DEBRA This is America At Work. I’m Debra Stamp. BOB I had always really earned my living as a contractor and developer and speculator in real estate. At the same time I had been this television personality. I paid my bills by developing real estate, not by being this television personality. DEBRA But his success on the public television show ‘This Old House’ was the foundation for his business today. Based in Marston Mills on Cape Cod, Bob Vila has made the transition to commercial television now and has started his own production company, BVTV. BOB When I made that transition is when it became obvious that I had to really focus on one or the other. It also was the beginning of a recessionary cycle that we’re still in. And it made a hell of a lot of sense to put the real estate development arm on the back burner and focus on the media career, which is what I’ve done. DEBRA When he left public TV, it became quite obvious that there was a big market for what he did. So BVTV was born. And that’s not to be confused with Buena Vista Television, I’m told. They produce ‘Bob Vila’s Home Again’, in which houses are built or fixed up. Here is where one of those adjustments in a plan had to be made. Properties are now borrowed and worked on instead of bought and resold. The economy dictated this change. BOB You can have all the fabulous plans in the world but the fact is you’re vulnerable to the economy, to trends and people’s tastes and ideas. There’s all sorts of outside elements that are going to affect you. Yeah, you got to go with the flow and be very, very flexible. DEBRA Along with flexibility, Bob considers himself pretty creative and entrepreneurial and shares a characteristic with many folks we’ve interviewed. BOB I don’t think I ever had any doubt that I was not cut out to be somebody else’s employee. I think it was always pretty clear in my mind that I was cut out to be an independent kind of guy. The freedom to really call the shots and be in charge of the creative and to collaborate with other folks that are like minded, it’s just wonderful. DEBRA Tailoring success to family proved to be a very difficult challenge. BOB In the last two years I have seen slowly how I accept more commitments and get forced into more positions that require me to be on the West coast or in another parts of the country. And it’s tough; it’s one of the biggest challenges of a media career and a need for travel. DEBRA And while your conscience pulls on one arm and you make room for things close to the heart, competition seems to pop up all around you, pulling you into the work arena. It’s a balancing act, no doubt, but stay steady. Competition’s important. BOB I’ve always been flattered by programming that has basically copied my style, of either delivering, of photographing or of wearing a down vest, the biggest thrill of all is to now have a hit sitcom that’s based largely on me. As I say, I’m flattered by the whole concept. DEBRA Bob Vila of home remodelling fame, and his wife, are typical of many American couples in that they are both professionals juggling career demands and families. And it’s not easy for them either. BOB It certainly affected my children growing up. I think my son, who is now 17, I think there were many weekends where he resented my absence. And it was a very interesting thing that happened when I was 40 and I became a dad again and Suzanna was born, because that was kind of the catalyst for making a commitment not to do that as much. We’re a two career couple and we have three kids, so it’s very challenging and very difficult to make it all work. DEBRA Bob feels it’s important to be able to make choices between work and family and offers that freedom to others in his organisation. BOB You can make your own choices, but at least you often have the freedom to be able say I need that afternoon off because I’ve got a school meeting that I’ve got to go to. So, I’m involved, but I guess the point I’m making is that you have to be conscious of wanting to be involved, because otherwise your work sucks you up. DEBRA The freedom is a luxury not easily afforded if you’re headquartered in a major U.S. city. So, what’s home to Bob Vila and BVTV? The little town of Marston Mills, Massachusetts. BOB It’s a beautiful spot, physically, in terms of nature. We’re on Cape Cod and it’s a wonderful place to be raising children, or to come home to. DEBRA Hear more, at AmericaAtWorkStories.com