Thriving in Mild Chaos: A Guide to Running C&S Projects (and Keeping Your Sanity)
Running C&S Projects has been an adventure so far—sometimes a well-planned, beautifully executed journey, and other times a wild ride where you’re holding on for dear life. If you, like us, operate in a state of mild chaos, you’ll know that organisation is aspirational at best, and sometimes, you just have to embrace the madness. Here’s how we make it work (most of the time).
1. Accept That Chaos Is the Default Setting
Some people have a well-structured, perfectly streamlined business plan. We… have a to-do list scribbled on the back of a delivery note, an inbox full of potentially important emails, and a suspiciously empty cup of coffee or in Cassie's case, tea. And you know what? It works.
Mild chaos doesn’t mean failure—it means flexibility, adaptability, and occasionally forgetting where you put the measuring tape (again), or the fact you have six pencils sticking out of your ponytail because you couldn't find the last five you put in there.
2. Divide and Conquer (Even If You’re Both Distracted)
When you co-own a business, teamwork is key. Cassie and I have an unspoken agreement: I handle the computer-based wizardry, woodwork and finishing and she ensures our our intricate resin work doesn’t descend into a scene from Jumanji. We each have our strengths, and as long as one of us remembers to order more sanding discs and resin before we run out, we’re golden.
3. Make Lists (And Then Lose Them)
We try to be organised. We really do. But let’s be honest—half of our lists get misplaced, and the other half get rewritten three times because we keep forgetting to check the first one.
If this sounds like you, digital lists might help (they don't help me but I thought it might be worth mentioning). But if you thrive in the scribbled-note lifestyle, just accept that you’ll find last week’s urgent reminder six months later and run with it.
4. Embrace the Unexpected
Custom orders, last-minute changes, and resin behaving like a rebellious teenager—it’s all part of the charm. If we expect everything to go smoothly, we'd be in the wrong business. The trick is to roll with it, laugh when things go sideways, and keep a backup plan (or at least a cup of coffee and tea) on standby.
5. Keep the Fun in the Business
At the end of the day, we do this because we love it. Sure, there are moments of absolute chaos, but there’s also the joy of creating something beautiful, working with amazing customers, and running a business that feels 100% ours.
If mild chaos is the price we pay for that, we’ll take it. (Just maybe remind us where we left the measuring tape please!?)