We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jonathan Hicks. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jonathan, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now, I am being called to expand my business outside of verbal reach in the form of social media and virtual advertising. When we started WoodenMetal, all of our customers found their way to us via word of mouth. In this new era of online marketing, sales, and social media, we have been able to expand our reach nationwide. That being said, I still feel so lost in this new way of marketing, but am thankful that I have a great team surrounding me to guide me!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As the owner and founder of WoodenMetal, it has been a joy to watch our brand continue to grow outside of our humble beginnings working with refurbished wood in a small garage shop in Birmingham, AL. We have now expanded to a 5000 square foot shop just outside of Denver, CO and offer a variety of millwork services and custom builds. Outside of our beloved custom furniture builds, we now have a number of additional services and products available for our customers. We offer shop services, such as CNC cutting and design, edge banding, laser cutting and engraving, as well as digital design and AutoCAD programming. Additionally, we are now an Authorized EcoPoxy Retailer with a huge variety of in-stock EcoPoxy products for purchase. Our newest line of WoodenMetal products includes Ready To Assemble (RTA) cabinets. For our RTA products, you simply place your order on our website and your pre-packaged cabinets are shipped straight to your door with easy to follow instructions and a product that is simple and ready to assemble.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad has been the most influential person in my life when it comes to integrity, quality, and pride in work. When I was a young boy, my mother passed away, leaving my dad to raise and provide for three children. I can honestly say that he never once thought about giving up or taking the easy way out. All three of us have (humbly) turned out to be successful individuals in our own ways and we all owe that to the hardworking influence of our dad.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t worry so much about planning the small details of the day-to-day. Focus more on the bigger picture over the course of a year or a decade. You will have ups and downs (likely more downs than ups sometimes!), but in the end, your perseverance and determination to succeed will always point you in the right direction. Always trust your gut… if it doesn’t feel right, don’t pursue it, but don’t be scared to take chances. You will ultimately be successful, but it may not look the same way you originally pictured it.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
With all of the projects we take on, we believe that the quality of our work should always be of the upmost importance. If we feel that a product is flawed, we will take it back to the drawing board before we “make it work” for our customers. We do this with the understanding that we may not always be able to meet the customer’s timelines, but we will finish our work at the end of the day with pride knowing that we gave the customer over and above what they asked of us when we they receive their product.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Growing up, I was always encouraged to ‘go to college’, ‘get a job that’ll take you through retirement’ and ‘just put your head down and grind, then enjoy life later’. For several years after high school and into early adulthood, I followed that path, but things just never seemed to work out. I always had a desire to build something for myself, rather than building it for someone or something else. In my early 30’s, my wife encouraged me to embark on the journey that is now WoodenMetal. Although we’ve seen ups and downs as with any business, I have not regretted my decision to build this business for myself and our family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.woodenmetal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wooden.metal/
