Aaron Cole’s Post

I kept telling my 10-year-old (as we're floating in the pool today) that idk the last time I felt THIS relaxed or incredible (inside). I spent all day golfing (and day drinking) and came home (hot AF from golfing all day) and hopped in the pool with my 3 oldest kids (first time for me in the pool this year). I swam and floated and chilled for the last couple hours.... I know I post "work hard play hard" - inspirational (crap) all the time... but.. God - €@πit this is what I'm talking about! A really big part of me wishing I was "connected" to more youths and not a bunch of people that already understand what I'm talking about and have been through what I'm going through. Maybe it's the old camp counselor in me. Or the current PeeWee coach. I just... idk... I haven't felt this good in a long time.. I'm sure everyone says this - maybe most are true - but I worked my ASS off for 4-5 years to be able to enjoy days like this. I burned the 60-70 hour weeks for YEARS to try to build PGW back better, by myself, when no one else was around. There's still that part of me that feels weird, rolling in at 2:30 in golf clothes as guys are leaving. But at the same time I built that shit back, when no one was around, and hired one person at a time to be able to handle the place while I'm gone for a day or two. And they can do it. It's still hard to let go though. I check my emails constantly on the golf course. 🤷♂️ It's good though. It feels good right now. It doesn't always. Sometimes it's rough. Bust your ass though. Get to a point where you can play golf all day and chill in the pool after "work". USA Strong 🇺🇲💪 mothafuckaaaaaa Even more importantly - PREMIER strong and #nwmfgstrong

Thank you all for the Work Anniversary wishes. It's hard to believe it's been 20 years at PGW. I can't be old enough for that to be true! 🤪 🙏🇺🇲♥️

When someone that works for you, or WITH you as I prefer to say, comes to you and says, "Hey, I work with the Special Olympics, and they need some parts made to be able to use at some of their events.. I've seen us do free work for OSU.. do you think Premier Gear would be willing to help us out?" Um........... duh...... obviously. Even if they weren't something as simple as 4" OD saw cut material 5/8" (ish) long with a thru hole in it ... ("machined" , right? 🙄) Of course we'd help out. Duh. Our guy, Jesse, he's pretty amazing. He's the guy that does side work teaching pottery, rowing and working with Special Olympics, OR. He's the guy who came to me. He's another incredible young machinist, and by that I mean in his 40s, that is willing to do and learn anything. And WANTS to. And some company across the river was STUPID enough to let him go. After 12 years. Of incredible service. I'm sure, because it's the story he told me, and he's not the type of guy to tell the tall tales, ya know? We got him, and a few months later we got his amazing CNC buddy, Jason. (that they also let go after they hired someone in the office to... idk wtf they're there to do. I was gonna say "reorganize" or "revamp" or something, but whatever they hired the guy to do... he's a Fu-ing moron, cuz he let two amazing machinists go . ) Fuuuuuuu-in SWOOP 💪🇺🇲 Jeez. I freaking digress. I do that. I tend to get (probably some what obnoxiously) wordy. I'll add a 3rd pic so you can understand why. I work hard and crazy AF. But! I also try to golf once a week or so and end up on the patio at home, which I built a few years ago and am stupid proud of, with a beverage once in a while. Maybe I'll throw in pic 4 or 5 to show some of my 4 kids or something..🤷♂️ I'll wrap it up, I swear, if ANY of you made it thru this rant. I have more, trust me. Don't get me started 😉 Work harder than anyone else, play as much as you can get away with, support the hell outta any good causes whenever you can, as well and the people around you that matter and deserve it, try to be a good person - the best version of yourself as possible every single day - and just put your head down and do the best you can at every turn. #mothafuckinpremier #bet #asksomebody

A good ole day milling solid forgings into crusher gears. No patterns to cast. Could Fab it. Screw it. What are CNC HBMs for?

... and people say men can't multitask... 😉🤣🤣

I've ALWAYS been a sucker for a cheesy, inspirational quote. Anyone that's ever been into my office, or my bedroom as a child, or seen my posts in the past can attest to this. I heard a great one this morning: "If you want to buy something without looking at the price tag, you need to be able to work without looking at the clock."

It's amazing how (probably) the hardest week I have ever had at Premier (in 20 years), physically and mentally, left me feeling (again, probably) the most satisfied I have ever felt leaving the shop. 3 days helping in assembly for a giant breakdown gearbox that they were already working on for a couple weeks. We turned a 6 month job into 3 weeks, but it was CRAZY getting there. I am NOT an assembly guy. But, I am a hard ass worker and a quick learner, and we had to get this S done. 38 hours working in assembly in 2 days, my body and mind were DONE! We had as many as 7 different people on this project, but, at the end, we had the main assembly genius that started the job, an inside salesman, and myself (another office chump 😜) But once we FINALLY got done last night, me and the two others sat, had a beer and chatted, adding another half hour or so to our stay. It felt amazing. Three of us that never spend time together, how nice it was. And as the other two drove away, I just found myself sitting there, not quite ready to leave, even after nearly 40 hours in 2 days. My body hurts more than I think it ever has, but my head felt suddenly felt.... idk... it's definitely not clearer, but .. easy? Happy? Fulfilled? And at the same time I FREAKING PRAY I never have to see this G-D gearbox in my shop ever again!!!!

... and this is also why you work your @$$ off, kids (if any are paying attention). 1:34pm on a Thursday, and I'm sitting outside the pro shop, 45 mins early for my round, having a hot dog and an insanely overpriced beer. I'm a BIG believer in work hard, play hard. Me and my GM were into work before 4 am this morning and organized our entire 4th (welding, storage and junk) bay, worked like crazy for 8 hours and left shortly after lunch for a round of 18. I work more hours than anyone in the company, but I also get to leave to play golf, as needed, and get paid as if I was still in the office. Bust your a$$, outwork the next guy, move up, keep working hard, and then enjoy the perks that come with it. The journey is long and hard, but the destination is worth it.

Some more pretty awesome parts here for Steam Locomotives, made from solid rectangle forgings. We've been working on batches of these since this time last year, and we're finally down to the last two sets! These are about 75% material removal. We have done some that are more in the 85-90% range. (not pictured, the other 3 😉)