We were lucky to catch up with Chad Parkinson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chad, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
If I could make a small change in the education system it would be to just inform students of potential job opportunities. I remember being in high school only hearing that I had to go to college. But college was the last place I needed to go. No one told me you could make a living on your own or work in a trade and have a job that was satisfying to you and still paid your bills. It was always just college, college, college
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a woodworker based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I didn’t come from a family of professional woodworkers, but my dad taught me how to use tools from a young age — and more importantly, he taught me to take pride in working with my hands. He passed away in 2016, but a lot of what I do now is rooted in those early lessons and in the way he always encouraged me to find a craft I cared about.
I don’t box myself into one category — I’ll build just about anything people need — but I have a special place in my heart for chairs, especially rocking chairs. There’s something about making a piece that literally moves with people that feels alive. What makes my work unique isn’t flashy design; it’s the care and dedication that goes into every cut, every joint, every finish. I believe good furniture should last — not just physically, but emotionally too. We’ve gotten used to throwing things out when styles shift, but I want people to love the things they own. To hold onto them. To pass them down.
Lately, one of the things I’m most proud of is helping the next generation of woodworkers find their start. It’s not just about building furniture anymore — it’s about building community.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
A few years back, I hit a breaking point. I was overwhelmed with work, not sleeping, and trying to carry too much at once. Then my dad passed away, and it pushed me over the edge. I realized I couldn’t keep going the way I was — mentally, physically, or emotionally.
The hardest part was wondering if everything I’d built would fall apart if I slowed down. When you run your own business, there’s this constant pressure to keep moving or risk losing it all. But instead of doubling down, I made a big change: my wife, our two kids, and I moved into a van and hit the road.
That time on the road forced me to let go of the projects that didn’t matter and focus only on the ones that did. I learned to say no, to protect my time, and to lean into work that actually meant something to me.
Looking back, I’m grateful for both sides of the story — the grind and the reset. Pushing hard taught me how to grow my business and sharpen my skills. But stepping away taught me how to sustain it — and myself — in the long run.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
I think good leadership starts with doing the work yourself. I’ve been on the bottom rung, and I’ve done all the jobs. When you’ve seen what it really takes to get things done from the ground up, it’s a lot easier to lead with empathy and clarity.
When things go wrong — and they always do — I try to remind the team that this is just part of the deal. Life is about being confronted by problems and finding a way through them. That’s true in the shop and out in the world.
One of the ways we keep morale high is by stepping away from the work now and then to do something hard together. A few weeks ago, we bikepacked 800 kilometers through Chile. Trips like that — where you have to suffer a bit and look out for each other — build a kind of trust you can’t f*ke.
I’ve also learned that people are way more capable than you think they are. A big part of managing well is seeing that, and then getting out of the way. Letting go of control isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary.
And through it all, I try to lead with patience. After 20 years of chaos and curveballs, I’ve learned that staying grounded matters more than chasing every dollar. You might not get rich that way, but you’ll live a life you can be proud of — and to me, that’s the point.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.thefurniture-joint.com
- Instagram: @thefurniturejoint
Image Credits
Chad Parkinson