The Strength Within: A Conversation with Nicholas Brummet

Strength is often portrayed as independence—the ability to carry every burden without asking for help. Nicholas Brummet offers a quieter and more grounded definition: strength begins with the willingness to do the right thing.

A Red Seal Journeyman Finishing Carpenter, Nicholas has spent decades building with care, solving practical problems, and sharing knowledge that remains in demand. As he has grown older, he has also learned to pay closer attention to how he works, how he protects his health, and when it is wise to accept another person's help.

Beyond his trade, Nicholas is a husband, father, and grandfather whose sense of purpose is rooted in family and meaningful work. For this September cover conversation, he reflects on health, resilience, perspective, and the values that create a life of lasting strength.

<h2>Strength, Health, and Perspective</h2>

<h3>When you hear the words “The Strength Within,” what does being a strong man mean to you at this stage of your life?</h3>
<p>The willingness to do the right thing.</p>

<h3>Has the way you think about your health changed as you've gotten older? What do you pay more attention to now than you did when you were younger?</h3>
<p>How to pick up or lift items safely and be willing to ask for help.</p>

<h3>What is something you understand about life, family, or yourself now that you wish you could have told your 30-year-old self?</h3>
<p>Start investing heavily for retirement.</p>

<h2>The Elemental Five</h2>

<h3>What inspires you every day?</h3>
<p>That there is a great demand for people with my knowledge.</p>

<h3>What daily habit has had the greatest impact on your success?</h3>
<p>Getting up each morning knowing I am making an impact in my field.</p>

<h3>When life becomes overwhelming, how do you personally reset?</h3>
<p>I think about my loving wife and family.</p>

<h3>What advice would you give someone who's afraid to take the first step?</h3>
<p>If you don't succeed, use that knowledge to improve your next decision.</p>

<h3>What does “Shift Happens. Create Magic.” mean to you?</h3>
<p>To me it means if you are not happy with your life, shift your way of thinking and see what happens.</p>

<h2>One Final Thought</h2>

<h3>If every reader remembered just one thing from this conversation, what would you hope it would be?</h3>
<p>Love of family and loving your job are very important to have a happy and healthy life.</p>

Nicholas's reflections are direct and practical: do the right thing, learn from what does not work, care for your body, and stay close to the people and purpose that make life meaningful.