Rerouted through Buffalo. Snow delays. Two-hour detour before setting up at WMS Toronto. Plans change.

IKEA raised prices. Not just on a few items here and there, but across the board. Cabinets, vanities, and even that minimalist bedframe everyone’s been saving on Pinterest. The culprit? Tariffs ranging from 25% to 60% on imported goods. We’re going to steer away from politics here, and face what is in front of us and under our control.

A customer calls at 4:47 PM on a Friday. They need pricing for 200 shaker doors in three different sizes, two wood species, and would like to know exactly when they can expect delivery. Oh, and can you send them tracking information?

One of the most automated cabinet facilities in Northern America just opened, and as the best woodworking businesses do, it started in a garage. Shaun Fickes created Greyloch in 1991 as a passion project. Today, Shaun, his wife Dianne, and their four children have opened a 97,000 sq ft. shop. With a longtime dream realized and nothing but growth on the horizon, Greyloch has kept sight of their humble beginnings. They are managing to keep family and community at the center of all they do.

When we were kids, we had no limits. We knew we could be anything we wanted in life. I assumed I’d be able to choose between being a football player, astronaut, railroad tycoon, or professional Nintendo player. It felt good to live in that world. I built a fort out of an extra pallet of bricks behind our house that faced an empty field. I single-handedly fended off battalions of invading soldiers, victorious every day, despite my many bullet hole wounds that only hurt when I pretended they did.

Gratitude is good for business.

Today's job market has nearly every employer stumped. What more can I offer to attract quality employees? And how do I better retain the employees I have? Salaries and benefits are more competitive than ever, but it just doesn't seem to be enough. Why is that? A new generation controls the majority in the workplace and they are placing value in different areas than the generations before.

Have a product line and stick with it. You can't be everything to everybody. Specialize and dominate that area of the market rather than spreading yourself too thin. Have a product with a system that is predictable, reliable, and accurate.