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After spending more than two decades building a successful landscaping business with his twin brother Nicholas, Andrew Clements retired in 2015 with a new appreciation for what matters most. Born in England, his essays draw on a life that has included growing up in England and Bangladesh, entrepreneurship, caregiving, family loss and travel. A regular HumbleDollar contributor, he enjoys telling stories that remind readers life’s richest lessons often have little to do with money. Andrew is the older brother of HumbleDollar founder Jonathan Clements, whose life and legacy have inspired some of his most personal writing. He lives in Florida with his husband, Joey.
Comments
Dan, I think Jonathan understood that difficult times can give us perspective, but what we do with that perspective is ultimately up to us. Hardship can make us bitter, or it can make us more grateful, resilient and compassionate. Like you, I’ve known enough difficult times to appreciate the good ones much more than I might have otherwise. I also smiled at your reason for being here. Jonathan created HumbleDollar to help people make better financial decisions, but I think he’d be pleased that it became something more; a community where people come for the financial wisdom and stay for the people. And yes, there are definitely a few characters around here.
Post: Looking Back On My Hard Luck Days
Link to comment from August 8, 2026
Thanks, Winston. I really like your phrase, “the birth lottery.” We all begin life’s journey from different starting points, and it’s easy to underestimate how much that shapes the opportunities available to us. I also smiled at your comment about computers. It’s wonderful when something that begins as simple curiosity or enjoyment turns into a rewarding career. Like you, the older I get, the more I find myself focusing less on achievement and more on gratitude for family, opportunities, and the unexpected turns that made life richer than I ever imagined.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 6, 2026
Thanks, Dan. I really like that quote from Mac McAnally. There's a lot of wisdom, and humor, in it. When Nick and I started at ChemLawn, we certainly didn't see it as the first chapter of our future. It was simply a job that paid the bills. Looking back, though, it taught us skills, discipline, and confidence that we carried into our own business years later. I suppose that's one of the lessons life keeps teaching me: We rarely recognize the significance of today's ordinary work until we're looking back years later.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 6, 2026
Thanks, Rick. What a wonderful idea for an evening together. I can only imagine how fascinating it must have been to hear everyone’s “Coming to America” story. I also like the point you made about families who arrived generations ago. Over time it’s easy to forget the courage, uncertainty, and hope that brought our ancestors here in the first place. Whether those journeys happened two hundred years ago or within our own lifetime, they’re all part of the same American story. Thank you for sharing that experience. It fits beautifully with the theme of the article.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Thank you, Mike. That means a great deal to me. My brother and I always felt incredibly fortunate for the opportunities we found here, and we tried to repay that good fortune the best way we knew how, by working hard, building a business we could be proud of, creating jobs for others, and becoming part of our community. I’m grateful this country became our home, and I’m equally grateful for your kind words.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Thank you, Catherine. Your story is a wonderful example of the article’s central theme, that opportunity and hard work often go hand in hand. You left Ireland knowing you were changing the course of your life, and then you made the most of every opportunity that came your way. Your career is remarkable, but what stood out to me even more was your gratitude. Like you, I look back and realize how much of my life was shaped by opportunities I could never have anticipated. I’m also so sorry for the loss of your three siblings. Having lost both my younger brother and my younger sister in the last year, I know how profoundly those losses change us. Your resilience in building a fulfilling life despite the challenges you faced is inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey, and happy belated 65th birthday. Wishing you many years of good health, travel, and enjoying the freedom you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Thank you for reading my article and the comment. I think you’ve summed up the message better than I did. You’re absolutely right that avoiding some of life’s major setbacks can be just as important as making good decisions. It’s easy to look back and attribute success entirely to hard work, but the older I get, the more I appreciate how many things had to go right along the way. And yes, having Nick as a business partner was one of the greatest advantages I could have asked for. We trusted each other completely, and that trust never wavered over the years. Looking back, I don’t take that for granted. I also like your phrase, “our origin stories.” We all have one, and each is shaped by a unique mix of opportunity, choices and circumstance. That’s what makes hearing other people’s journeys so interesting.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Harold, thank you for sharing Father Andrew’s story. It really highlights how much our lives can be shaped by circumstances beyond our control. Reading your comment made me appreciate even more how fortunate my brother and I were that our path to permanent residency was relatively straightforward. I hope Father Andrew’s situation is resolved soon so he can return to the work and community he clearly cares so much about. Stories like his are a reminder that opportunity often depends on doors opening at the right time.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Thanks, Linda. I love that my story prompted you to reflect on your own. Your decision to return to college in your mid-30s is a perfect example of how one choice can quietly change the direction of an entire life. It also reminds me that success isn’t always about climbing to the highest position. Finding work that is meaningful, provides security, and allows you to help others is an accomplishment in itself. I’m glad you took that chance, and I’m sure many of your patients benefited because you did.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026
Thank you David. I really appreciate your kind words. One of the things I hoped to convey in the article is that opportunity and hard work went hand in hand. We were fortunate to be given the opportunity to build a life here, but we also understood that nothing would be handed to us. Starting at the bottom taught us lessons that stayed with us throughout our careers. Looking back, I feel far more gratitude than pride. My brother and I were simply thankful for the chance to build a life in a country that opened so many doors for us.
Post: One Piece Of Paper
Link to comment from August 5, 2026