jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 20, 2020 6:37:37 GMT -5
The contractors are coming and going. We started construction in mid March and corona hit mid March. Heavy spending started in mid March and increased income started in mid March due to increased fire pit sales. My wife and I are burned out selling fire pits about faster than we can ship them. The drain on the bank account has been in synch with the income and timing of the increased fire pit sales. It has been a demanding 6 months. My brother in law was laid off recently from the airlines. He is a great carpenter and hard worker. I now employ him full time as a carpenter and referee to keep me and wife from killing each other. We were just starting to have spousal wars as we entered the interior work lol. Hiring BOL was a brilliant move. Another 2 months and we should be finished. I am headed to the mountains today to begin final grading for the last life project, a cabin in a very remote spot of the Appalachians. This should conclude all construction till buried 6 feet under. Two big projects at age 63 to 64. And then the fun begins. Looking forward to the end of this marathon. House as of last week(add the beige barn trimmed in brick red to upper right)  And the freak source of financing  |
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Sept 20, 2020 8:27:13 GMT -5
It’s good to have a freak source sometimes  It’s stressful being that busy but it’s better than not right? Congrats on the new builds they look sweet. |
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Post by RickB on Sept 21, 2020 7:38:08 GMT -5
Been keeping tabs on the progression - it's looking great and glad you're about to finish this project.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 21, 2020 8:19:46 GMT -5
Been keeping tabs on the progression - it's looking great and glad you're about to finish this project. I had wondered how buttoned up the work was when all the rain dumped on those parts. Glad everything is coming along fine. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 25, 2020 11:23:10 GMT -5
It’s good to have a freak source sometimes It’s stressful being that busy but it’s better than not right? Congrats on the new builds they look sweet. Amazing timing saxplayer. I cut the first tree right about March 20. Two days later the freak income kept climbing and climbing. About every two to three weeks we get hammered with a big charge from a contractor. Bank account goes up then down up then down.... One side of the yard is fire pit production and sales to generate $. The other half is this money pit that swallows the $. And I think we have sold over 20 pits to the contractors ! Thanks for the compliments. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 25, 2020 11:25:36 GMT -5
Been keeping tabs on the progression - it's looking great and glad you're about to finish this project. It is about to accelerate Rick. HVAC/Siding/sheetrock/finish electrical is gonna hit over the next 3 weeks of this so far 6 month project. it should look close to finish after that. Wanting a long break... |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 25, 2020 11:26:49 GMT -5
Amazing timing saxplayer . I cut the first tree right about March 20. Two days later the freak income kept climbing and climbing. About every two to three weeks we get hammered with a big charge from a contractor. Bank account goes up then down up then down.... One side of the yard is fire pit production and sales to generate $. The other half is this money pit that swallows the $. And I think we have sold over 20 pits to the contractors ! Thanks for the compliments. , better then going down and not springing back up! Glad you are able to take it all in stride. The contractors becoming customers a nice perc! |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 25, 2020 11:38:30 GMT -5
Been keeping tabs on the progression - it's looking great and glad you're about to finish this project. I had wondered how buttoned up the work was when all the rain dumped on those parts. Glad everything is coming along fine. All was dried in Jean. The metal roof sounded great in the rain. There is 10 inches of blown in foam under the roof which muzzled the heavy rain to a soothing sound. Built the house with wide 2x6 studs so the foam insulation is thick throughout. House stays cool and steady in terms of temperature. Quiet too. I have had a break because Denise is making a lot of the decisions on the doors windows and inside layout. so she gets to handle the contractors. She is finding out what it is like with the decisions and contractors on her back. I met with the bulldozer man over the weekend in the mountains. cut piled and burned a bunch more trees. I need to get the poured foundation done before the heavy December rains hit(temperate rain forest where my lot is !). If it's not cloud mist it is rain up there. Just like west Oregon. Had a great get away as it is beautiful up there. Due to a 12 foot wall of soil left from cutting the cabin site out of a steep hill I will be going with a cabin half in the clay bank for geothermal effects via 12 foot high poured walls running full back side and 2 half walls on sides. Burning mountain laurel apparently is poisonous. I noticed I had a hard time going to sleep because I could not intake oxygen. I finally figured out why this is happening after every trip to mountains and burning scrub and trees. Sort of a scary experience but now it is understood and I will stay away from the smoke now. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 25, 2020 11:42:07 GMT -5
Sounds like you have it all figured out, James! Thanks for the update.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 28, 2020 5:41:07 GMT -5
These are fire pit bases. I payed neighbor Ted $400 to bend and saw the 300 rings. It took him 4 hours. I payed Rohan the Jamaican $2500 to weld the 300 rings onto the bases. It took him 15 hours/2 days. Amazing worker. He makes only $22/hour at his regular job so he is content with our pay rate. Total labor per unit only about $10. No problem paying $100 to $180/hour. The electric fork lift now handles unloading and moving the heavy stock. Pretty much in the groove with help and logistics. A bit of drama on the back 40: I made contact with Rohan thru another welder I test hired named Cleveland. Cleveland is from Georgia and concerned me as being a rough fellow. Me and wife nervous about him and his probable substance abuse. Rohan informed me that last month Cleveland sawed his ankle tracker off and headed west to become a fugitive of the law. At peace now. Rohan is a family man and has no interest in playing games with the law. We trust Rohan to the point of partnering with him. Next step is to receive 100-36, 100-42 and 100-48 inch bowls and have Rohan weld them up. About 10 full days of work. Fortunately he likes the physical work out as he is handling about 50,000 pounds in 10 days ! Material and labor about $70,000 to build 300 pits. Since corona we have been selling average 90 pits/month 6 months running. No way I could keep up fabricating that many units. I have learned to find exceptional workers and pay them at least 3 to 5 times more than most companies pay. Keeping an excellent employee by paying him well pays big dividends on the long haul. Share your profit with these guys. They are the ones sacrificing their bodies with such hard labor. Note how Rohan keeps the shop meticulously clean. This is a special quality. He works better in a clean shop so I am constantly helping with the cleaning and maintenance to save him doing it. Management is best done serving.   |
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Post by miket on Sept 28, 2020 10:00:32 GMT -5
James, you lead a very interesting life! |
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Sept 28, 2020 10:45:20 GMT -5
These are fire pit bases. I payed neighbor Ted $400 to bend and saw the 300 rings. It took him 4 hours. I payed Rohan the Jamaican $2500 to weld the 300 rings onto the bases. It took him 15 hours/2 days. Amazing worker. He makes only $22/hour at his regular job so he is content with our pay rate. Total labor per unit only about $10. No problem paying $100 to $180/hour. The electric fork lift now handles unloading and moving the heavy stock. Pretty much in the groove with help and logistics. A bit of drama on the back 40: I made contact with Rohan thru another welder I test hired named Cleveland. Cleveland is from Georgia and concerned me as being a rough fellow. Me and wife nervous about him and his probable substance abuse. Rohan informed me that last month Cleveland sawed his ankle tracker off and headed west to become a fugitive of the law. At peace now. Rohan is a family man and has no interest in playing games with the law. We trust Rohan to the point of partnering with him. Next step is to receive 100-36, 100-42 and 100-48 inch bowls and have Rohan weld them up. About 10 full days of work. Fortunately he likes the physical work out as he is handling about 50,000 pounds in 10 days ! Material and labor about $70,000 to build 300 pits. Since corona we have been selling average 90 pits/month 6 months running. No way I could keep up fabricating that many units. I have learned to find exceptional workers and pay them at least 3 to 5 times more than most companies pay. Keeping an excellent employee by paying him well pays big dividends on the long haul. Share your profit with these guys. They are the ones sacrificing their bodies with such hard labor. Note how Rohan keeps the shop meticulously clean. This is a special quality. He works better in a clean shop so I am constantly helping with the cleaning and maintenance to save him doing it. Management is best done serving.Yes....reward, invest and empower........the return will be accelerated, reinforced and predictable.......! |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 28, 2020 15:20:50 GMT -5
James, you lead a very interesting life! It sure helps that this business fell into my lap miket. Convention can become routine and boring so why not stir the pot a bit and be different. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 28, 2020 15:32:04 GMT -5
Strong words pizzano. Overwhelmingly rewarding, investing in, and empowering people almost always ends up in a very positive predictable result. Harnessing good people under that treatment almost always results in them accomplishing great feats towards a common goal. It is a simple near fail safe philosophy. |
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Sept 28, 2020 17:20:34 GMT -5
It's a practice that should be applied to child rearing, team coaching, marriage and formal education..........not just within the business/work world, and doesn't take an MBA to acquire......just patience, care, observation/listening, asking and application........you, my friend have all those tools. That's obviously been the keys to your success......!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 29, 2020 4:04:00 GMT -5
It's a practice that should be applied to child rearing, team coaching, marriage and formal education..........not just within the business/work world, and doesn't take an MBA to acquire......just patience, care, observation/listening, asking and application........you, my friend have all those tools. That's obviously been the keys to your success......! So true. But it is a challenge to maintain this persona pizzano. We have our bad days. I personally fail at being consistent as a motivator. Especially when things go wrong or problems are lurking. Dealing with people can be a serious challenge at best. I try to hide when grumpy or angry or tired. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Sept 29, 2020 4:25:16 GMT -5
This event was purely good luck. Being at the right place at a (bad) time. Accelerated income due to a terrible 2020 pandemic.  All fire pits are made in this little 15' x 20' shop attached to side of house for the past 5 years on rotary table at center. The vibratory tumbler is also located in this little space. It has electricity, compressed air, plasma cutting setup, acetylene torch setup, welder setup, pressure washer setup, music, good lighting, ventilation, bottom drain, heat, saw/grinders/wire brush, motion detection and a stainless 357. And an old rusty 12 gauge shot gun if things get real out of hand lol. Most resources a step away.   |
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Sept 29, 2020 11:19:20 GMT -5
This event was purely good luck. Being at the right place at a (bad) time. Accelerated income due to a terrible 2020 pandemic. All fire pits are made in this little 15' x 20' shop attached to side of house for the past 5 years on rotary table at center. The vibratory tumbler is also located in this little space. It has electricity, compressed air, plasma cutting setup, acetylene torch setup, welder setup, pressure washer setup, music, good lighting, ventilation, bottom drain, heat, saw/grinders/wire brush, motion detection and a stainless 357. And an old rusty 12 gauge shot gun if things get real out of hand lol. Most resources a step away. I don't believe in luck James........lol.....It's more preparation, opportunity and execution........a little Divine Intervention helps too....!
Very nice Top Line (revenue).......have you had time to track the Bottom Line......?.......what % of that has been rolled into the new construction........looks like you're keeping the Accountant (CFO) pretty busy........lol
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rockstock
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 472
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Post by rockstock on Sept 29, 2020 13:09:51 GMT -5
Amazing all around. 400k for this year alone is outstanding. 150k on your "slow" years is also beyond fantastic. Enjoy reading all of this.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 29, 2020 13:38:36 GMT -5
A big WOW, James jamesp. You reap what you sow, and you are a hard worker. You deserve every cent this venture brings you. And I knew you back when you were a lowly wetlands mitigator and water plants grower! |
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