Hardwood Floors February/March 2024

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THE WOOD FLOORING INDUSTRY?

CHARLES PETERSON, CHARLES PETERSON SIGNATURE FLOORING:

“Every business requires the same thing to be successful…study business first. If you are going to work for someone for all your life, then increase your trade knowledge base and continue to make yourself more valuable.”

Charles Peterson

MARK SCHELLER, SCHELLER HARDWOOD FLOORS INC.: “There are four major things that I've done and continue to do that have contributed to my success and good reputation. 1. Educate myself about flooring, finishing, construction techniques, tools, including CAD, and elevate my skill as a carpenter and wood finisher. The NWFA has been instrumental with that directly through their instructional tools and, probably more importantly, through the network of professionals I've met through the association. Because of my extensive knowledge and knowing where to get answers for the things I don't know (pro tip: it's not YouTube), I've established myself as someone who can solve problems when others can't. 2. I can always do better. That's how you grow. In my mind, it's not a leap to go from 80 percent (good enough) to 95 percent, but the last 5 percent to perfection is a target that will always be out of reach because the bar always goes higher. I like the watchmaker Piaget's take on this: Always do better than you have to. 3. I've improved more by listening to clients' complaints rather than their compliments. 4. When I'm on the site, I always make an effort to spend at least a few moments a day talking with the customer and explaining what I did and why, what's next, finding out what the expectations are or setting expectations, and why it's taking so long.”

Mark Scheller

Visit hardwoodfloorsmag.com for additional tips. There’s more!

This is only part of the career advice these experts shared.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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