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…