“Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.”

This quote is often attributed to my friend

Dr. John C. Maxwell

For years, that made me smile. But my perspective has shifted. Life does not feel faster because we are getting older — it feels faster because growth compounds. Momentum builds. Discipline compounds. Relationships deepen. Leadership multiplies. Acceleration is often a sign of expansion.

Most of you know I rarely look in the rearview mirror. I’m 95% focused on what’s next and 5% on what’s behind. Whether successful or not, I extract the lesson and move forward.

So Why Look Back Today?

A few days ago, Desert Star Construction, Inc. celebrated 48 years. When my dad was 49, and I was 19, we started a carpentry business with $200 in assets. No safety net. Just work ethic and belief.

What overwhelms me most when I reflect is not the scale of projects — it’s the relationships. The clients who trusted us. The architects who challenged us. The trade partners who sharpened us. And the people who worked directly with DSC.

If someone had told 19-year-old Jerry we would one day serve extraordinary clients, work with world- class teams, and build at this level, I would have been terrified. Not because the opportunity wasn’t good — but because I didn’t feel ready or worthy.

By sixth grade, I had attended seven schools across multiple states. One semester was especially hard. I was bullied daily. Around the same time, my dad’s company went bankrupt when a partner disappeared with company funds. We eventually moved and lived in a trailer.

Those seasons were painful — but they were preparation.

Hard seasons build inner strength before outer success.

• Insecurity can shrink you or shape you.

• Adversity is often preparation in disguise.

What once felt like weakness became fuel. Instability taught adaptability. Hardship developed resilience. Early loss instilled stewardship. And insecurity forced me to focus on personal development.

Every person who came through DSC contributed to our growth. I choose gratitude over grievance.

Every season mattered.

As we enter 2026, reflection is not regression. It is refinement.

We are not coasting. We are not finished.

We are building from strength to strength.

My challenge to you: 1. Extract lessons from your past without living in it. 2. Choose gratitude over resentment. 3. Let adversity build you, not define you. 4. Prepare for opportunities you are not yet ready for. 5. Keep your eyes forward — but never forget what formed you.

We started with $200 and a willingness to work. Today, we build at a level 19-year-old Jerry could not imagine.And we are just getting started.

Keep building, keep growing, and never settle,

-Jerry.

Application Business Leadership