Innovation relies on a hard-to-define mix of creative ideas mingled with nuts-and-bolts skills. Harnessing and honing both can help you design and execute creative, successful and profitable projects. It can also help prevent the burnout that commonly hits at this time of year thanks to punishing work schedules that can dull your edge and lead [...]

The term “excellence” is frequently used to describe the qualities of being superb, first rate and exquisite. Whether or not your projects reach a state of “excellence” (as you describe it for yourself), attempting to reach it is a worthy goal. But this attempt is often thwarted by the common enemies of excellence: fatigue, overwork, [...]

The term “future proofing” loosely means anticipating the potential shocks and stresses of the future and developing methods to minimize their effects. It’s an idea often used in industries like technology, health care, industrial design, climate change forecasting and, I would argue, it applies to nearly any business, including marine fabrication. It requires consciously understanding [...]

When your projects start to feel stale or boring, make it a habit to look around for inspiration. Inspiration can be found through mentors, online training, classes, boat shows, workshops, books and conferences. It can also be found in unexpected places and through chance conversations. Once you bump into a new concept or technique, you [...]

There is often confusion over the difference between change and transformation. They are closely related however change is typically smaller, well-defined and predictable, while transformation is something closer to reinvention. It involves greater risks, is far less predictable and results in more dramatic change. Both are critical for business success.  This issue of Marine Fabricator [...]

Running a successful business means being on the same team as your customers and employees. During the busy season, this can be challenging. I was reminded of this by my son who works at a restaurant that’s open seven days a week. The food is wonderful and the place is always packed, but the restaurant [...]

As a serious gardener, I think a lot about tools. Gardening in Minnesota is not for the faint of heart. Preparing the beds, pruning, weeding, planting and harvesting all happen in a relatively short period, so choosing the right tools, using them properly and keeping them in peak condition is critical to a successful harvest. [...]

It’s important to think hard about your bottom line when you’re in business. You won’t be profitable or stay in business very long without keeping track of your expenses and revenues. It’s also true that fixating on your costs and cutting too many corners can create expensive mistakes.  This issue is about ensuring your shop’s [...]

My brother is a wacky painter. A lot of his art is filled with blurry faces and unfinished bodies. Some of his paintings show finer techniques, but he says he prefers to take a “messy approach” to potentially achieve a more creative result than “something that matches a couch.” Being proficient at the nuts and [...]

As a writer and editor, I prefer to do most of my work alone in the quiet of my home office. But during the dark days of a Minnesota winter, working alone gets lonely and my ideas feel thin and uninspired.  That’s why I attend literary conferences and classes each winter. The creative spark that [...]