Turning Failures into Wisdom: 5 Years and $200,000+ in Business

[@mswoodenthings4322]

Build stuff that people want, not what you want to build was one big lesson. The other for me was that my first job was sales, not woodworking.

[@yossid422]

You gotta come back to KZbin. We miss you

[@bobwadsworth4799]

Looks like failure # 1 and failure # 4 are pretty similar if you step back and evaluate. You built something that someone wanted, and loved, and YOU thought that everyone else, again, would want one.

[@brianwade5964]

I have only owned my business for less than a year. There were a couple of things I took from this video. Part of my problem is that still starting up is that I, as most people starting a business have to work a regular job to help put money into your business "my job is honestly something that turned sorta a career now with random hours and days, literally called in randomly a lot of times at all hours or the day" after my recent promotion it is going to level off more. One of my major failures is following up, or just calling and trying as you felt "bothering people" to even sorta advertise to branch out where my products could possibly be successful. It's a learning curve for sure. I have a few loyal customers but it isn't enough just yet. I'm also still trying to figure out how to take custom orders online 9 months into starting my business.

[@patriot-maker]

This is quite possibly one of the most valuable videos you’ve done and in our niche. Thank you for sharing!

[@maverick5162010]

Awesome stuff guys. Thanks for sharing the success and failures, learned some valuable things just now!

[@markburns6126]

I started watching you guys after the pandemic and this stood out as my favorite video. I went through exactly the same learning curve with my lawn care business but I recently switched to woodworking (how i found you) and encountered the same issues. Im just speechless, this video was perfect

[@deanv8663]

Thank you for your honesty and transparency. You are amazing! Failure is all part of the game.

[@sandracallanan9172]

Glad to see you back. Great advice!

[@sinsofvorador]

That would suck. Lol. I can't stand round tables. Not as in making them, but as a design in general. Lol.

[@joelw6215]

The scene on joe dirt when he is teaching the firework stand owner that sparklers aren’t only what the customers want is bad business.

[@joshuaparker7095]

Hey Jennie and Davis! I'm a 19 year old working on building my woodworking small business and I just wanted to say that your videos are always really encouraging to me! I love your personalities and it's great to gain advice from you. Have a fantastic week!

[@daryldwarika1177]

Happy to see you both!

[@harldave9850]

Love both of you and can't wait to see your videos. I've learned that hard rule on some of my own products. Just because "I" think it's awesome, it's not! Thank you both and please don't give up on us out here. Keep putting out your videos. Between you and Mathew Peach you make my week

[@stlwoodworking]

Welcome back. Nice table design on the new one. I've been trying out some tables myself. Hopefully goes well.

[@joelw6215]

I took a break from you guys but I’m back and I love this video. God bless y’all.

[@GrantButler]

Watching the last part of this video I'm screaming at my phone "why didn't you try to sell it the people who told you that they liked it?"

[@richardbaron3921]

great to have you guys back !!

[@kevindoyle4521]

Sure have missed you two. Glad your back.

[@eric-yp8wo]

The full saying is..... The customer is always right as long as I make a profit.

[@BenVanKirk]

Great lessons. Thank you for sharing. Appreciate all you do!

[@creiij]

I'm sorry to say that after your video about how much money your woodworking business eventually made I have realized your are a KZbin company that makes videos about woodworking. $103k in sales is great but that is before ANY costs. Say you got a margin of 50% that means you got around $50k in profit, which means each of you made $25k. That is pretty bad. Without KZbin and your air force job your business never could have survived this long. I'm sorry but it's been great watching you these years.

[@martinsvensson6884]

No thats a pretty good start. By far the most businesses fail completely. You seem to live in fantasy land.

[@creiij]

@@martinsvensson6884 Yes but most people give up after 5 years. Or most people stop pumping in money into a business that does not generate profit after 5 years.

[@jimmyjohnson6496]

Someone got bored and watched too much shark tank. 😂 They are out here working harder than practically most people and doing things to build value for others While everyone else pretends to be an internet expert searching for the least likely amount of work for the most amount of profit because they are lazy and dishonest. Wait to see the glass half empty.😢

[@anthonyegner1382]

Enjoyed this

[@lukesterger814]

My biggest problem in my business is that I am trying to get consistent sales. I am still trying to get an ETSY site and my own website. I have got to about 10K and just need to figure out how to get past that.

[@robertlivingstone3947]

You never give up

[@KingDarius500]

I’d do again tomorrow!! 😂

[@stephanw7439]

I think you are wonderful. Many greetings from Germany👍👍👍

[@burnu2240]

customers man, they piss me off lol

[@paulringus1820]

Why not get your ideas from designers? Ask them what they want and then provide a concept, get buy-in and build it. You just might build only one-of, but the more varied pieces you build, creates a portfolio of pieces you have built. Then, in time, you get repeat design and build projects from your designer clients. That is what I do, customers come to me with a photo, wanting a custom piece like “ …this but … green and to in a spermicide space”. Then I design it, get it approved, priced and build it! So, unless you want to be Broyhill like maker, focus on custom work, not production. However, it’s your business not mine, I just like your approach to business and the fact that you share with followers. Blessing sent from SC.

[@ThoenWorks]

Well, neither of us have yellow fingernails. So I am really wondering if we can do it.

[@thehillbillyhermit7681]

Interior designers have crap taste! I've seen so much of it on those home rebuild/makeover shows

[@haroldnewton3135]

I think your last failure was the same as your first failure. The path to it may have been different but you thought because you liked it, everyone would like it … both times.

[@Jimmolter761]

Darn. guess I have to pour out the snake oil..

[@robertm348]

You put stuff into mailboxes? That's a federal offense. Turn around and put your hands behind your back. You have the right to remain silent...(figure the odds of that happening) ...