The people who don’t like our work are right; we can’t argue with that. If they don’t like our work, they don’t like our work. There are plenty of things one can find to dislike. I will share those with you in a moment.
However, if they were to say, “No one will like your work,” they are wrong. They can’t argue with the fact that we like our work, and someone else might like it, too.
Who’s to say you are wrong?
After all, this is the only way to understand five-star Google reviews versus one-star, or Amazon books with both 5-star and 1-star reviews. How can that be? Either it’s good, or it’s not. Not true!
I read recently that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone received 12% one- to 2-star ratings. Each reviewer finds something to love or something to hate.
What this says about modern office furniture and our work is that there is the desired audience whose set of dreams and beliefs perfectly integrates with the modern conference tables and reception desks we offer.
Why don’t they like our work?
Some people may not like modern office furniture. Some may not have the time to wait two to four weeks to get their office furniture produced. Some may not have the money in their budget for our type of modern office furniture. Some may think they can get it elsewhere for less. Whatever they say, they are correct.
Fear of timing
There are conference tables, reception desks, and executive desks that are ready-made and waiting for purchase and shipment. What we have learned is that people generally have higher demands than just immediate availability. They may care most about the fact that the conference table fits their room perfectly; that all attendees will have a place at the table; that their table size scales to the room in a visually pleasing manner; or that the overall effect makes a statement to their visitors. They care about fit and finish—which, in turn, speaks to what’s acceptable in the company’s scheme of things.
Fear of cost
It’s true that some companies may not want to spend the money on custom-made office furniture. If they say it’s not in their budget, they are correct. In conversation with companies both nationally and internationally, we have found that companies decide upon the impression they want to make and the value of that impression to their bottom line. Many companies believe that the way they present themselves is of higher value than merely looking average.
Fear of paying too much
Others may say that they can get the same furniture elsewhere for less. Again, they are correct. What we have learned internally, from both customer feedback and in-office experience, is that there is a difference between similar and the same. No matter how good a builder is, there are things he won’t know about a design. Maybe it’s which materials will crack, break, or bend with extended use in a certain spot. Maybe it’s the time and level of detail it takes to get the fit perfect.
It could be about the perfect angles, scale, or relationship of one part to another to produce an intended look. Maybe it’s about choosing the right materials for the right spot. Like anything else, the more you build the same item, the greater your chance of finding out what you thought you knew…but didn’t.
You could be right
Offices are different. They come in many sizes, shapes, building elevations, flooring types, walls, windows, and types of lighting. Companies are also different. They do different things in different ways. Some are manufacturers; some offer a service; some are nonprofit; others create and develop. Each company has a different process. Each meeting will have a different number of attendees and a different type of interaction between agents. Each company has a different personality and culture. The combinations are virtually endless.
Getting it right for YOU in a sea of possibilities, even with the help of experts, is a challenging affair. What you think you know because it seems correct in your mind may be missing facts that could very well alter your point of view.
Your business is perhaps one of the most important things in your life. What you do, what you say, how you show up, and the choices you make are all a reflection of who you say you are. No matter how much you think you know or purport to be right, you don’t know what you don’t know. Getting the knowledge right first is the stairway to making better choices. Seeking more in-depth information and guidance can only help the outcome of your important decision.
