I’ll say it again
There was a long period when I had employees, but I started out as a one-man shop and ended up as a one-man shop.
There was a long period when I had employees, but I started out as a one-man shop and ended up as a one-man shop.
My years of dealing with employees in a larger shop was something of a love/hate thing. I liked the idea of being able to work on several projects at the same time. It was great to have someone holding up the other end of that heavy cabinet. The camaraderie was great.
But I was often frustrated with the need to oversee the work of others. Communicating a process is not as simple as it might seem and there can be misunderstandings that can lead to costly mistakes. And the employer must be very careful in dealing with them so as not to overstep.
I have had employees who just cannot seem to actually learn anything. They needed to be told the same thing every day. Felt like Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day”.

David DeCristoforo possesses an extensive resume as designer/maker of fine furniture, high-end cabinetry and architectural woodwork. His experience in professional woodworking spans a period of 35 years. For the past 20 years David DeCristoforo Design has been located in Woodland, California. During this time David's shop has ranged in scope from a "full on" cabinet production shop with as many as 15 employees to a small fine furniture and custom millwork shop, working with his son, David RBJ, a highly skilled maker in his own right.