In March of 2024, a few months after my first feature article, I was contacted by another online magazine “Voyage Phoenix” to talk about my business and the journey of how we got to where we are. Again, I was honored to share my story with the public! Below you can read the article- you can also click the link above to the original, full posting! Thanks for your continued support!

MARCH 20, 2024

Life & Work with Pat Murray of Prescott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pat Murray.

Hi Pat, We’re so excited to have you on the platform. Before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can update our readers on your story and how you got to where you are today.
They say pain is the touchstone of all growth. Well, at least it has been in my case! I knew I wanted to own a business for a while, but it always seemed like a lofty idea that was fun to think about but would never actualize. But then it’s as if the universe turned it’s wheels, and I just went along for the ride. So, what happened? I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I worked in hospitality management for several years, trying to grow a career and build an income to support my young family. From the outside perspective, I “should’ve” been happy with what I had, but I wasn’t. I needed more creativity, inspiration, autonomy, and plain old fun. I had been itching to start a business but was too scared to take a leap of faith; plus, I didn’t have all of the minor details figured out, such as what I would do! I decided to take another management job instead, hoping this would solve my problems. It did not. I went from the frying pan to the fire, and it didn’t last 7 months before I knew I had to do something different or else my sanity would be at stake. I put in my notice without a concrete action plan other than to give entrepreneurship a real shot. I had no choice in the matter- I couldn’t go on the way I was. The universe had placed me in this position of desperation, which gave me the willingness to finally leap. So now what? I knew I could make some money refinishing furniture as a side hustle, as I had already done some work on my own furniture. So I was to do that, and clean houses for a close friend of mine’s cleaning business, while I concocted my master plan. After completing my first piece of furniture and posting pictures on Facebook, 5 people immediately asked if I could refinish theirs. I didn’t see it, but my wife did- she saw an opportunity to lean into this “side hustle” of mine and make it THE thing! I was apprehensive initially, but the demand was high, and I enjoyed doing it! After a few months, I found myself booked out with commission work months in advance and knew I had to switch to full-time, to dive in head first. Since then, I’ve gone through the trials and tribulations that all entrepreneurs seem to go through- I’m paying my dues one lesson at a time. This path is not without problems, but I prefer the problems I have now over the problems I had before!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As I said earlier, this path, or any path for that matter, is not without problems. Another little catchphrase I like is, “Progress is making the same mistake less often or making a new mistake that’s better than your last mistakes- anything other than that is perfection.” Mistakes and struggles are how we learn and grow. One issue that came up early was how to price my work. I did research but ultimately knew I’d have to figure out how to price things appropriately as I went along. At first, I kept prices “low” because I wanted all the business I could get and to build a portfolio and reputation in town. That plan did work, but I was losing more money than I was making, which is never good! Through this process, I built confidence in my work and got an accurate idea of what my time and skills are worth to feel confident in my pricing moving forward. Another issue I’ve had to overcome is scheduling my work correctly. Because of financial insecurity and people-pleasing, I’d schedule all my jobs close together with very little wiggle room. I wanted to make ends meet and ensure everyone had their projects completed quickly. I made my schedule as if every job was to go as planned: no issues, no sickness, no interruptions, etc. Rookie mistake- of course, all of those things came up. I was getting stressed and exhausted trying to meet my unrealistic deadlines with no breaks; my boss must be a jerk haha! I’ve had to switch gears, be more realistic in my scheduling, and leave time for rest. It’s one of those paradoxes where if I give myself time to rest, then I will work more effectively and get more done, rather than constantly working and feeling burnt out. This one is still a work in progress- I sometimes still take the bait. On the whole, it has been a relatively smooth road thus far. I’ve maintained demand, for which I’m incredibly grateful. Also, I keep an open mind to shift gears if and when new information and opportunities arise. I am still determining the future for my business and, to me, that is exciting!

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I own a furniture and cabinet refinishing business called Murray’s Modernized Furnishings! Most of what I do is refinish or completely makeover clients’ damaged or outdated furniture and cabinets. I also source pieces for clients that fit the dimensions of their space and then customize them to their needs. I also love to find pieces with good bones but are in rough shape, turn them into an unrecognizable Murray’s Modernized masterpiece, and sell them online! I have been shifting much of my focus into kitchen cabinets lately and will likely continue to lean in that direction.

A few things that set me apart from others is, first and foremost, customer service. My previous career was in hospitality management, so customer satisfaction is in my blood. To give a hospitality example- if you were to stay at two hotels that were exactly the same in every way except one hotel had a friendly atmosphere, and the other did not, I bet you’d choose the friendly one every time. And even if mistakes are made, customers will be much more forgiving of a friendly host than a cold one. Working with clients is one of my favorite parts of the job, so it comes naturally! Additionally, my focus on modernization and uniqueness separates me from other furniture refinishers and retailers. After visiting all the local furniture stores, I noticed that none of them sold anything like the pieces I had been creating. At first, this frightened me, as maybe my style was off base, but then I saw it as an opportunity to gain market share! Many people love the work I display, and apparently there is a big demand for it! Another thing that I’m known for is my social media content- I enjoy documenting my refinishing process and creating silly videos with the footage. I have a blast doing it, and my “fans” seem to like it too! All of that being said, I’m ecstatic that every day, I get to play in the garage, create (on multiple levels), and make people happy. Sometimes, it just hits me while I’m working that this is real life, that I’m doing all of this. Sure, everything isn’t always perfect, but holy smokes, it sure is a cool life to live and a far cry from where I once was!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Depends on who you ask, haha! Most people would agree that I’ve always had a good sense of humor and a creative side. Most kids, myself included, undergo many personality changes throughout their lives, but these two traits have remained. What’s incredible is I get to use both qualities in my work! I get to turn lifeless, damaged furniture into pieces that clients proudly show off in their homes. My favorite is when customers say, “Do whatever you think would look cool.” Challenge accepted! This gets my creative juices flowing and allows me to use different techniques I don’t usually use to create something truly remarkable. And then I get to be super goofy in the videos showcasing my work, which fills me up in another way! I get to be myself, unfiltered and unstifled, which is an absolute blessing.

Pricing:

• The work I do is custom, therefore all pricing varies based on the scope of the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094498537883
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/murraysmodernized/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094498537883
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFfMw496olYxKLtRs3Jllg
• Other: TikTok- @murraysmodernized