Happy Coincidence or Turning Point?
When I look at where I am today with my current career and business and think about the journey that brought me here, there are significant turning points along the way which are obvious in hind sight. They were not so obvious at the time. I’ll bet many of you have a similar story to tell.
When I was about 7, my dad taught me how to use a homemade lathe to turn darts with a nail point and chicken feathers (from our own chickens) for the fletching. At age 20 I had a job with a lot of “just-be-there” time, so I read every DIY woodworking book and magazine I could get my hands on; Popular Science, Popular Woodworking, Woodsmith, etc. I even subscribed to a 24 volume DIY encyclopedia and studied every volume cover to cover. My choices with the book-of-the-month club were all woodworking related. My first table saw was a skill saw bolted upside-down to a sheet of plywood with a 2x4 for a rip fence.
As a sales executive I moved my family 2,200 miles away from where we both grew up and where our families were and began everything new. Along the way I began to build furniture for our growing family, tables, chairs, book cases, bunk beds, armoires, dressers, etc. Soon others asked me to build pieces for them; I stopped counting at 1,000. I always had some corporate job so woodworking was nothing more than a hobby business, but it was always my favorite pastime.
During my time with Home Depot as a millwork specialist, I began Saturday morning woodworking classes in the lumber isle. It became the Gwinnett Woodworkers Association in 1998. Around 2002-2003 Nick Cook came and gave a woodturning demonstration and a Special Interest Turning group was born at the GWA. In 2005 I began my Woodworking Show Circuit career selling router bits. A couple years later I switched to turning tools and wood turning demonstrations and added How-To DVD’s to my offering. That only lasted for 13 years.
In 2009 I introduced the Longworth Chuck Type 1. Every year since I’ve added new items based on what I learned from that original Longworth. Today the majority of our sales come from items I’ve designed and manufacture right here in the USA. Our internet business has grown to the point that it provides the majority of our income and doesn’t let us do all of the traveling required to be on the show circuit.
The major turning points are obvious now. At the time they just seemed like an inconvenience or bad luck. I had studied to become a Veterinarian and graduated with a 4.0 GPA and a full scholarship. It was not meant to be. I have not had a “regular job” for over 20 years now and we have never been happier. Sweet Janice joined me in this madness in 2014 when she “retired” and we haven’t looked back. This is not the course I would have chosen, but it is certainly the right one for us. Coincidence or divine direction? I think you know which one I believe. May I encourage you to view your next turning point as something very special and recognize that it just might lead to something more wonderful than you could realize. So, remember that wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
Ps 37:23-24 NIV A man’s steps are established by the LORD, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD holds his hand.
Prov 4:10-13 NIV Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
1 Peter 2:21 NIV To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
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