The Tale of "the Chair"

If you haven't yet encountered the infamous chair in Mike W.'s office—the myth, the legend—you’re missing quite the spectacle. It’s both terrible and amazing, a perfect paradox that I have a love/hate relationship with. This chair tells a story, not just of its battered appearance but of the values we uphold at our company.

Why I Love It

First, it’s a piece of company history. This chair dates back to day one, one of the very first purchases we made. I vividly remember the late-night run to Office Max, sweating over whether we could afford a $90 chair. We were strapped for cash, and that chair represented a significant chunk of it at the time. Today, it stands as a symbol of how far we’ve come, and of the frugality and perseverance that got us here.

Second, it supports Mike’s back. Mike Wink’s back carries not just his body but also the heavy load of leading our operations. If he likes the chair, that’s good enough for me—almost. The fact that Mike keeps fixing it whenever it breaks is the third reason I admire this chair. It reflects his frugality and resourcefulness, saving the company money with every repair. There’s something beautiful about making something last through sheer willpower and handiness. 

Why I Hate It

That said, the chair looks like it’s been through a war—and lost. It's an eyesore, plain and simple.

Here’s where the love/hate relationship comes into play. Mike has a rare talent: he can distinguish between needs and wants with surgical precision. He’s hyper-focused on meeting needs and questioning every want, which makes him frugal in the best sense of the word. He’d rather fix something than replace it, a skill that’s increasingly rare these days.

But here’s where we diverge. To Mike, the chair is functional, not a need for replacement. To me, it’s a need. Why? Because I meet with customers and clients, and when they see the chair, their reaction is a mix of shock and confusion, sometimes nasuea.  Suddenly, I’m spending time explaining why Mike’s chair looks like it came from a garage sale, instead of focusing on what we’re really about—business. Or I just shut the door during tours and call it a day.

The Dilemma

So, should I make Mike ditch the chair? That’s the real question. In all honesty, my only issue with the chair is how it looks to others. When giving tours, it pulls attention away from more important things, and I find myself justifying why it’s still here. Maybe, someday, Mike will upholster it. But, for now, it’s a thorn in my side.

Yet, I hesitate to do anything drastic. This chair, with all its flaws, has value beyond its looks. It’s a reminder that discerning between wants and needs is crucial, both in business and in life. Mike has taught us that replacing something just because it’s old or ugly isn’t always the answer. And this chair has provided more than its fair share of laughs over the years—hard to put a price on that.

The Lesson

So, what do we take away from this? In business, and in life, making the right call between needs and wants can save you time, money, and stress. And sometimes, you have to embrace the quirks—like an ugly office chair—that make the journey all the more interesting. After all, we’ve made it 12 years and through three locations with that chair. I think we’ll be just fine.