We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicholas Schmeck. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicholas below.
Hi Nicholas, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
If I’m going to be honest, for woodworking, I have to say trial and error. I have a very extensive background in design from graphic design to 3D modeling all the way to 3D printing and practical design. I really applied a little bit of everything to create my first product. I have a good amount of hands on experience through jobs, hobby projects and tinkering. I think a lot of it goes to my parents for always encouraging my curiosity and supporting my desire to learn new skills. I get a lot of my values and work ethic from them. I’m always learning something new, trying something different, figuring it out one way or another. I can’t say any one skill is more essential than another, but attention to detail and staying safe are my top priorities at all times. Put in the effort and it’ll come about.
Nicholas, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m a designer by way of childhood dreams. Designing really became a focus for me at a young age. I wanted to be an architect which turned into the dream to design video games. I went to college for that, a degree in Game Art and Design. I did a few small projects with it, but never really broke into that industry. That dream became more of a reality with using design principles for creating physical products. My top product would have to be farmhouse style furniture. I focus my energy on creating solutions that I am proud to put my name on. If I wouldn’t want it in my own home I don’t send it out the door. A self titled perfectionist when it comes to detail and quality. I really love when a customer is happy with the piece I’ve built them and I get to see how it helps bring everything together for them. It really is about them in the long run. I enjoy building different pieces, whole sets, whatever the customer is looking for to complete a space or an idea. It is really rewarding to see it all come together. The hardest part for me is that I really do this on the side and don’t have a lot of space for storage of completed units. This leaves me to building them to order and not having any on hand. I do lose out on a lot of business because of that, but I’m in the process of trying to fix that issue. Hopefully in the near future it will be a possibility to have a set of tables and other items ready to finish with paint and stain to get them out the door quicker. A set back, but just another problem to find a solution to.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The goal that drives me in my creative journey is to teach my kids that hard work and keeping your mind open can be very fulfilling. I love being out there with the wood. Creating something new from raw materials. Or just designing things and bringing ideas to life. Getting a chance to include them with the process allows me time with them to help them learn new skills and problem solve in a real world application. I just happen to be able to make it a part time business in return, but most importantly out of all of it is that I get to make other people happy in the long run. Seeing others happy really makes me happy. You’ll see a lot of my posts revolve around Christmas. That’s my busiest time of the year and on top of that I get to deliver things like I’m Santa Claus. Makes it all that much more special!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Not that long ago I was a manager in a top 10 Fortune 500 company. The hours were extremely long, the stress was high, the money was really good, but the impact it was having on my mental health and personal well-being was detrimental. I was surviving, not thriving. My days were filled with nearly full hour commutes to and from work to home and I realized that I was living at work and visiting my house. It’s not what I wanted. Making a living was keeping me from living a life. It was taking a toll on my relationships with my wife and kids. I was no longer doing a job I loved, it was a grind to keep up and no longer a grind to get ahead with zero recognition for my effort or my team’s performance at work. I decided to leave. I put in my two weeks and resigned. No plan, outside of talking to my family about buckling down for the transition, but I assured them my goal was to be in a better situation within six months. I applied at several places and was fortunate to get hired with an organization doing a much more fulfilling job that had a purpose, working with the community. Not just the community, but those in need. I am working from home, able to avoid the commute gives me more time with my family, with my business and with myself. My job is rewarding again. I’m making a difference to those that need it. All in all, I just had to realize that I was worth more than my previous company had been showing me. Something others were telling me but I was ignoring. The support of my family, especially my wife, really made me feel that it was the right move and the right time. I’m very thankful I got out of my own way and took that leap of faith.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.schmeckdesigns.com
- Instagram: schmeckdesigns