Are you great at some things and absolutely horrible at others? A better question to ask is: are you AWARE of your strengths and weaknesses?
I’ve recently added another skill to my “I’m-not-so-great-at-this” list. Admitting my weaknesses is never a fun thing to do, but it’s given me some great insight on business mindset!
Here’s my story and the ‘lesson’ I learned.
I found these fabulous cast iron chairs by the roadside. They were rusty and the backs were all but falling off, but they were heavy duty and I knew I could restore them to their original fabulous-ness!
As an added bonus, I already had a road-rescue table sitting in my basement. Combining the two made a cute patio set!
After bringing them back to life with a thorough sanding and paint job, it was time to decide what to do with the backs of these chairs.
With ALL the talent and creativeness My Facebook Followers possess , I decided to reach out and ask for help. Which outdoor fabric would look best…and how the heck was I going to attach it!!
I received a TON of feedback and it all involved sewing… yikes!
Because my sewing skills are nil-to-none, an inexpensive template fabric was purchased to “practice” on.
After MANY, MANY, MANY hours and 3 unsuccessful tries, I called it quits.
I was frustrated, angry and disappointed that my sewing efforts did not pay off.
Rather than invest more time into something I’m CLEARLY not skilled at, I decided to sell the set “AS-IS” and let the proud new owner stylize the backs.
THE SET SOLD WITHIN 24 HOURS OF POSTING IT!
So here’s my lesson ~ 😉
In history, all the GREATEST business minds have worked on developing their strengths and knowing their weaknesses.
A great example – Henry Ford. He was well aware he was challenged in some areas. To build the Ford Motor Co. to it’s fullest potential, he hired individuals with very specific skill sets to help him build his empire.
Now obviously I’m no Henry Ford… but I did learn something from this experience. Arm me with an upholstery gun, a hammer, or painting tools and I’m good to go. Sit me in front of a sewing machine and the fun stops there. I shouldn’t have stressed and wasted SO much time on something I wasn’t enjoying when I could have applied my skills elsewhere. Sourcing tasks out or selling AS-IS is always an option.
We ALL have strengths and weaknesses. This is what makes us interesting individuals! Focus on the things you enjoy. Work on developing your strong points while keeping an open mind and trying new things, but NEVER beat yourself up for making an effort!
Life’s an adventure… so be patient and kind to yourself while enjoying the ride!
Denise x
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So I have one of these beautiful heavy outdoor 10 pc sets plus an all metal 3 pc cafe. Now about 25 years old. Luckily mine have backs so I replace bought cushions. How do you sand the grated/ screened looking parts.? And even though I have used exterior spray paint it seems to not last over a year. Do I need to sand it down to the metal? Should I use a spray primer all over it? My husband wants to replace but other than chipping paint , they are in good shape.
I find the wire brush set you can buy at the dollar store (to clean bbq’s) amazing. If you were to use a wire brush on the backs, I’m sure it would knock off all the rust. And yes, a rust blocking primer is ideal. Your set sounds fabulous btw. 🙂
Hi Denise. Thanks for linking to this older post! I’ve been following you for years but never seen this one. I came to this post from the gold metal table blog. What a beautiful patio set. I’m not surprised it sold quickly and must admit, I struggle with the sewing machine myself. I have a Singer my husband bought me a few years back and dream of making beautiful creations, but so far the best I’ve done is throw pillows. Teehee:)
Good on you for the throw pillows!!! hehe I struggle as well. I find sewing intimidating but I have a list of things I’d love to try.
Thanks for your post re your sewing prowess !! You are not alone. I have been staring at a piece of material for last hour, wondering how to sew it over a piece of foam!! Rather than thinking I needed to give it to a friend who can sew, I will give it a bash, and if no good, the piece is good enough to stand alone!!
…lol…I’m soooo happy I’m not alone Sue! Remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself HUGE kudos for giving it a go! Best of luck 🙂