Book details

  • Genre:biography & autobiography
  • Sub-genre:Personal Memoirs
  • Language:English
  • Pages:248
  • eBook ISBN:9798317838812

FIX IT! The Memoirs of a Maintenance Man

By Stephen Daalling

Overview

This is not a how-to book—it's a story about the one who shows up to do the fixing. In FIX IT! The Memoirs of a Maintenance Man, Stephen Daalling shares a powerful collection of real-life stories drawn from over four decades in the residential maintenance industry. From his early days as a porter in Brooklyn, New York, to leading maintenance teams at award-winning communities in Texas, Stephen takes readers behind the doors of everyday living—into a world most people never see, but everyone depends on. Inside apartments, hallways, and homes, he encountered more than broken appliances and failing systems—he encountered people. People in moments of stress, urgency, vulnerability, and relief. Through humor, pressure, compassion, and connection, these stories reveal that maintenance is not just about tools and repairs—it's about service, trust, and showing up when it matters most. This memoir pulls back the curtain on a profession often overlooked, shining a light on the individuals who quietly keep our communities running. More than a collection of stories, FIX IT! is a tribute to the dignity of hard work and a reminder of the impact one person can have simply by being there when something goes wrong.
Read more

Description

This is not a how-to book—it's a story about the one who shows up to do the fixing. In FIX IT! The Memoirs of a Maintenance Man, Stephen Daalling opens the door to a world most people rarely think about—but rely on every single day. With over four decades of experience in the residential maintenance industry, Stephen takes readers on a journey that begins in Brooklyn, New York, and unfolds across years of hard work, growth, and leadership, ultimately leading to managing teams at award-winning communities in Texas. But this story is not about tools, parts, or step-by-step repairs. It's about people. Behind every service request, every emergency call, and every knock on a resident's door, there is a moment—a story unfolding in real time. A family without heat in the middle of winter. A single parent overwhelmed by life. An elderly resident who simply needs someone to listen. A team under pressure to deliver, no matter the circumstances. Through a powerful collection of real-life stories, Stephen brings readers into these moments—where the job goes far beyond fixing what's broken. With honesty, grit, humor, and heart, he reveals the emotional weight, the responsibility, and the quiet pride that comes with being the one people count on when something goes wrong. You'll experience the highs and lows of a profession that demands both technical skill and human understanding. You'll witness challenges that test patience, decisions that blur the line between policy and compassion, and encounters that leave a lasting impact long after the work is done. At its core, FIX IT! shines a light on the overlooked professionals who keep our communities running—the men and women who work behind the scenes, solving problems, restoring comfort, and bringing order back to chaos. It is a tribute to their dedication, resilience, and the dignity of their work. This memoir is for anyone who has ever worked in the trades, managed a team, served others under pressure, or wondered what really happens behind the scenes of everyday living. It is also for those who may have never given a second thought to the person who shows up to fix something—until now. More than a collection of stories, FIX IT! is a call to see differently, to appreciate more deeply, and to recognize that sometimes, the greatest impact comes not from what is fixed—but from who shows up.
Read more

About The Author

Stephen Daalling is a seasoned Maintenance Manager with over four decades of hands-on experience in the residential maintenance industry. From humble beginnings as a porter in Brooklyn, New York, to leading maintenance operations at award-winning communities, his journey reflects resilience, growth, and an unwavering commitment to service. Throughout his career, Stephen has repaired everything from leaking faucets and broken appliances to complex HVAC systems—but his true impact goes far beyond the tools. Known for his leadership, mentorship, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life, he has dedicated himself to elevating the perception of maintenance professionals and the vital role they play in everyday life. At the core of Stephen's life and leadership is his faith. It is his foundation—guiding how he treats others, how he leads his team, and how he approaches both challenges and victories. He believes that every opportunity to serve is a chance to reflect patience, compassion, and integrity, and that even the smallest acts of kindness can leave a lasting impact. Stephen currently serves as Maintenance Manager at a premier multifamily community in Texas, where he leads his team with a focus on accountability, teamwork, and pride in craftsmanship. Under his leadership, the community has achieved high performance in resident satisfaction and operational excellence, earning recognition within his organization. His memoir, FIX IT! The Memoirs of a Maintenance Man, is not a technical manual, but a powerful collection of real-life stories—moments of challenge, humor, heartbreak, and triumph—that reveal the human side of a profession often overlooked. Through these stories, Stephen invites readers behind the scenes of maintenance life, where every repair carries a deeper meaning and every interaction leaves a lasting impact. Driven by a larger vision, Stephen is committed to becoming a voice for the maintenance industry—bridging the gap between corporate leadership and frontline teams, and inspiring a new standard of respect, professionalism, and unity across the field. He is currently developing future initiatives including training programs, speaking engagements, and tools designed to support and empower maintenance professionals everywhere. Stephen lives in Texas with his family and continues to lead, write, and inspire—one story, one lesson, and one fix at a time.
Read more