Lyndol Woodruff

“So… you wrote a book about windows?“

I get this question a lot. Usually followed by a polite but puzzled look that says, “How exactly do you fill a bunch of pages talking about glass and frames?”

I don’t blame them. When someone tells you they’re writing a book called “Windows to a Better Life,” you probably picture a home improvement manual. Maybe some technical diagrams about Low-E glass, solar heat gain coefficients and u-factors. Perhaps a few before-and-after photos of ugly aluminum frames transformed into beautiful vinyl or fiberglass.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t really a book about windows.

It’s a book about clarity.

The Breakdown

In 2013, I was living what I thought was the dream in Hollywood. Music videos, recording studios, red carpets, working with celebrities—I was climbing the ladder, chasing recognition, building what looked like success from the outside.

But inside? I was empty. Addicted. Making terrible decisions that hurt people I cared about. And eventually, everything—and I mean everything—came crashing down in what was, let’s just say, a less than glorious visit to the streets of Manhattan.

I lost my business. Lost my reputation. Lost relationships. Lost money that wasn’t even mine to lose. I had to call my parents and tell them their son was a complete failure who’d destroyed everything he touched.

The Real Breakthrough

I found myself back in Texas, broken and searching for purpose. Dad kept bringing up his windows—something he’d been doing as a hobby since 1982, forty years of helping friends and neighbors here and there. But honestly? I had zero interest and couldn’t see the bigger picture yet.

The real breakthrough—understanding what was actually broken and how to fix it? That came later, when life stripped away every excuse and forced me to see clearly for the first time.

The Lightbulb

In 2018, while serving as VP of Strategic Partnerships at a production company, we landed Green Attics—a home energy efficiency company—as a client. Diving deep into research for their marketing videos, I had my lightbulb moment: every single house in our area was the perfect window customer. Homes over 15 years old with failing aluminum builder-grade windows that were basically energy vampires, sucking comfort and cash right out of these families’ lives.

But here’s what hit me deeper: these weren’t just product problems. These were life problems.

The Legacy to Honor

What started as a smart business pivot became something much bigger—a legacy to honor. Carrying on the tradition that started with my grandfather’s craftsmanship and care, passed through my father’s four decades of helping people, and transforming it into something that could truly change lives at scale.

Since I had just recently gotten married, it hit me like a ton of bricks—THIS was going to be the legacy.

The Real Discovery

I started meeting with homeowners, and I’d ask, “How does your home feel?” Not “What’s wrong with your windows?” but “How does your home FEEL?”

And story after story, I heard the same thing: “We just deal with it.” “We’ve learned to avoid that room.” “We can’t use our breakfast nook anymore.”

People were living in homes that no longer served them! They were tolerating discomfort, accepting dysfunction, making peace with problems that had real solutions.

And I thought: this is exactly what I did with my life for years. I tolerated. I accepted. I “dealt with it” instead of dealing with it.

That’s when I realized—we’re not really in the window business. We’re in the transformation business. We’re helping people reclaim spaces they’d given up on. We’re giving them permission to believe their home can feel better.

Just like God was giving me permission to believe my life could feel better.

The Million-Dollar Year

In 2022, when I was finally able to fully implement the strategy I’d developed during my darkest period, we built almost a million-dollar business in just one year. But when Dad started having concerning health issues in March 2023, and I was juggling single fatherhood with explosive business growth, I made the smartest decision of my entrepreneurial life to date.

I sold the company to Jordan Reilly, a former tech executive and investor who had the systems thinking and leadership skills to take us to the next level. Not because I was giving up, but because I finally understood something profound about legacy—sometimes the greatest act of leadership is knowing when to hand the wheel to someone who can take your vision further than you ever could alone.

More Than Glass and Frames

Since then, I’ve witnessed something incredible over and over again. When you help someone transform their home, you get to see hope restored. I’ve had customers text me about sleeping through storms for the first time. About reclaiming their favorite breakfast spot. About finally being comfortable in rooms they’d avoided for years.

One guy told me, “I’m sitting at my table in boxer shorts and it’s 2 degrees outside, and I’m warm.”

That’s not just about R-values and thermal performance. That’s about hope. That’s about what’s possible when you stop accepting “that’s just how things are” and start believing “things can be better.”

And every single time I see that transformation happen in someone’s home, I’m reminded of the transformation that happened in my life.

Recovery. Redemption. Renewal.

Whether it’s windows or life—the principle is the same: clarity changes everything.

Why This Story Needs to Be Told

I’m writing this book because I realized that my story—our story at Woodruff Windows—it’s bigger than home improvement. It’s about what happens when you choose service over self. When you build something with your hands and your heart instead of your ego.

This book isn’t a sales pitch for windows. It’s a love letter to transformation. To second chances. To the idea that your breakdown might be your breakthrough.

Every week, I talk to homeowners about their journeys—not just about windows. And what I keep hearing is this hunger for authenticity. For businesses that actually care. For people who show up with character, not just competence.

What You’ll Find Between These Pages

So no, this isn’t really a book about windows. It’s about:

• The real ROI of transformation (spoiler: it’s not what shows up on your energy bill)
• Why clarity changes everything (in windows and in life)
• How to turn breakdown into breakthrough (it starts with getting honest)
• The power of service over self (the best business strategy ever)
• What makes a house feel like home (hint: it’s not the windows)
• Faith in the frame (and in the journey)
• Why knowing when to hand the wheel to someone else might be your smartest move

An Invitation

If you’ve ever felt stuck—in your home, your work, your life—this story is for you. If you’ve ever wondered whether real change is possible, whether transformation actually happens, whether clarity really can cut through the fog of confusion… this story is for you.

Because here’s what I know for sure: the light is always there. Sometimes you just need better windows to let it in.

And sometimes those windows aren’t made of glass. Sometimes they’re made of grace.

“Windows to a Better Life: Clarity Changes Everything” is coming soon. Follow along for updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and more stories about seeing clearly through what matters most.

What about you? Where in your life could you use a little more clarity? I’d love to hear your story—drop me a line in the comments below.