I read a great book last fall called, “The Best Team Wins” One idea that really resonated for me was this: in the modern age, people and relationships are the most valuable asset within a business. Why? Because everything else can be copied. Knowledge, content, even entire business models – if they’re profitable and reproducible, …
I learned a wonderful phrase last week from Louise Cornick over at Upholstery Education: Having a Wobble. Various dictionaries define “Wobble” as “to teeter or rock unsteadily” and “not properly balanced.” Though these apply to the PHYSICAL experience of wobbling, they’re incredibly applicable to our EMOTIONAL experience under uncertain circumstances. And I will be honest: …
Here’s a popular conversation among upholsterers: “I hate low quality work. It makes us all look bad.” Okay. I agree. Most consumers are so unfamiliar with professional upholstery that one terrible experience may form their entire world view. IF they choose to reupholster again, they’ll be jaded and slower to trust. But this is an …
Last week, I listened to an episode of 99% Invisible on “social infrastructure” (Listen to it here: Episode 346 – Palaces for the People) Social infrastructure are the places, events and connections that bind a community together. Social infrastructure can include libraries, parks, trails, shopping districts, and all the events and gatherings that happen there …
One especially vicious truth about professional upholstery is that quality and speed are two infuriating sides of the same coin. To do a good job, we must slow down. To make any money, we must speed up. This is a challenge for most upholsterers, but especially for NEW ones. It takes thousands of hours to …
Give Yourself a Raise, Already: How to Improve Your Hourly Rate Right Now. Read More »
It’s a work from home day for The Funky Little Chair – partly because it’s 20 below in Minnesota and partly because we have a skills unit coming up. Next month, our mentorship group will tackle their first, “attached cushion ottoman” very exciting! I’ve done the sample project, tweaked my instructions, recorded all the video, …
Well it’s blog day and I’m just starting a post at noon. Why??? Because, as usual, I’m running in circles like a chicken, failing completely at “time management” That’s in quotes because I’m humoring the theory of Rory Vaden that you can’t manage time: You can only manage yourself. And baby, I am a nightmare …
What are you listening to? Let’s talk about “time management” Read More »
When I was in elementary school, my art teacher was all about a book called, “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards This relatively new (at the time) book pioneered the idea that people who “can’t draw” don’t lack drawing ability – they lack observational abilities. Or rather, their observational abilities …
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a parable I heard as a child. . . “A man traveled to Hell. There, he saw people, miserable and starving, seated at a bountiful table overflowing with food. But all the forks and spoons were three feet long. The man then traveled to Heaven. There, he saw …
This has been a year of exploration for The Funky Little Chair, and I know I’m not the only one. Hindsight may be 20/20, but foresight is impossibly fuzzy. It’s really hard to tell the difference between an opportunity and a distraction. If time and energy are limited commodities, where should I invest them? It’s …
