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Woodworking Lesson Learned from the NFL

CustomMade Staff, contributor

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Our last entry focused on your stories and opinions on transitioning from an amateur to a professional woodworker. The message that repeated throughout was that despite the challenges - and there will be many - what keeps you going is unwavering drive and enthusiasm for your woodwork. Patrick Kennedy of Superior Woodcraft returns, this time for a more personal anecdote about a business lesson learned while watching the game with his son: even the underdog should never lose heart...

Well, it is not every day that you can say that you had a positive learning experience from watching professional sports.  But, this past Sunday many of us had a positive learning experience from watching the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New York Giants.  The Giants are a great team that controlled the game, but it was the never say die attitude and determination of the Eagles that won the day and performed the Miracle at the Meadowlands.

My five year old son wore his DeSean Jackson shirt for the entire game, but he was sad for most of the game as his team was never winning and Desean wasn’t really visible.  I kept telling him that there was plenty of time and not to give up hope.  Meanwhile, I was feeling that the Eagles were being schooled by the Giants and being taught many lessons on the gridiron.  I was just trying to figure out how to manage my son’s disappointment.  To my surprise, to everyone’s surprise and to the delight of a five year boy, the Eagles pulled off a come from behind victory with no time remaining.  The Eagles did not give up -  no matter how bad the future looked.  I took this rare opportunity to discuss this unbelievable victory with my son to demonstrate how perseverance can turn into triumph.  I showed him how the Eagles kept trying, working hard and that they believed in themselves.   The Eagles willed themselves to win.  Hopefully this lesson will stay with him for some time.

What does this have to do with woodworking?  Well, I thought about the learning opportunity the Eagles presented to my son.   I thought that I should also learn from this experience as well.  First we could talk about the marketing lessons created by DeSean Jackson and his ability to garner attention, but we would have to devote at least a chapter to DeSean’s actions.  Let’s just say that DeSean knows how to entertain, gets noticed and practices high risk marketing.   My lesson learned is much deeper and hits home with many small businesses across the country. 

In this economy many small businesses feel like they are being beaten, it’s the fourth quarter, we’re tired and bruised.  We can either call it quits and lay down or you can muster up the energy and strength to move forward to pursue our passions for woodworking and win.  When you think about it, perseverance and overcoming the odds are really strong American traits.  You might even say that these qualities were custom made by Americans.  We just need to continue to believe in ourselves.  We need to continue to promote our work, stay visible in the community and keep that positive attitude.  Our never yielding determination will yield victories in this tough economy.  Your business will succeed.

Remember you will never lose when you follow your heart and your passion in life.  Just believe in your own success and you will win.

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Comments (4)

pkennedy writes: Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your thoughts with us and for being part of the woodworking community. Your perspectives are interesting, educational and enjoyable to read. Your comments caused me to reflect about what you said, which is why I like this forum. Best wishes for a Happy New Year - Patrick
Posted: 5:43 pm on December 27th

jwiggers writes: This was a well written and interesting perspective. My own son is now 20 years old and quite keen on doing what I do for a living, although I sometimes wonder if I'm doing my due diligence as a father by encouraging him down this path. Then again there always the old adage which says: "Winners never quit, and quitters never win".
Posted: 7:38 pm on December 26th

goodguy writes: This is a well written post. Although I personally could do without the football analogy, the message is cleverly conceived. Certainly, the football analogy works when describing how some small business owners feel. Since that sport is so popular, it makes a good springboard into the subject.

It heartening to know a football fan finds some way to create a positive life-lesson for his son, even though football has the opposite sensibility of any fine art and is inherently tied to big-business, corporate controlled media, mass advertising which are accomplices to America's economic woes.


Posted: 4:39 pm on December 25th

PrimePlanks writes: This is an insightful post, Patrick. Your analogy of "small businesses feel like they are being beaten, it’s the fourth quarter, we’re tired and bruised" is so true. What a great learning experience for your son and an inspiring point of view for all of us.
Posted: 10:21 pm on December 22nd

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