reality of our lifestyle” way. You parent from a distance, you stay involved however you can, and you remind yourself constantly that you’re doing this for your family, even if it means being physically away from them more than you’d like. It’s a strange balance: loving the work and the opportunities, while knowing there’s always a version of home you’re temporarily stepping out of.

Traveling without your kids isn’t glamorous, and it isn’t terrible—it’s just real. It’s beautiful, messy, fulfilling, overwhelming, and meaningful all at once. It’s the constant back-and-forth between showing your kids what hard work looks like and wishing you could bottle every moment you miss. People see the photos, the projects, the places, the highlight reel. But the truth is simpler: traveling without your kids comes with its own weight, its own sacrifices, and its own rewards. At the end of the day, no trip, no tour, no project compares to walking back through your front door and hearing five voices yelling for you all at once.

And honestly, even with the challenges, I know we’re giving our kids a life I never imagined for myself. They’re growing up with experiences, opportunities, and perspectives I didn’t have—and that makes all of this worth it. We’re lucky, and I don’t take that for granted for a second.

-Samantha

EPISODE PREP: AKA “THE PART NO ONE SEES”

If you have a question, drop it in the comments. I’m planning to post here at least once a day going forward, because apparently I’ve decided sleep is optional.

Right now, we’re gearing up for another YouTuber vs. Real Carpenter episode… except this time, we’ve changed the rules.

It’s officially YouTuber vs. Real Roofer, and we somehow convinced Mark from Them Roof Boys to come hang out with us. Send strength.

People always see the final video and think,

“Oh cool, they filmed a build.”

But after 12 episodes, I can tell you:

We basically run a mini Olympics every time we shoot one of these.

Let me walk you through the chaos.

Step 1: Coming up with the idea (AKA: chaos brainstorming)

Every episode starts with a conversation that sounds something like:

  • “What if we made them build a roof?”
  • “What if the roof was sloped?”
  • “What if it was metal?”
  • “What if we made them do it in 5 hours?”
  • “Is that dangerous?”
  • “Probably.”

And then I turn it into an actual event that won’t get anyone injured or arrested.

Step 2: Materials… all of the materials

Roofs require:

  • metal
  • flat stock
  • fascia
  • soffit
  • trough
  • fasteners
  • specialized tools
  • and caffeine strong enough to restart a car battery

Cue me emailing, calling, texting, coordinating, and occasionally begging suppliers to make sure everything arrives on time.

Step 3: The Build Design

This part happens in Gordon’s brain.

He’ll walk into the shop, stare at the wall for two minutes, mutter “5/12 pitch,” and suddenly we have a full blueprint for a 10’ x 10’ roof section with matching A-frames.

He swears it’s a talent.

I think it’s mild possession.

Step 4: Competitors

Then there’s the whole competitor situation:

  • finding them
  • confirming they can cross the border
  • making sure they want to compete
  • making sure they won’t faint from nerves
  • getting their sizes for safety gear
  • sending them 300 details about the day
  • booking hotels/ flights
  • answering questions like “Can I bring my dog?” (yes, that really happened)

This part is… a journey.

Step 5: The Crew

Camera crew. Lighting. Audio. Backups. Thumbnails. Interviews.

Trying to keep Chuck from wandering out of frame.

Trying to keep Gordon in frame.

Trying to make sure Cameron doesn’t edit himself into a coma.

All powered by coffee.

Step 6: The Schedule

Every episode has a minute-by-minute breakdown:

  • crew call
  • coffee
  • thumbnails
  • interviews
  • Shannon trying to keep everyone on a schedule
  • build windows
  • coffee
  • mid-build moments
  • Nobody listening to Shannon’s schedule
  • more coffee
  • outro
  • teardown
  • even more coffee because by then we’re all just running on fumes and hope

After 12 episodes, you’d think we’d relax.

No. The schedule owns us.

Step 7: The Shop Setup

We move EVERYTHING:

  • tools
  • materials
  • camera paths
  • safety zones
  • lighting
  • and sometimes Chuck, if he stands still too long and gets mistaken for equipment

By the time we’re done, it looks like we’re hosting a tradeshow inside a tornado.

Step 8: The Nervous Energy

The morning of every shoot feels like:

  • first day of school
  • a boxing match
  • a family reunion where you like half the people
  • a field trip with power tools

Everyone’s excited.

Everyone’s stressed.

Someone’s always missing a glove.

And finally… we hit record.

This is the part you see — the builds, the commentary, the chaos, the “did he really just do that” moments, and everything in between.

But behind that one YouTube episode?

Is weeks of planning, prepping, building, organizing, scheduling, emailing, buying, rearranging, and pure “let’s hope this works” energy.

And I love it.

Every stressful, hilarious second of it.

If you want a behind-the-scenes post about:

  • the competitor selection process
  • the sponsorship side
  • how we write the rules
  • or the REAL reason these builds take years off my life

Just comment below.

See you tomorrow.

— Samantha

BEHIND THE SCENES: WHAT I DO, WHAT I DON’T DO, AND HOW I BUILT THIS WITH GORDON

People always ask,

“How do you and Gordon work together and live together without killing each other?”

Fair question.

Because the truth is: we’re together 100% of the time.

We run a company together.

We travel together.

We film together.

We plan together.

We parent together.

We build everything in our life… together.

But it didn’t start off smooth.

And my role today is nothing like what it was in the beginning.

So here’s the truth — the full story.

⸻

In the beginning, I wasn’t in the driver’s seat. I was running beside the car.

When this whole “let’s make videos” thing started, I wasn’t running the business.

I was:

• helping on the side

• suggesting ideas

• filling in gaps

• fixing things quietly

• catching problems before they became problems

• trying to keep everything from catching fire

It felt like Gordon was driving the car at full speed, pedal down, music blasting…

And I was literally running beside it, doing everything I could to keep up.

Not because he didn’t value me —

but because he didn’t want to give up control.

This was his thing.

His identity.

His comfort zone.

His creative world.

And I understood it… but that didn’t make it easier.

⸻

Gordon didn’t want to give up control — and I didn’t want to fight him.

If you know Gordon, you know this:

He likes things done a certain way.

He’s used to handling everything himself.

He’s independent.

He’s stubborn.

He’s protective of his work.

And at first, that meant he didn’t want help.

Not real help.

He didn’t want to hand things off.

He didn’t want someone organizing him.

He didn’t want someone “telling him what to do.”

Even if that someone was me.

So we struggled.

The business was growing faster than either of us expected, but he kept trying to hold all the reins.

And I kept trying to support him without stepping on his toes.

It was like trying to run a media company with one hand tied behind my back.

⸻

And then one day… something shifted.

I don’t know the exact moment, but somewhere along the way, he realized:

• he couldn’t manage everything alone

• he needed structure

• he needed someone thinking 10 steps ahead

• he needed clarity, organization, and planning

• he needed a business partner

• not a helper

• not an assistant

• not someone “running beside the car”

He needed me.

And I stepped in.

Not as a backup.

Not as a silent partner.

Not as a shadow.

But as a business owner.

⸻

Today, we switch seats. Driver’s seat. Passenger seat. Whatever the moment needs.

Sometimes I drive:

• planning

• scheduling

• contracts

• strategy

• business deals

• negotiations

• logistics

• decisions

• systems

• crisis control

• making sure everything actually gets done

Sometimes he drives:

• creative direction / brand direction

• building ideas

• on-camera energy

• storytelling

• production flow

• the heart and personality of the brand

 

And sometimes we switch seats mid-drive, depending on the day.

That’s what makes us work:

We don’t fight for one seat.

We trade them.

We share them.

We understand that the business needs both of us doing what we’re good at.

⸻

What I do now

Here’s the real list:

• help run Bully Media

• manage sponsorship communications 

• handle contracts

• plan filming

• coordinate travel

• manage deliverables

• handle all communication

• build the systems

• keep everyone on track

• make decisions no one wants to make

• put out fires

• stand beside Gordon while he shines

• help him shine brighter

• AND TRY to build my own presence through it all

Basically, I help run the company while Gordon mostly runs the camera and the tools.

And we need both to make this work.

⸻

What I don’t do

I don’t:

• pick up a camera anymore (unless I have to)

• edit

• pretend I know the right saw blade

• climb ladders

• cut metal

• dig holes

• handle manual labour

• try to act like Gordon

• try to compete for his spotlight

He’s the builder.

He’s the on-camera personality.

He’s the spark.

And I don’t have to be him.

I’m me.

⸻

How we stay together when we’re together all the time

We’re opposites that fit:

• He’s spontaneous. I’m structured.

• He’s creative chaos. I’m organized chaos.

• He jumps. I calculate.

• He makes people laugh. I worry about the business.

• He hates being told what to do. I hate when things lack direction.

• He builds. I build the plan.

And most importantly?

We respect what the other brings.

We don’t compete.

We don’t try to outshine each other.

We don’t fight for space.

We made space for each other — and that’s why it works.

⸻

I helped build a social media company — not by being loud, but by being the foundation.

People see Gordon and assume the whole thing is him.

And he IS the face.

He IS the brand.

He IS the reason people show up.

But behind every video, every partnership, every trip, every event, every episode, every opportunity…

There’s me:

planning, organizing, pushing, supporting, structuring, guiding, deciding, building the parts no one sees.

We built this together.

Each in our own lane.

Side by side.

And now?

I’m not running beside the car anymore.

I’m in the front seat —

and he trusts me enough to let me drive when I need to.

— Samantha

FROM LABOURER TO FULL-TIME CONTENT CREATOR (A STORY I DID NOT SEE COMING)

If you told me a year ago that I’d be writing a blog post for a media company, I would’ve laughed, brushed the sawdust off my shirt, and asked if you were feeling okay. Because up until recently, my entire life was job sites, lumber, labour, tools I’m still surprised I survived using, long days, and constantly asking, “What’s next?” every five minutes. I was a labourer. That was my lane — safe, predictable, sweaty, familiar. And then everything changed.

How I Got Here (Accidentally, On Purpose)

I started with Wood Bully doing the most basic labour work: hauling materials, helping on builds, being the extra set of hands, saying yes to everything because that’s what you do when you’re learning. Then one day, someone handed me a camera — probably because they just needed someone to grab a couple shots. But “grab a couple shots” turned into “Can you film this?” which turned into “Can you film that?” which turned into “Okay, you’re actually pretty good at this,” and eventually, “Congratulations, you’re full time now.” I went from labourer to content creator faster than I could figure out how to turn airplane mode off.

What I Do Now

If you ask me what my job is today, the honest answer is: everything. I film, edit, learn new gear, travel, shoot thumbnails, record audio, capture behind-the-scenes, stay caffeinated, try not to drop expensive equipment, and pretend I know what I’m doing until I actually do. And I love it. Even when it’s overwhelming. Even when I’m exhausted. Even when my camera battery dies at the worst possible moment (which is always).

Travelling for Content — The Part I Didn’t Expect

If you’d told me I’d go from job sites to airports, I would’ve laughed again. But now I’m on the road constantly — filming tours, competitions, contractors, events, brands… everything. I’ve learned how to sleep sitting up, how to carry gear through a terminal like it’s a newborn, how to film in 100-degree heat, how to film in weather that makes me question all my life choices, how to work in hotels that were definitely decorated in 1993, and how to keep up with Gordon and Chuck (which is nearly impossible). Filming in new places is wild. Filming while trying not to get in the way is even wilder. But it’s the best part of the job.

Editing: The Part No One Sees

People see the final videos, not the late nights, the endless timelines, the hours trimming clips, the “Where’s that file?” panic, or the colour correction marathons. They don’t see the audio chaos, the re-edits, the re-re-edits, or the existential crisis when something exports weird. Editing is where everything comes together — where I get to help tell the story. That part hooked me. I went from building decks to building videos, and honestly, it feels like the thing I was meant to do.

What It’s Like Working With The Crew

Working with Bully Media feels like jumping onto a moving train — fast, chaotic, hilarious, unpredictable, and somehow the best decision I’ve ever made. Gord pushes me creatively, Chuck keeps things fun, Samantha keeps us alive and organized, the team keeps growing, and I’m learning nonstop. It’s the kind of environment where you grow because you have no choice but to grow — in the best way possible.

Who I Am Today

I’m still @camerononsite — that part hasn’t changed. But now I make content, tell stories, travel, edit, work with incredible brands, film builds people actually care about, and I’m part of a full-blown media team. I went from swinging a hammer to holding a camera, and somehow it feels like the most natural transition ever.

Where I’m Going Next

Honestly? I’m not totally sure. But I know it’s going to be good. More filming. More travelling. More learning. More storytelling. More growing with the Bully Media team. More stepping into this new version of my life. Whatever comes next, I’m ready for it.

— Cameron (@camerononsite)

HELLO WORLD — The Beginning of a Much Bigger Story

So… apparently I’m writing a blog now.

If you’ve followed us for any amount of time, you’re probably thinking,

“Samantha, don’t you already have enough going on?”

And honestly? Absolutely not. Bring on the chaos.

Anyway — hello.

Welcome.

Grab a coffee, or a snack, or one of those little granola bars you pretend is a meal.

This is where the real story starts.

Where We Were (AKA: The 2019 Era of Pure Madness)

Back in 2019, I had no idea what we were building.

Gordon was building decks.

I was building… sanity? Systems? Something like that.

What started as “Let’s post a few videos” somehow three years later turned into:

  • over a million followers
  • a full-blown media company
  • sponsorship’s from companies I used to be too scared to email
  • events, competitions, build-offs, and whatever else we’ve accidentally invented along the way

Snowballed is an understatement.

Avalanched feels closer.

One moment we were filming in a backyard with one camera.

The next minute we had Chuck throwing out one-liners, Cameron editing ten videos at once, Gordon teaching the internet how to hold a hammer, and me running a company that somehow became… a thing.

Where We Are Now

Today, we run Bully Media Inc., a full media company that does everything from YouTube competitions to sponsored content to full-scale productions that somehow always involve sawdust.

I say “we,” because this entire operation is a team effort:

  • Gordon – The on-camera chaos generator, builder, storyteller, and sometimes the reason I need Advil.
  • Chuck – Our resident comedian/content machine.
  • Cameron – The editor who somehow turns 40 hours of footage into something people actually want to watch.
  • Shannon – Making sure we don’t miss any deliverables, all our contracts are up to date and TRYING to keep the competition series on some sort of schedule
  • Me – The one running the business, organizing the circus, and pretending I don’t have 47 tabs open at all times.

We’re a little dysfunctional, but it works.

Somehow.

Why This Blog Exists

Here’s the thing: social media doesn’t always show the real stuff.

This blog will.

The plan?

Everything. Literally everything.

  • The behind-the-scenes
  • The travel
  • The construction stories
  • The business stuff
  • The things we get right
  • The things we absolutely do NOT get right
  • The moments where we laugh
  • The moments where we nearly throw our phones across the room
  • The things Gordon says off-camera that probably shouldn’t be public but… here we are

This isn’t just an update feed.

This is the start of a much bigger story — the one we’re still writing, the one no one sees on Instagram or YouTube.

And honestly? I think it’s going to be fun.

What’s Next

This is just the “Hello World” moment.

The very beginning.

You’ll hear from me the most, but Gordon, Chuck and Cameron (yes, all of them, willingly) will be dropping their own posts from time to time — so buckle up for whatever that ends up looking like.

If you’re here, welcome to the chaos.

Welcome to the journey.

Welcome to the story behind everything we do.

Let’s see where this goes.

— Samantha