Going Pro, Part 4: What I’d Do Differently

What would I do differently if I did it again? What are the things I did that I recommend?

Generally, the theme here follows from what I’ve been saying. Going pro in woodworking is less about woodworking than it is about other things. You’ll want to focus on them.

When I was thinking of going pro, I was 100% focused on getting as good at woodworking as I could. And I don’t regret the time and money spent doing that, but I really overlooked the main thing: design. If I could do it all over again, I would study furniture trends more and develop relationships with interior designers. It’s never too late to do any of these things, of course, but your skills in the field should be a given. And like I tell my students, learning the basics is easy; you only spend the rest of your life getting better at them. While I thought—and continue to think—that hand-cut dovetails are the coolest, most of my customers are not that interested in the joinery or how it was cut.

Focus on design

On a related note, I wish I had seen the value of learning design software earlier. I learned to make pencil sketches and hand draw to scale because it was the most approachable thing for me to use with clients. However, once I started collaborating with other makers who were adept at 3D modeling (and who could make changes with a few clicks instead of redrawing the whole thing), I was sold. Here’s the thing: Changing your methods later in the game is harder to do. I had clients waiting for projects and the inertia of my own methods. Learning software is solidly in the “no fun” column for me, so I put it off. Now that I know how to use it I can’t imagine not using it, but if I could do it again, I would get competent at it early on.

In addition to design software, there are a number of other technologies I wished I’d availed myself of before I got started: photography, video editing, and client- and project-management software, just to name a few.

As a blue-collar, Gen-X kid, I am immediately suspicious of slick marketing. When I was young, talking yourself up usually led to unpleasant things, and Gen Xers typically saw success in the arts as “selling out.” Turns out, that kind of cynicism just doesn’t lead to success in business. All that is to say that I wish I’d taken a class in marketing or simply learned to appreciate it earlier. Marketing and graphic design are professions and fields unto themselves, and the deeper you get into them, the more you’ll come to appreciate how much you don’t know. I highly recommend paying an actual professional to help you develop and make your logo. Consider paying for professional photography and videos, and/or gain some competence in doing those things yourself.

Bookkeeping and accounting

If you’re as new to business as I was, you might not already know that these are separate but related things. If that’s true for you, great; we’ve identified a starting part. AI has actually helped bookkeeping tasks become a lot easier in the past few years. However, you should learn the basics. QuickBooks is the most popular bookkeeping software, and it is incredibly powerful. Take some time to learn it. Learn the basics of the laws and taxes for your specific area. Find a good accountant early.

Save for your retirement. In a world where many of us have not spent days and weeks on our feet, it’s easy to think we’ll just make stuff forever. Sam Maloof was at the bench until his 90s, so why can’t I do the same? Well, spend a few consecutive weeks on your feet on a concrete floor in the winter and let me know how you’re feeling about depending on your body for income in old age. The good news is that the tax code has some incredibly generous options for self-employed people to save for retirement.

Generally, you should pay a CPA to at least check your work and help you set up the right retirement accounts.

Take care of your body

This looks different for everyone: yoga, pilates, strength training, cardio, eating well. Ideally, it’s all of the above. If you’re going into this business you’ll find that two things are true: You need your body functioning well every day to do your best work, and you will have a high level of stress. A proper exercise routine will help with both elements tremendously. Just because you’re active each day, which is great for your health, it doesn’t replace the benefits of a proper fitness program. Get your yearly physical exam, sleep, hydrate, and eat properly. So many small business owners I know neglect this element and pay the price later.

Finally, if you’re reading this as someone already doing woodworking professionally, try to remember, as my buddy Jordan Sanders would point out during collaborations, that we get to do this for a living. How cool is that?