Today we’d like to introduce you to Coach Barnett.
Hi Coach, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started welding young.
Real young.
I was about 8 years old when my uncle JD put a stinger in my hand. We were stick-welding extended forks on bicycles. By the time I was 10, I was building go-karts. At 14, I bought my first car that needed frame work and welding. I worked on it for almost a year and had it running by the time I was 15.
When I was 15, Uncle JD and I built a dragster from the ground up. Complete.
From there, it never stopped.
Over the years, I built a lot of hot rods and race cars. Welding was never just a job to me — it was how I solved problems, how I created things, how I made stuff stronger than it was before.
Later on, I got on with Garland ISD and built one of the only pure welding programs of its kind anywhere in the Southwest. We weren’t just teaching kids how to strike an arc… we were turning out Certified Welders straight out of high school who could walk directly into the welding industry.
It got to the point where I had over 100 companies calling me regularly, looking for welders. At peak, I was turning out 35 to 50 Certified Welders every single year.
I was honored many times along the way. I was chosen Teacher of the Year out of over 8,000 teachers. Harbor Freight even did a story on me and the program. But what mattered most was seeing those students go straight into good-paying jobs with real skills and real confidence.
After 22 years, I retired.
That’s when I really went to work.
Today, I coach welding one on one, seven days a week. People come to me from all over the United States for personal welding coaching. I coach all levels and all processes. Sometimes it’s two people at once…. a husband and wife, father and son, mother and daughter, or two friends.
A lot of my clients are hobbyists. Hot rod builders. Ranchers who want to build their own fencing and equipment. I get a lot of ladies who want to do art-type welding. There’s also a huge following from the medical field, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, who come to welding as a release from pressure and stress.
About 10% of my clients are people wanting to go into the welding field or change careers. I meet them where they are and get them where they want to go.
That’s what I do now. I coach. I teach. I pass it on.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, I’ve been fortunate.
The biggest challenge hasn’t been welding.. it’s been time. There are only so many hours in a day, and when you coach one on one, you give everything you’ve got to that people standing in front of you.
Another challenge has been stepping away from a school system after decades. When you retire, people think you’re slowing down…. For me, retirement just meant doing what I love on my own terms.
Overall though, it’s been a blessing. I get to pass along knowledge, help people build confidence, and make a dollar or two doing it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
There really isn’t a “typical” week for me.
Most days I’m in the shop. I coach one on one, seven days a week. Some weeks it’s hobbyists and hot rod builders. Other weeks it’s ranchers, artists, or folks from the medical field who just need to clear their head.
Every person that walks in brings something different, so every week looks different. The common thread is that everyone leaves knowing more than when they came in… and usually with a smile on their face.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Patience is number one. If you don’t have patience, welding will humble you.
You also need consistency. Welding isn’t about talent.. it’s about repetition and muscle memory.
You’ve got to respect the craft. You’ve got to want to learn.
That’s what I try to pass on.. not just how to weld, but how to think like a welder.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.weldingcoach.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weldingcoach/
