There’s a question I keep coming back to whenever I catch myself circling the same decision for too long:
Where will you be a year from now if you finally make the decisions you keep putting off?
Every hauling owner has those decisions.
They follow you from job to job. They ride with you in the truck. They sit with you while you look at your numbers late at night.
You’ve researched them. You’ve thought about them. You’ve asked other operators about them.
Yet somehow… you still haven’t moved.
And the truth is, most junk removal and dumpster rental owners don’t lack answers —
they lack permission to trust what they already know.
Story / Setup
Whenever I feel myself getting stuck, I use a mental model that cuts straight through the noise. It’s simple. Clean. No clutter. No overthinking.
The Regret Filter.
Here’s how it works: Picture yourself decades from now, looking back at the junk removal business or roll-off rental company you built. You’ve been through thousands of cleanout jobs, hauled debris through every season, managed crew headaches, raised prices, expanded routes, bought trucks, rented dumpsters — all of it.
Now revisit the decision that’s freezing you today.
Ask yourself:
Will I regret doing this? Or will I regret not doing it?
That’s the whole framework.
No spreadsheets.
No pros and cons chart.
No waiting for things to “feel right.”
No pretending the timing will magically get better.
It’s just a different vantage point — one that makes the real answer obvious.
Lessons / Insights
Lesson 1: When You Apply This to Real Hauling Decisions, the Path Clears
Every time I’ve used this filter in my own businesses — raising prices, expanding routes, hiring help, investing in marketing, adding dumpster rental inventory, fixing broken workflows — the answer was right there.
The fear didn’t vanish. But the direction did.
And what I realized is this:
I would always regret staying comfortable more than I’d regret trying and adjusting.
That’s usually the truth for most junk removal and dumpster rental owners.
You already know your business can’t grow if everything depends on you. You already know your pricing needs to match your workload and disposal fees. You already know your Google Ads or LSA strategy needs to get serious before the next slow season hits.
You already know crew inefficiency is costing you margin.
You already know the follow-up system isn’t strong enough.
You already know that one big decision you’ve been avoiding is the one holding you back.
You just haven’t made the call yet. But your future self already knows the answer.
Lesson 2: A Year From Now Makes the Truth Impossible to Ignore
This is where the Regret Filter hits hardest. A year from today, you’ll either:
- be grateful you finally acted
- or be standing in the same exact spot
Still thinking. Still researching. Still hesitating.
And the version of you looking back from 10, 20, 30 years down the road?
He remembers the opportunities you stepped into — and the ones you let pass. He knows what staying comfortable cost. He knows what movement created. He knows how each decision shaped the hauling company you ended up building.
Future-you is painfully honest. And he doesn’t care about fear — he cares about outcome.
Reflection / Takeaway
Here’s what it all comes down to:
Momentum doesn’t come from certainty.
Momentum comes from movement.
Most owners tell themselves they’re “almost ready.”
But the difference between another year of “almost” and a year of real growth comes down to one thing:
What decision are you finally willing to stop avoiding?
Use the Regret Filter. Pick one. Make the call today.
That’s how hauling companies grow. That’s how better years get built. That’s how owners take back control.
That’s the Haulers’ Edge ✌️
If you want ongoing tools, mental models, and strategies that help you make the right decisions — pricing, systems, marketing, Google Ads, growth moves, and everything in between — that’s exactly what I break down inside
The Hauler’s Edge Newsletter and on
HaulingHubb.com.
Real-world guidance. Industry-specific advice. Built for junk removal and dumpster rental owners who want more out of their business.
P.S.
After running a junk removal and dumpster rental company for over a decade — and helping haulers across the country through Adimize — I can tell you this: The decisions that scare you the most are usually the ones that move your business forward the fastest.
Your future self already sees that. You just have to catch up.
FAQ Section
1. How do I know which decision in my business needs the Regret Filter?
It’s usually the decision you’ve been thinking about for months but haven’t acted on — pricing, hiring, marketing, or adding containers.
2. What if the decision I make ends up being wrong?
Most hauling decisions can be adjusted. Staying stuck is the only option that guarantees zero progress.
3. Does this apply to both junk removal and dumpster rental businesses?
Absolutely. Both models depend on smart pricing, strong systems, and timely decisions.
4. How does this help with marketing decisions?
Most owners know they need consistent Google Ads, better follow-up, or a stronger website — but they delay. The Regret Filter cuts through that hesitation.
