Meet Jim
ISOtunes User Since: September 2017
Industry: Woodworking
Home: Michigan, USA
I tried ISOtunes when the first models came out and right away understood the value they could bring to myself and my viewers.
Q&A
Which ISOtunes model is your current favorite & why?
LINK Aware - They are easy to put on and take off quickly in the shop, comfortable to wear over extended periods, and I can communicate with others around me while wearing them.
What do you typically listen to on your ISOtunes?
Satellite radio when I want to concentrate more on my work, audiobooks when I'm doing more monotonous tasks like sanding which allow me to concentrate on the book itself.
Why are you an ISOtunes' brand ambassador?
I tried ISOtunes when the first models came out and right away understood the value they could bring to myself and my viewers. So, I found Pete Murphy in a little woodworking show booth and suggested we work together. I believe I was [one of] the first "ISOtunes Brand Ambassador[s]." I've never even considered an alternative. These simply work.
What inspired you to get into your chosen industry?
I've always been an artist and working with wood just made sense to me from an early age.
What is the most challenging part of your line of work?
These days, my job is primarily teaching, and it is always a challenge to present a subject in a clear, well organized manner that will reach the hearts and minds of my students so they can truly benefit from it.
How did you become a content creator?
YouTube was a relatively new platform at the time and I thought it may be fun to make some woodworking videos. It started out as purely entertainment, but I soon discovered I could help real people solve real problems. That's when I knew this would be my career.
How do you stay motivated in times of chaos & stress?
Much of my job is done at a computer, and it can be stressful at times. But if I get out of the office and into the workshop, even just to clean up a bit, I find it relieves stress and allows me to refocus.
What is something you are most proud of?
Woodworking itself is a complex craft. But I must also be a teacher, a videographer, a writer and an editor; with skills in business, marketing, corporate relations and so much more. Yet I am entirely self-taught with no real education beyond the 9th grade. I built my career with little more than hard work and I am proud of that, for sure.
Words to live by?
A wise man once told me that life is like a box of chocolates.
Fun fact about you.
I was just 43 years old when my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.
Which project has been the most challenging for you?
Always the next project :)
What are future goals as your career grows?
My goal is to gradually spend less time on my career and more on what really matters.
How would you describe your perfect day?
Spending all day with my wife, doing something outdoors.
When do you feel most at home?
When I'm filling out surveys.
Favorite part of your daily routine.
Mornings - I get up, have coffee outside, ride on the bike trail for an hour with my wife, then go to work.
Three words that describe you.
Skilledat findingcreative solutions
Is there anything else you'd like to share about yourself?
If I was a pirate, my favorite letter would be "R".