When it comes to epic fails, I’ve had a few. Maybe more than a few.
When I was renovating my building, which became the Business Innovation Lab, there was a lot to renovate.
6 HVAC units
4 new toilets and sinks
Over 100 new lights
New paint inside and out for all 8100 square feet.
New flooring
Drywall
Signage inside and out
Doors and hardware
Kitchen and plumbing
Roofing to repair
And, the things I didn’t think of.
Issues I didn’t know about.
Compliance I didn’t consider.
Code requirements I didn’t factor in.
This was my first time renovating a building.
It happens.
Unexpected things come up.
And, at the end of renovations, I had a to furnish it.
By this time, the budget was blown.
So how do I get furniture and accessorize
without blowing the budget more?
Time to get creative.
I put the word out to anyone who was getting rid of furniture.
Then, I got a lead about a company literally throwing away
commercial-grade furniture.
Commercial-grade. Furniture.
I rallied my team to pick up the furniture.
It (the furniture) wasn’t always pretty, but I could see beyond the ugly.
Consistent with our value around sustainability and with some fabric paint and wood stain, we refurbished a lot.
Frames, pictures, mirrors, and plant stands.
We even renewed a set of table and chairs.
Would it have nice to have brand new?
Of course!
But, now, we have interesting stories to tell about transforming obstacles into opportunities.
How have you turned an obstacle into an opportunity?
I would love to hear your story.
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