1/11/22 Lamp-Making

 Lamp-Making

“So let me give you a basic rundown of the place,” the owner says to the new employee, who attentively follows his new boss. “Here at our workshop we like to do things a little differently. Not only will you be working with the team to produce quality lamps, but we like to let our employees employ,” he says with a wink and a small chuckle, “a little creative freedom. We pride each and every one of our lamps for being unique. No two lamps are the same, which makes them all the more valuable.” 

The new employee excitedly looks around at all the different lamps in the workshop, seeing so many different shapes, colors, textures, some even with fog coming out the top. 

The owner points to a station where a woman is working on the base shape of a lamp, using modeling clay, “Look here, now in its current state it doesn't look like much, but with the creativity of our workers, these clay molds can turn into anything imaginable,” he says pointing to a collection of lamps stacked in a different area of the workshop.

Staring in awe, the new employee walks towards the lamps, gently touching them and admiring the intricate details. Ideas start flowing and the new employee could not be more excited to start working on a lamp.

“Now creativity can take many forms,” the owner continues, “and we here may not judge your creative choices but to put it bluntly, the customers will. But, after looking through your artistic portfolio I think you will fit in just fine,” he says, giving the nervous employee a smile. “So would you like to start working on your first lamp?” The new employee eagerly nods with excitement. 

The owner shows the new employee to a work area. It is a semi-small workplace, but for the purpose of creating a lamp, it is perfectly sized. A decently sized wooden table with a stool to sit on covers the center of the space. Various supplies and materials are held on different shelves and hidden in cupboards along the walls. 

“I’m sure you will find all the materials you will need, and if you need any help, just ask someone and they will point you in the right direction.” The employee smiles. “Well, you seem ready to go, I will leave you to it then, happy lamp-making and remember, be creative.”

The owner walks off and the employee is left with a vast plethora of materials to work with. Not exactly knowing where to start, the employee grabs a sketchpad and starts making sketches. After a solid hour of sketching the employee is frustrated, not happy with any of the designs.

Another employee nearby notices and walks over, “Hey don’t think about it too much, just let your mind flow and the design will come. Besides I’m sure the owner will love whatever you come up with. Trust me I had some, what I considered to be, pretty horrible first lamps. Once I started not stressing out as much and just started creating, It got easier and more enjoyable. So just don’t stress it, have fun, make something you’ve always wanted to make.”

Encouraged by these words the new employee begins sketching once again. Any idea that pops up gets drawn onto the page. After a couple minutes it all comes together. Minutes turn to hours and hours turn to days. By weeks end the employee has finished and the lamp is done. 

The owner comes to inspect the lamp. He is taken back in awe, “Wow this is really great. I can tell you worked really hard on it. I can see your creativity flowing through this lamp and I can’t wait to see what you produce for us in the future.”

The employee, ecstatic about the positive review, smiles and nods in thanks, before quickly returning to the workstation to start working on another lamp.

The End

1/11/22