Conversations with Will Trotti

Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Trotti.

Hi Will, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
This story could be fascinating to some, I hope it is a light to those that need it. I hope that my story is something of a perspective that will assist others in this life. I was born in 1984 on a frigid blizzard like day in Chicago, to an alcoholic mother. she was actually married to another man that was not my father. They had they own interesting story that could likely be a whole book unto themselves, had they not passed away, but I digress.
I suppose some say I was an accident, maybe a bastard ( chuckles to myself), however I just feel lucky to get to walk on this planet, make my mark, create a difference in this world and leave it better than when I came. I found out most of my background history when I did an ancestry test, and looked into my DNA in 2017. Up until that point, at the age of 34 I had no idea what I looked like as a baby or who my birth parents were, because I was adopted at 2 years old.
Being adopted, it was a bit of an identify crisis , as it is for all adopted people. you feel like you are barrowing a family, or like you own your adopted family a debt you cannot pay. I encourage all adopted people to find a place or people they call call “their people” or you will go through life eternally lost. However, that is life. I was adopted by a Italian dad and a German mother, who had been married 6 years at that point. They had already had 2 girls of their own and ended up having one more and adopted 2 more girls- I was in a sea of estrogen. I supposed that is a lot of who I am, and what made me, I didn’t end up gay, Thank God, but I did end up more of a sensitive masculine type of mad that was empathetic and tuned to a woman’s emotions more than most men.
In 2001 I joined the military at 17 years old after a very strict religious and homeschooled life in the middle of the cornfields of Eaton, Indiana. I was that country boy playing in the woods, and doing this like gathering eggs from out chicken in the morning. Getting enlisted I was excited to see what the world had in store, also very scared as I had never left home for got than a couple days, but the man that was developing inside this 17 yr old walking hormone knew he needed to explore the world. I instantly scored hi in the mechanic field in testing for the military, and was to be a diesel mechanic. Little did I know my real Birth dad was a mechanic in the military and I wouldn’t find that out for another 17 years later. I did in fact, get to see the world. I was shipped to Texas, California, North Dakota, Japan, and Mississippi, and in the middle of all those I made it a point to see all around me such as Hawaii and Australia. It was in the military that I had my first child, at 20 years old, okay okay- I know what you are thinking, well they were co-ed dorms ok, I was a virgin, and i was 20 for crying out loud. there were military girls walking down the dorm halls in less than clothes. so yes that happened, and I discovered my true love in this planet- being a dad. Her mother and I tried for 5 years to no avail, and so it was over. I used my GI bill from the military to go to school full time, and at that point my dream career was to be in movies. So off to San Francisco I went to film school. it was fun, but too far from the corn fields for this Hoosier. and they people were not east to get along with. So after 3 semesters I abandoned that dream and came back to the Midwest and changed my major to Journalism/ Organizational Leadership at Wright State University and a short stink in Ball State University in Indiana.
While here I was able to quickly get any mechanical job I wanted and worked for years as a mechanic. when in my late 30’s I knew there was an expiration to being in physical labor and started to look into government jobs in more of an administrative sense. It was during these jobs that I did the DNA test, researched my birth family, found all my blood relatives still in the Chicago area- from both of my parents sides, and proceeded to meet many new people. I also grew to love my Swedish, Polish, and Scottish heritage. Turned out I am only a 3rd generation European. I was able to connect my DNA to Viking archeological graves that are well documented on a fantastic website mytrueancestry. I have since been to Europe 4 times, and plan on moving there permanently one day.
Now in my 40’s I work as an analyst for the government, take care of my European cars, attend as many European events as I can ( honestly there barely any here in Ohio, and I am attempting to grown the Scandinavian community here) I love making natural edge cutting boards, exploring the outdoors, road trips, and trying to find a girlfriend- ok that is not something I “love ” per se – but it is a journey I am on right now, and it isn’t easy. I have 2 sons now- they are 11 and 9, and being with them is the most fantastic part of life, my now- 22 year old daughter is getting her international law degree in…. Chicago of all places- weird how life works like that, am I right? She has never been there, so that was a full circle moment. I am raising my boys to believe in masculinity, be a chivalrous gentleman, while still maintaining their wild side that all men should be capable of. they are taught to be proud of their European heritage and will carry on that fantastic pride.
I have written a book, Can you tell? no but it is published on amazon, and I am glad I can leave that part of myself behind for all my generations of the family tree that is created after me. I like the fact that I have the burden of being the start of a family tree. having both birth parents passed- I am this lone tree with 3 branches, and I am excited for what is in store for my family line.
I have a significant online presence, and it is a fun hobby to try and get my life experiences out to the younger generation. We old folks knew life before a cell phone, so I am sure we have something good to spread around. We have one shot at this life, we might as well make it a good one.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not exactly. as I mentioned, being adopted was hard. never having that sixth sense of a connection with anyone in my immediate family was a struggle. and to think I had birth parents, or at least one- my birth mother dies only 4 years after I was born- as a child, I wish i could have gotten to them sooner. I would have attempted to save both of them from alcoholism, I am sure to no avail, however I sure would have liked to meet them and try. having bother birth parents being alcoholics, it is odd that I have never had a problem with alcohol. I am glad I made my peace with it over the years since 2017.
Being homeschooled through the 90s made many things difficult, as nobody was regulating what I was learning and how up to standards it was, luckily , the military gave me a solid background to use. However, I missed out on many subjects and had zero social skills going into the big wide world. The military actually thought I was depressed because I was so quiet.
Here is a hot (literally) take on something nobody ever talk about, how difficult it is being attractive. now now, don’t leave yet. Hear me out, its not all that easy. this ties into my struggles with finding a forever woman to spend my life with. growing up with 5 sisters it was all I ever heard ” OMG your brother is sooo cute” and I was always looked at for my physical attraction instead of who I am as a person. Not to mention when you are what society thinks is attractive, you are automatically assumed to be of low IQ. When in reality thanks to the DNA testing I have done, I actually have a higher IQ than most. People always rust me, listen to what I have to say and believe almost anything I say in a social setting, it is A LOT OF PRESSURE. Now have a reaped some benefits from what I look like? sure maybe? a few freebies here and there, but where I am in my career came through my brain, and that is nice to day dream about in my ivory tower. yes, that is sarcasm.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
There are many things in my life as far as work I can talk about- however my current job has a security clearance and I cannot divulge much. I am basically a complicated parts guy. there it is , whew- that was fun, did you get something out of that? Was that everything you dreamed of? …. yea sorry, that is all I have, I can however, talk about all my other jobs in my life, and what they have taught me.
The first job: The United States Air Force. I honestly think that all kids coming out of high school should have a degree of serving in the military. it was such a rewarding experience, and taught me so much about how to have strong work ethic, a clean organized life and so many life skills. I was an honor to serve this great nation, to give up my freedom so that other can live free. Most of those the USA do not realize how their freedom was earned how hard it was and what people went though, they read about it in school and forget about it. Serving the country would cut down on violence, depression, homelessness, and many other problems plaguing the country, in my opinion. Its what you do with those skills that makes or breaks you, yes there are homeless vets out there, but if they would have been smart early on, they would be in that situation.

Mechanic: that taught me that the cooperate America that makes products for quantity not quality has been running bit of a scheme on the people for a very long time. All the major car brands on the market are so cheaply made, they are plastic, too many sensors, and the factories know they will break. they will purposely put a recall need into a vehicle, knowing that people will have to come in for the “free” recall fix, only to have the salesman, aka- the service advisor try to sell them something else ” while they are there anyways” SELL SELL SELL. When will we as a country get back to making something that is intended to last. there should be no paid subscriptions once you have already paid for the car, there should be no shut-off switch or a million censors you did not ask for. The current vehicle corporations are trying to create an environment where you cant work on your own car in your garage. you get a off brand rear tail light, and they car will not allow you to use it thanks to all the internal computers put into place. that is a loss of freedom that should never happen. I am proud of the fact that I can take apart an entire vehicle and MOST LIKELY put it back together. Kidding not kidding.

Whatever job you get as a young person in this world, work hard as hell. Chase those dreams, give it a shot, but have a backup plan- I suggest the military. Dream of that home and life you want in your 40’s. Have to courage to start over again if you have to. I have been a working adult for 25 years, and I plan on going another 30 years, because WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH YOUR DAY? Work! why not, make money , don’t be a lazy bum. There is about 18 hours in the day, you can work for 10 in all reality, and still have time to go to the gym for an hour.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I only have the cutting boards and published book on amazon f you want any of those, feel free to let me know. Otherwise don’t bother with me (ha-ha), Help the younger generation. We need to help them see there is work to be done and it is rewarding. blue collar jobs are paying so much money, so is the military. There is a thought in this younger generation that becoming rich and famous is the only way to become something in this world. Yes there are a few careers like that, but you have to be real with yourself. MAKE A DIFFERENCE. do something amazing with your time on this planet. Have a vision, chase it with everything you have, I can promise you the journey to doing so is something you won’t regret.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/willsnaturalcuttingboards/home
• Instagram: steadfastwillprotector
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SwedishPappaochBarna