Who gets to do that?

Recently at one of our company meetings, Betty (Owner of Taylor Studios) asked me to tell a story about how our exhibits inspire people. Our company mission is to create products and experiences that inspire people, so she wanted me to tell a story to everyone that backed that up. You know, show the employees at Taylor that we live what we preach.

Well, I started thinking about it and we have certainly inspired visitors with our exhibits, and we have happy clients that will give us good references. Even so, I couldn’t shake the need to tell them my story; how what we do and how we do it continues to inspire me to this day.

21 years ago, I interviewed for a job with Taylor Studios and I can still remember every minute of that interview.  I even remember questions that Betty asked me during the interview.  I also remember the excitement I felt afterwards.  It was my dream job and I wanted it bad! Walking through the shop and seeing all the amazing things they made just floored me. I was going to do everything I could to get that job!  I’m happy to say I got the job.

In the first 2 months on the job I was asked to help sculpt a 14’ bass fish sculpture!  How many people can say they got to do that? That same sculpture also made it on the cover of Exhibitor Magazine! Boom!  My grandparents went to visit the museum where it was displayed and cried because they were so proud.  I’d say that inspired me to keep on working and doing what we do.

After that the hits just kept on coming. Betty and I were given a personal tour of an air craft carrier, the USS Stennis #74, by its captain and made honorary crew members. Betty and I have also had the opportunity to go 650 feet underground in a salt mine.  We had a meeting on a fold out table smack dab in the middle of a salt mine! Who gets to do that or can say they did that? Guess who traveled across Alaska and had the opportunity to fly into the mountains and land on a glacier? Guess who also got out of that plane and walked around on that glacier? Oh, and guess who has had the opportunity to not only see, but touch one of the largest and best preserved duck bill dinosaurs on the planet? Who else can go into the WWI memorial museum, the national Civil war museum, and the grand portage visitor center and see themselves immortalized in resin? My face was cast and used for different figures in those museums. Kinda creepy, but still very cool. Ok, last one, but hang on cause it’s good…who else can say they have Bob Ross’ easel sitting by their desk at work!?  That’s right, I have the actual easel he used on his show sitting in the corner of my office!

I have so many other things or events that I could write about but I think I made my point. Working at Taylor Studios has provided me so many amazing opportunities within the work that we do. The people I am working with everyday are crazy talented.  They inspire me all the time by what they can do and make.  The clients I have worked with inspire me all the time also. The people I have had the opportunity to sit across a table and have conversations with would just blow your mind. Crazy smart people that are so passionate about what they do. Sharing their stories with me and trusting in Taylor Studios to tell that story.  Who gets to do that or can say they do that?

I do…