Still Building America—A recipe for success

Cullen Osborne, Fascinate LLC, fabricates experiential environments for live events, tradeshows, television, and other industries in demand of sets, stages, props, and sculptures.

I’ve never been a big fan of working on exhausts, but there’s no denying the instant gratification you get by taking a muffler off of a truck and replacing it with a straight pipe. Unrefined, loud, and oh-so-sweet when you go wide-open throttle. And trust me, your neighbors will love you.

For Cullen Osborne it was that simple—16 years old with a 110 Lincoln flux-core machine in his dad’s garage; making it happen with his own two hands. He chopped out the muffler of his buddy’s ’89 Jimmy. “I just did that!” turned into looking for the next project, and the next, and the next.

Now 20 years old, Cullen loved how making metal bend to his will made him feel. And he quickly learned that everything we’ve been told about how to make a living is wrong.

“I decided to pursue this career when I felt the sense of accomplishment and pride I was able to take in my work. I loved that the career pathway was against the grain of what society had been telling me my whole life about college and business, etc.”

While still in high school Cullen got his foot in the door by pushing brooms at a unique fabrication company called Fascinate LLC. He stuck by his foreman’s hip and picked up everything he could.

“Luckily, I have been able to learn everything I know by working alongside my foreman since I was 17 years old.”

Now he does more than sweep floors.

“I work as a metal fabricator to create custom experiential environments for live events, tradeshows, television, and other industries in demand of sets, stages, props, and sculptures.

“The best part of my entire job is the camaraderie amongst my fellow associates. We all function as a single unit and are one big family. Everyone is on the same page, with the same goal. As the trade goes, the end product is the best part. I enjoy being able to see my product in real life, and I take pride in having had a part in building it.”

As many of the young fabricators I interview do, Cullen hopes to bring his own visions to life one day. With some flavor to boot:

A Fascinate LLC fabrication.

“My future goal is to possess enough of my own tools to produce my own custom furniture and barbecue smokers. I plan on owning my own barbecue joint where I can build and sell my creations.

“I believe that it is important to remain teachable, work hard, and always be on the lookout for opportunity. Skills can be learned; work ethic is universal. Start anywhere in the industry that you wish to be in. Through perseverance and efficiency you can become the most skilled person in that industry by working your way up.”

Find a craft you love and start at the bottom if you must. Be willing to learn. Don’t be outworked.

A recipe for success.

All images provided by Cullen Osborne.

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