Early this year I learned a lesson from the old craft of wood chopping and selling 🪵

Yes, you read that right.

And it applies to every business. No matter what you do.

In the lumber industry, wood is obviously the main product. But the process of shaping and refining it generates mountains of sawdust.

At first, this sawdust was seen as waste—just something to be burned or dumped.

But in the mid-20th century, the industry had a revelation: sawdust wasn’t waste. It was a valuable byproduct. Soon enough, they began using it to make a whole range of products, from concrete fillers to synthetic fireplace logs and pet bedding.

What was once discarded became extremely profitable 💸

A $7.5 billion industry, to be precise.

Now, you probably are not selling wood for a living.

But in your daily work, you’re likely producing plenty of metaphorical sawdust.

And just like the lumber industry, you have the chance to turn this “waste” into something valuable.

How?

The simplest way is to document and share what you do and how you do it 📝

Every day, you solve problems.

You’re constantly finding ways to make your workflow more efficient. And chances are, you find efficiencies directly related to how your specific industry conducts business.

But if those solutions don’t directly impact your main product or service, they tend to get ignored or forgotten.

It’s natural.

When we are focused we usually get tunnel vision.

But if you pause, take a step back, and look at your own workflow, you might discover untapped value just waiting to be monetized.

By shifting to a “sharing mindset,” you start seeing your work in a new way.

And when you share that process with the world, you attract an audience who views you as a thought leader, who sees value in your approach—and who may eventually become customers.

They’ll also share their honest opinions—what they like, what they don’t. And this real-world feedback becomes a compass to guide you forward.

Sharing your work and process brings you:

🟡 A growing audience

🟡 A stronger reputation

🟡 Invaluable, real-world feedback

🟡 A chance to unlock hidden value

Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective and a willingness to share. Your “waste” might just be worth more than you think.

Are you making the most of your “sawdust”?