When Alyssa received the call offering her dream job in Folsom, I felt a wave of mixed emotions. Folsom was 6 hours away from everything we knew, our friends and family. What would I even do for work up there, I wondered?  Who would have ever thought that over two years later, we’d be the go-to junk removal company Folsom trusts?  Nonetheless, it’s been a wild ride filled with blessings and challenges alike.

Our journey began with a leap of faith, as it usually does!  Answering God’s call, we left behind everything familiar—our friends, our families—and embarked on a seven hour car ride from Southern California (though, if we’re being honest, it felt like an eternity with a U-Haul in tow). But let me tell you, I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive and incredible wife in Alyssa. She really is amazing, in so many ways.  With unwavering encouragement, I ventured into countless interviews, still wondering what it was my career was going to look like up here, and yet refusing to settle for anything less than the perfect fit. As time went on, that elusive opportunity never materialized.

I’ve never been content being a cog in the profit-hungry machinery of corporate life. I wanted something more, something that would truly impact the community for good. That being said, in the midst of a white water rafting trip down the American River (combined with an evenings spent savoring pints at a local brewery with new friends) an idea began to take shape. We pondered the qualities I wanted in a career —helping others, embracing the dirt and sweat, and the joy of hitting the open road. It was then that Alyssa jokingly suggested, “Why not become a junk hauler?” Little did we know, that playful remark would ignite a fire within, leading to the purchase of our very first truck a couple of months later and the inception of our business.

Since that night, I haven’t looked back. Whether it’s delivering much-needed appliances, providing a swift furniture removal service, or simply clearing out months’ worth of accumulated trash from forgotten corners of yards and garages, I’ve discovered a sense of purpose that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

You know, it’s funny how life unfolds. My friends chuckle when I refer to myself as a trash man, rather than flaunting the title of a junk removal company owner. But here’s the thing—I really am grateful for any experience that keeps my ego grounded and humble. Each day (at least we do our best to remember!), we thank God for the incredible life He’s bestowed upon us and the invaluable lessons He continues to teach us. Initially, I had a skewed perspective, believing I was somehow superior to my peers due to test scores and upbringing. But this journey in waste management, dumpster rentals, and being the trusted provider of junk removal services in Sacramento has taught me a vital lesson—humility. It’s easy to find when you’re knee-deep in junk on a daily basis, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

So, as you embark on your own careers, I challenge you to seek that sense of purpose that ignites your soul, just as I did—even if it leads you to as unexpected of a place as it did for me being a trash man. Embrace the blessings that come your way, however unconventional they may seem. And above all, let humility guide your journey, for it is through embracing the humblest of tasks that we often find the greatest fulfillment.

Nicholas Krygier

Founder of American River Hauling and Junk Removal Co.