Hindsight Advice for Starting Penny Mustard

Anyone who’s ever run a business can tell you that a lot of hard work goes into it, and many lessons come from it. Over the past 30 years, we have learned a lot. If only we had known some of these things when we started…

It comes as no surprise that, after being in business for three decades, we’ve learned many lessons along the way. While we wouldn’t change a thing about our journey, there are a few pieces of advice we’d give our younger selves if given the chance.

Ben’s Insights

Integrity Always Wins

Ben Huth, Owner and Co-Founder of Penny Mustard Furnishings, emphasizes the importance of staying true to your values, even in challenging times. Doing the right thing, especially when business is tough, builds trust with customers.

“Always stay the course and do the right thing. During downtimes in business, the leaders will often try this or that in an attempt to make business better – this can actually be very bad if you try something that you know is not the right thing. Treat your customers the way you would want to be treated and always do the right thing no matter what the state of business is, and it will work out just fine.

Trust Your Instincts

Ben highlights the value of intuition in decision-making. Often, our gut feeling can steer us in the right direction, and it's crucial to trust it.

“Listen to your gut, as it’s rarely wrong. People and data have always tried to talk us into doing this or that, even though our guts were telling us not to do them. We are guilty of making a few mistakes over the years by listening to someone that we really did not agree with and trying it anyway. Through decades of being honed, we know to do a much better job of listening to our own guts (thoughts) and to do what they tell you to do”

Empower Your Team

“I love our employees! They get out of bed every morning to help me offer and deliver beautiful heirloom furniture to every customer that entrusts us with their money. Many have become quite possibly more passionate about it than even I am, and it is really great to see that.”

Ben recognizes the passion and dedication of his employees. Allowing them to make decisions and take ownership of their roles has been pivotal in Penny Mustard's success.

“Let your employees make decisions. Do not micromanage good people, but rather train and trust them. If you need to micromanage or hawk-eye over your people, you have the wrong people. I love to let our people make decisions and run departments and areas better than I could ever run them. There are many departments that I don’t even know how to do what they do, and that is a testament to good people advancing what we started far beyond where we had it.”

Arvid’s Perspective

Arvid Huth, Owner and Co-Founder of Penny Mustard Furnishings, imparts advice in the form of two powerful quotes that have guided his journey:

“Jump, and the Net Will Appear”

“Jump, and the net will appear.” - Roy H. Williams

Arvid encourages taking calculated risks. If you've done your homework and it makes sense, seize the opportunity. “Take the chance. It does not mean taking foolish chances. It does not mean that you do not have to work hard, or that things will come easy. It means that if you have done the research, thought things through, and it still makes sense… then take the chance, and JUMP.”

“Persistence and Determination Alone are Omnipotent”

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On!' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge

Arvid's interpretation of this quote by Calvin Coolidge underscores the importance of resilience. Never give up; keep adapting and moving forward.

“There are times to change the approach, to change the design, to change the plan, to come at a goal from a different angle, but quitting is never an option. Anyone who has ever succeeded at anything has known failure and kept going anyway. Very few times, if ever, does success come the first time. It comes in fits and starts. Three steps forward and two steps back, but always face forward. Get up when you are knocked down, and face forward, and take another step, and in the end, you will be glad you did.”

Nicole’s Thoughts

Don’t Obsess Over Fairness

Director of Sales for Penny Mustard Furnishings, Nicole’s advice centers on not fixating on what seems unfair in the short term. Nicole suggests not getting lost in concerns about fairness. Sometimes, the hard work you put in initially might not seem justly rewarded, but in the long run, it usually evens out.

“I would tell myself not to get lost in worrying about what was fair or not. Although it seemed like much wasn't fair in the short term when it came to the amount of love, passion, work, time, and energy I was contributing, it all worked out in the long run.

Consistency is Key

Nicole emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistency, even when it feels like you're giving more than receiving. In the long game, dedication pays off.

“I, of course, see that crystal clear today. Even when I talk to others and their careers, I see them with the same concerns I had back in the day. But I promise that if you hold your head up and give it your best consistently, which oftentimes requires you to do the work and become the person long before compensated, you will always win the long game.”

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. So, knowing what we know now might have helped us out back when we first opened our doors. That said, we are so grateful for all of our experiences, and we’ve enjoyed watching our company, our customers, and ourselves grow along the way.

For more stories about life and business lessons, check out From Farm to Table: How the Huth Brothers went from Dairy to Design, Why Do We Say “Make Hay While the Sun Shines?”, and Life Lessons from the Farm about Running a Business.

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