Debate: Do you count a milestone in hours worked or projects finished?

I just hit 1,000 custom cabinet doors built out of my shop in Portland, and it got me thinking about what really matters. Some guys I know track everything by hours logged in the shop, but I've always gone by completed pieces. Which number feels more meaningful to you for marking progress in this trade?

3 comments

3 Comments

davis.olivia7h agoTop Commenter

Hanging a number on either one seems like making it bigger than it needs to be. Whether you count doors or hours, neither one tells you if a customer was happy or if you had to redo three of them because your measurements were off. People get too caught up in the big round numbers for bragging rights instead of just getting through the day and doing good work. Maybe just pick the one that helps you keep your business straight and stop worrying about which one makes you look better.

wright.leo21h ago

My buddy Mark in Seattle tracks all his hours but I've always gone by completed jobs. I just finished my 250th custom bookshelf unit last week and that number feels way more real than any time log. Hours don't tell you if you're actually getting better or faster at the work, you know? When I look back at my early cabinets versus the last 50 I built, the jump in quality is obvious. Completed pieces are proof you can actually do the job right.

beth_hernandez20h ago

Oh come on, is tracking hours really that deep? Like sure, 250 bookshelves is a solid number and all, but are you really saying you've never screwed up a job and just counted it as "complete" anyway? I've seen guys claim they finished 500 sets of stairs and half of them squeak like angry mice. Hours at least show you how long something actually took, which is useful when you're pricing out the next job and trying not to lose your shirt. Not everything needs to be a measuring contest about who's "better" - sometimes it's just about not going broke in the process.