Meet Charles Jones

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charles Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charles below.

Charles, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

My confidence comes from a combination of having great teachers, my own experience, and a deep passion for what I do. Early in my journey, I was fortunate to have mentors who not only taught me the technical skills but also instilled in me a sense of pride in the craft. One thing I learned from these teachers is that confidence doesn’t come from being perfect—it comes from being willing to learn, make mistakes, and improve. As a woodworker, I’ve spent countless hours honing my skills, learning from both successes and challenges, and continually pushing myself to improve. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about taking raw material and transforming it into something beautiful and functional and that process builds pride in my abilities. I know that I’m constantly learning -new techniques, tools, and designs -and I never feel like I’ve mastered everything. That mindset of continuous growth helps me stay humble, but also confident that I can always tackle new challenges.”

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Although it may sound contrived, I started my career in the construction industry, 20 years ago, cleaning up on job sites- pushing a broom and other odds tasks where I learned the value of hard work. Over the years, I worked alongside skilled carpenters and builders, absorbing everything I could about the craft and techniques of woodworking. After years of working for others, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own small business. For several years I operated as a general contractor doing basement, bath and kitchen remodels but I was always drawn to the cabinetry and fine woodworking involved in these projects. I eventually made this my main focus, I wanted to offer clients a personalized, high-quality alternative to mass-produced furniture and home decor. Today, I run my own custom woodworking business, Absolute Woodworx, where I can create unique pieces that reflect my clients’ personalities and needs. I’m proud to see my small business grow through word-of-mouth referrals and repeat customers. I’m excited about the future of my business and the new opportunities to push my craft even further.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First of all I think a strong work ethic is the key to sucess. For me this was something I had to develop and it means more than it’s face value. In my opinion, it’s not just showing up every day and trying your best and really caring about a quality finished product but consistently paying attention to detail even in the face of setbacks and challenges, A strong work ethic drives you to care deeply about the outcome of your work. It’s not just about finishing a job—it’s about ensuring every piece is done right, with precision, quality, and care. Although it sounds trite, perserverence in the face of adversity, metered with patience, is the formula for improving and suceeding.
In my field of woodworking creativity and problem solving go hand in hand. While woodworking requires precision and technical skill, there’s also a huge creative aspect to it. Every project presents its own unique set of challenges, from design constraints to working with different materials. The ability to think outside the box, find creative solutions, and adapt designs to fit client needs has been incredibly important.These two quality/skills has helped me grow my business and progress as a woodworker.
Finally, attention to detail is paramount. In woodworking, precision is everything and I like to extend that to all aspects of my business. Customer service and cummunication should be handled in the same way as your commintment to the quality of your work. Always listen carefully to what your clients want and take the time to clarify their vision. Ask too many questions. Being able to communicate clearly, listen to their needs, and offer thoughtful advice is essential. This also includes time management and organization. Being organized and having a solid time management system is crucial to staying on top of everything and delivering high-quality work on time which is, acording to my feedback from customers, is in the top three of their overall satifaction. The key is consistency—put in the effort to develop these qualities, and you’ll see both your skills and your business grow.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I’m feeling overwhelmed at work, which is often, I like to take a step back away from the work and take some time to organize my thoughts. I’m a big list maker and just the simple act of writing down the steps I need to follow and the importance of the tasks make them smaller and easier to handle one at a time. If I’m unsure of a process, I will go to a simple chore, like sanding, until I’m sure about how to proceed. Most of the time focusing and being immersed in my work has a calming effect-somewhat Zen-like.

Contact Info:

• Website: www,absolutewoodworx.com
• Facebook: Absolute Woodworx