I’m happy to check in this month with a special treat as promised. I was able to get a hold of a former apprentice, Wyatt Rickles, who also took a shot at starting his own wood shop at the age of 19 years old. I would definitely say that qualifies as interviewing a Young Wood Pro. I can assure you some of the lessons learned and experiences Wyatt has had should give perspective that will be useful to young wood pros.

I’ve known Wyatt for many years. He has come up and worked with me. He apprenticed with me three times. He even helped me build and frame my new studio. Wyatt is not only incredibly talented and very smart, but also he is just a damn fine young man. I don’t say that lightly, I have spent a lot of time with him, and he is someone I will always welcome in my home. 

Early challenges
Wyatt’s journey starting a woodworking business was not your starry eyed comfortable well ending version that we all want to believe everyone experiences. He did experience some success and was able to get some work coming in. However, there are some lessons you really just can’t learn until you’re in the thick of it. Wyatt did a great job speaking about that experience with honesty and humility. 

Wyatt started his business in a small garage-size shop, taking on work that was suitable for the space he had. He had some work coming in but eventually realized that furniture building is not an easy thing to make a full-time living at without years of experience and referrals. That takes time to attain and supplementing with other types of work is wise way to buy that time.

Just like the talented gentleman Andrew Morris interviewed last month, Wyatt also realize he needed to expand into doing cabinetry to stabilize his income. Where Wyatt lives, cabinetry is a widely needed and sought-after skill. Because of that, and because Wyatt is a talented woodworker, he started getting a lot of cabinet jobs. 

 

Big job, big challenge
Cabinets take up a lot of space and are usually ordered in a pretty large volume. A specific job came in for doing a large house worth of cabinets that required more space for him to build them, but also a larger payment as well. Like most of us he saw an opportunity to make more money and to expand his facilities. 

After taking the job on, he ran into some problems with the house construction running behind and the clients pushing back delivery dates. This caused two major problems for Wyatt. 

The first problem, he was sitting on lots of large cabinets and basically storing them while not getting paid for finishing them although they were finished. The second problem is some of the cabinets weren’t finished because the customer wasn’t ready with final dimensions yet, and we’re pushing back timelines while the deposit money is running out paying for the larger facility and storing the cabinets that are done. 

In other words, the delays were keeping him from getting the rest of his payment that he needed to keep his business running. That is an extremely difficult and stressful situation. It is also a really hard way to learn that lesson. 

Ultimately, the magnitude of the job in combination with the delays started straining his cash flow, and his ability to pay his employees and his overhead. Like any sane minded young man, Wyatt eventually realized the situation was no longer tenable and decided to close his shop. 

Tough lesson
It is a really tough lesson to learn and there’s also why you’ve heard me talk about the importance of having really good contracts in place. Just as important is amending and editing your contracts as you learn lessons while running your business. 

I have made many edits to my contracts over the years when I’ve had to learn some tough lessons. I certainly can’t judge Wyatt for taking on a large job that might have been more than he could chew. I’ve had many close calls like his. 

Matter of fact, I just took on a job building out most of a restaurant in furniture in less than 50 days. The good news is deposits don’t usually run out that quick and I have provisions in my contracts to protect me from variables like time delays that I cannot control. 

I have a large studio to accommodate this, and the adequate help to get it out on time. However, I cannot say I could’ve handled this job when I first started out, but I probably would’ve taken it. Large contracts are hard to turn down, especially to a new business. It’s hard to have restraint when an opportunity like a large payday is possible.

Lessons learned
I am terribly proud of Wyatt for having the guts to try something most people don’t and to look in the mirror admitting where his limits are. That is also very hard. I asked Wyatt what his suggestion for a Young Wood Pro would be starting out. He stated that he would have not scaled up so quickly and only taken on cabinet work for closets or bathrooms to start while building himself up a little slower. 

Basically, he was saying start up with something that is scaled to what you can do and make it achievable, focusing on growth in a healthier slower pace. I think that is wise and, considering what he went through, a well justified perspective. A suggestion for you Young Wood Pros worth giving some serious thought.
 
Not the end
I feel confident if Wyatt ever gets back into woodworking as a business, the lessons he has learned will only strengthen him for better success. I am personally hoping that a few years down the road he takes another shot at it. 

Wyatt’s story is not only a story about how things can just not work out. It’s bigger than that. When things don’t work out, it doesn’t mean it’s the end. Often it is just a bump on the road to success. Most successful people experience stuff like Wyatt several times before they actually “succeed.” 

I am confident in Wyatt and that no matter what he does he will experience success. I am grateful to Wyatt for taking the time to share his experience for this article and grateful for those you read these articles. It is my pleasure to be able to get the opportunity to keep sharing my experience and the experiences of others for your benefit. Next month, we have another really interesting interview coming so please stay tuned.

Be sure to check out the video of our chat and interview on the Woodworking Network YouTube channel.

Deadline to enter the 2025 Young Wood Pro contest is April 18. Win a $500 cash prize from Woodworking Network and a $2,000 shopping spree from Grizzly Industrial. The contest and educational program are sponsored by Grizzly Industrial.