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@UnclePablo

Really great to "meet" you. We do indeed share a lot in common. You're right about the lack of support structure when starting out. Our field is still a very tight niche, so the face to face support is few and far between. That's why online communities are so valuable right now. Thanks for the comments.


@FIMWDWKR

Man, you just keep pouring on the greatness. I love the transparency your giving the readers here. It's important to never hide behind a guise of having all the answers. I'm grateful you're doing that.

It's important to really niche down with our work, but it takes time, exploration, and self discovery to define that niche or sub-niche.

Thanks so much for sharing.

@sam_cal

That's a great request. You're right. Most articles leave you hanging on the idea of the entrepreneurial mindset. I will have something in the near future addressing that very thing.


@FIMWDWRKR

Fred, I cannot thank you enough for your part of this conversation. You're experience is so valuable here. Isn't Phil tremendous? I had the fortune of spending an evening with him at one of his year end open houses. He talked to me for quite some time and I really saw what he had in the way of wisdom in all of these areas. Your time with him has to be one of the greatest resources to your success.

You're right on about the 5-10 year mark. Personal development really takes place in this time period and you really get clear about what and how you want to work as a furniture maker. And the last conclusion is the best. Finding a partner who is patient is essential. I'm still working on that part! haha!

Thanks again.



@GEide

Thank you so much. It's really a privilege to be able to share my experiences here. I can only hope to add to the value of all of loyal readers. We learn so much from each other.

@sam_cal

That's a great request. You're right. Most articles leave you hanging on the idea of the entrepreneurial mindset. I will have something in the near future addressing that very thing.


@FIMWDWRKR

Fred, I cannot thank you enough for your part of this conversation. You're experience is so valuable here. Isn't Phil tremendous? I had the fortune of spending an evening with him at one of his year end open houses. He talked to me for quite some time and I really saw what he had in the way of wisdom in all of these areas. Your time with him has to be one of the greatest resources to your success.

You're right on about the 5-10 year mark. Personal development really takes place in this time period and you really get clear about what and how you want to work as a furniture maker. And the last conclusion is the best. Finding a partner who is patient is essential. I'm still working on that part! haha!

Thanks again.



@GEide

Thank you so much. It's really a privilege to be able to share my experiences here. I can only hope to add to the value of all of loyal readers. We learn so much from each other.

@John316

It is hard at first when you are plugged in to the conventional thinking. Just ask yourself, "Do I want to be a 'conventional' business?"

When you phrase it that way, it helps to avoid becoming such a thing.



@patwrek

Well, congrats on going back to school. And I have to commend you on taking a realistic survey of your situation. In reference to the future, when you do decide to start a woodworking venture, I would start now to decide what kind of woodworking you would enjoy most. What kind of a woodworker do you want to be? Then you can begin to find clients who desire the kind of work you desire to do.

This will eliminate the whole scenario you described above. The key to long term success in the arts and crafts is to niche down. Then take a look and niche down even more. The more specialized you become the easier it is to serve a very loyal customer base. Keep us informed of your progress!

Thanks for the compliment. It's was supposed to be a leather upholstered seat, but the customer went with a faux leather instead. I guess it was fear of upkeep?

Wow! Very nice work! I suspect that it is a most comfortable chair.

So beautiful and very graceful. I can see the Wegner-esque proprtions, especially inthe angle of the back legs. Fantastic.

Absolutely gorgeous.

I like this piece. Very playful. I bet it was a joy to create.

Thank You. I draw a lot of inspiration from the simple elegance found within the many forms of the tansu.

Thnak you. That means alot.