The Bin That Helped Build A Dream

I got this picture over the weekend, and at first glance, it’s just an old, beat-up plastic bin covered in LEGO stickers. But to me, it’s so much more.

This $14.99 Walmart bin has been through it all. It’s been packed and unpacked from vans and rolled across countless convention center floors. A bin my brother Cody helped me carry in and out of hotel rooms every night, because we were both afraid it might get stolen. It wasn’t just a storage bin; it was my seat when I couldn’t stand any longer, a table for quick lunches, and a makeshift desk for my Starbucks coffee. Inside, it held my inventory: thousands of little LEGO minifigures that I sold at conventions to kids and adults who love LEGO just as much as I do.

This bin wasn’t extraordinary, but the journey it represents was. What started as a fun side hustle after I got married turned into a full-fledged business—one I never could’ve dreamed of. It wasn’t easy, but it gave Nate and me opportunities we never thought possible, and eventually, it allowed me to do something I never imagined: retire early.

Seeing this picture brought back so many memories of those long days, the late nights, and all the miles traveled with bins like this in tow. It’s a reminder that success doesn’t always look flashy or glamorous. Sometimes, it’s a worn-out plastic bin that quietly carries your dreams.

These bins are still being put to good use today. They’re holding equipment for a youth camp and helping spread something far greater than LEGO: the message of Jesus. It’s funny how something so simple can hold such a big part of your story. Never underestimate where the smallest things in life might take you.