Sam Royer is 24 years old, French Canadian, and about to lead his own deck building crew for the first time. In this conversation, he shares his journey from shy kid who struggled in school to confident team leader at his father's company, Pro Deck, near Montreal.

Sam opens up about the learning difficulties that made him feel different from other students, choosing carpentry over becoming a mechanic, and how COVID stretched his trade school from 18 months to three years. You'll hear about building an entire house inside a warehouse for his final project, why the stairs lesson mattered most, and starting at Pro Deck doing cleanup before earning his way to framing.

The emotional core of this episode comes when Sam reveals that losing his best friend two years ago completely changed his outlook on life. That loss pushed him to stop being shy, start saying yes to opportunities, and embrace moments like appearing on this podcast.

This is a conversation about growing up in the trades, finding your confidence, and building something that matters, both in decks and in life.