By Cory Jones | President, Gulf Cabinets of Florida
SEO Elements
- SEO Title: What I Learned in My First Year on the Shop Floor
- Meta Description: Before leading Gulf Cabinets, Cory Jones started on the shop floor. Here are the lessons that shaped his leadership and values today.
- Focus Keyword: shop floor lessons
- Supporting Keywords: cabinetry career, trade experience, first-year learning, woodworking insights, construction industry advice
- URL Slug: /lessons-from-the-shop-floor
- Internal Links:
- About Cory
- Leadership at Gulf Cabinets
- Contact Cory
- About Cory
- External Link: Woodworking Network – Skills Every Shop Pro Should Know
Introduction
Before I ever signed a contract, led a team, or gave input on a design, I spent long days on the shop floor — sanding edges, sweeping sawdust, lifting panels too heavy for one person, and learning the hard way when I got it wrong.
Looking back, those early days shaped everything I believe about leadership, craftsmanship, and the right way to build a business.
This isn’t a story about success. It’s a story about showing up, getting humbled, and learning what matters.
If you’re just starting in the trades — or mentoring someone who is — these are the lessons I learned in my first year that still guide me today.
1. If You Don’t Respect the Material, It Won’t Respect You
One of the first things I ever sanded was a solid maple drawer front. I pushed too hard on the orbital sander, rushing through it. Burned it.
It didn’t matter that the cut was clean or the joinery was tight — that drawer face was toast.
Lesson learned: materials have a memory. Wood tells the truth. If you cut corners, it shows. If you’re careless, it shows. If you’re inconsistent, it shows.
That’s a lesson not just for woodworking — but for how you handle clients, timelines, and people.
2. No One Teaches You Pride — You Have to Earn It
There’s a certain look a craftsman gives when they stand back and look at something they built.
I didn’t understand it until I built my first cabinet from start to finish, installed it, and saw the client light up when they opened the doors.
That’s the kind of pride you don’t buy or borrow. You earn it. You carry it with you. And it makes you better at everything else — because now, your name means something.
3. The Best Workers Don’t Talk the Most — They Watch
In my first year, I thought I had to prove myself by asking lots of questions, throwing out suggestions, and showing how ready I was to lead.
But the guys I learned the most from? They weren’t the loud ones.
They were quiet, focused, efficient. They noticed things others didn’t. They adjusted without making a scene. And when they spoke, you listened.
It taught me to slow down. Watch. Listen. Learn before leading.
4. Mistakes Are Inevitable — Hiding Them Is Optional
I once cut six drawer bottoms at the wrong dimension. Instead of owning up, I doubled down and tried to “make them fit.”
It didn’t work.
The crew noticed. My foreman wasn’t angry — just disappointed. He would’ve helped me fix it. But now I had wasted time, materials, and trust.
That day I learned: mistakes happen. But hiding them compounds them.
Now, at Gulf Cabinets, we teach our crews: if you make a mistake, call it out fast. We’ll fix it. Together.
5. Your Attitude Is More Valuable Than Your Experience
There were guys on the floor who had been building cabinets for 15 years… and still got passed over for lead roles.
Why? Because they were inconsistent. Negative. Defensive. They knew the work — but made everything harder.
And then there were people like I was — new, unpolished, figuring things out. But I showed up early. Asked how I could help. Owned my mistakes. Took feedback seriously.
Within a year, I was training others.
You don’t have to know everything. But you do have to be someone people want to work with. And for.
6. Details Are Free — But Ignoring Them Is Expensive
It costs nothing to:
- Check for glue drips
- Square your cabinet box
- Align door gaps
- Clean the hardware before install
But the cost of skipping those things? Huge.
Clients don’t always know what’s off — but they feel it. An uneven drawer front. A squeaky hinge. A door that almost closes.
In year one, I learned that details are the difference between “nice job” and “who did this?”
7. Every Job Matters
When you’re new, you get the grunt work. Clean the shop. Deliver materials. Prep the panels. Unload the truck.
It’s easy to think you’re not making a difference.
But I quickly realized: when I did my part well, the whole project ran smoother. The installers finished faster. The foreman looked less stressed. The client got their project early.
The best shops don’t just have one or two “stars.” They have a culture where every person understands their role is critical.
Final Thought
These lessons didn’t come from a textbook. They came from bad cuts, long days, sweaty shirts, and hard-earned wins.
They taught me that you don’t have to be perfect — but you do have to care. You have to show up, stay accountable, and take pride in things most people will never notice.
Because those little things?
They’re the foundation for a career, a business, and a reputation you can build something real on.
Sora Video Prompt (for this blog)
Prompt:
A hyperrealistic vertical flash photograph shot in 1080×1350 format, using strong directional flash for depth and detail. The image captures a young apprentice in a white work shirt on the shop floor, sanding a wooden cabinet panel while being observed by a senior craftsman. The scene includes scattered sawdust, natural wood grain, and tools in soft focus. The expression on the apprentice’s face is focused and humble. The framing is angled slightly low, with high tactile realism.
Internal CTAs
- Meet Cory Jones
- See How We Lead Today
Explore Career Opportunities
