Story & Lesson Highlights with Trapper Haskins of Thompsons Station

We recently had the chance to connect with Trapper Haskins and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Trapper, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Watching my two kids chase their own passions. My 16-year-old son is a pretty dedicated baseball player, and my 17-year-old daughter is seriously gifted artist. Seeing them excel at something they’ve each chosen to pursue is hugely rewarding for me as a father.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am sort of a jack-of-all-trades, but, unlike that old adage, I *am* a master of at least some. I’ve made my living largely as a custom woodworker, building everything from boats and houses to guitars and furniture. I also have been a performing songwriter for some 25 years. Now I’m an author. Last year I published my first book, a memoir and travelogue called Crooked Old River. It’s the true story of building a wooden boat and rowing it the full length of the Mississippi River–from the headwaters in Minnesota all the way to the Gulf. The trip was supposed to take only 90 days. Instead, it took 16 years.

So I stay busy doing a variety of things. I’ve always followed my own curiosity wherever it’s led, whether that’s to the woodshop, the water, or the stage.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Kevin Carney. He was the lead instructor at the trade school where I learned traditional boatbuilding. I always admired his sense of focus, and I’ve tried to emulate it. There was just a calm and consistent approach to his work. He never allowed himself to be hurried or get frazzled by other peoples’ demands. Instead, he really embodied that Navy SEAL mantra, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” I remember thinking of Kevin: this is a true craftsman, someone absolutely confident in their abilities.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Our Mississippi River trip. The reason it was supposed to take 90 days but ended up taking 16 years is that my wife and I initially quit the river in New Orleans, still 100 river miles from the Gulf. We were in our 20s, and I told myself that I’d proven what I set out to prove. The truth is the large, ocean going ships scared us off the water. But it took over a decade to admit that to myself.

When I turned 40 I was working in an architecture office. I’d closed my woodworking business and quit playing music. We had two children by this point, and the family just needed some predictable income. It was a disaster for me. I’m terrible at sitting still and even worse at accepting being told what to do. I had a full-on nervous breakdown that landed me in the Vanderbilt Psychiatric hospital.

That experience forced me to re-evaluate what and who I’d become. I vowed not to give anyone else control over my time again and to follow through more on my dreams. That meant returning to woodwork and music. It also meant returning to the river to finish what we had started as newlyweds in our 20s. Mandy and I brought our two kids to complete the Mississippi in the same boat we’d started in all those years ago.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That talent is rewarded. The arts are not a meritocracy. Maybe they never have been, but there seems to be a constant refrain that all you have to do is be patient, and the cream will rise to the top. It doesn’t always. I’m not suggesting that’s an excuse to give up or even slack off. I do think we have to learn to fall in love with the art and the process of making that art, regardless of the outcome.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
As a Type 1 diabetic who is insulin dependent I actually think about this all the time. Now, I plan on being here long past 10 more years, but being middle-aged with an auto-immune disease certainly keeps that clock at the front of my mind. Like most people I find myself saying yes to things that maybe don’t align perfectly with my ideal life. We agree to all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons: we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings; we could live a little more comfortably with some extra money coming in; we experience guilt if our calendar isn’t full; etc.

But if you told me that 10-year countdown was absolutely real and non-negotiable I would stop saying “yes” to things I know I don’t want or need just to appease someone else. That would give me more time to write and create and be around my family. And if there is one thing I want above all else, it’s time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://TrapperHaskins.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/trapperhaskins
• Twitter: https://x.com/TrapperHaskins
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/trapper.haskins.5
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@trapperhaskins