Earlier today I was cleaning up after installing a new gate for a customer.
He came out to thank me as I brushed up the sawdust from his driveway. He asked me the same question nearly every customer asks; “Do you only do gates!?”
When customers get a reliable craftsperson into their homes they are reluctant to let them leave.
It’s hard to find a good tradesperson.
I get it.
There would have been a time when I would have been keen to pitch the idea of building a beautiful feature wall in the living room, or even better, craft a new dining table.
I love a project where I can really show off my skills.
But I’ve come to my senses.
It’s five years since I niched down to only making and installing gates.
It got to the point where I was so busy with gates, that it didn’t make sense for me to do anything else.
It’s hardly dream-job stuff.
Making and installing three or four gates a day is monotonous—to say the least.
Boring as f#*k is how I usually describe it.
But here’s the thing, it is a thriving and lucrative woodworking business.
There are certain things you will be good and fast at.
If you want to make money in a labour intensive industry like woodworking, you need to be both.
For some it’s kitchens. For others it’s tables.
For me it’s gates.
I still love showing off my skills and building beautiful things.
But instead of losing money on a feature wall project that I’m just not quite quick enough to complete, I build a feature wall in my own home.
Building and installing gates gives me the time and money to do this.
It’s the best of both worlds.
Last week I finished building my home gym. I’m thrilled with it. I immediately thought, I wonder if I could make money building home gyms.
I had to snap out of it quickly.
Some people will be so talented that they can do anything at high speed and still churn out top quality stuff.
They’re the top 1%.
Like the top 1% of football players who make it to the Premier League.
Don’t be fooled by every amazing project you see on instagram. How long did it take? Was it for fun or for profit? Was profit made?
Mostly we’ve no idea.
If you’re woodworking for a living, do the stuff that gives you a living.
Save the passion projects for the weekend.
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