Looking for referral team members

I'm putting together a team of people to help me find customers. Rather than spend a bunch of money on yellow page ads and other big, impersonal nets, I'd like to spend money on my friends and neighbors. I'd like to spend it after I have it instead of before. So I'm asking people to join my referral team. Here is how it works.

This is what my referral team members do:

1. They talk to the people they know or meet about what I do.

2. Those people come to me,become clients and I do what I do. They pay for my services.

3. I pay the referal team member 10% of whatever I get paid (gross). This amount can be anywhere from $9.90 up to $5000.00 and more.

4. Repeat

What I do: I help owner/builders. I teach DIYs (Do It Yourselfers) how to be contractors for their projects. I get permits for people's projects. I connect my network of sub-contractors and suppliers to qualified clients. I teach DIY workshops. I design buildings and remodels. I help people put together project budgets. I teach, talk, mentor, guide, coach, assist, remind, re-direct and interpret so that people can take responsibility for their own lives and get the help they need to get their projects done right.My fees are based on $99.00 per hour. I offer services one-on-one, in small groups or in classroom settings. The more people involved, the cheaper it is.

My clients range from people who need a permit or help with plans up to what we call a level C client. C clients use a professional project manager and recieve fixed price bids. It is more of a turn key experience. My level of involvement and the clients level of management responsibility is different for every project

If you know someone who needs help with a project of any kind, I would be happy to help them. The first hour is always free.

If you would like to find out more about what I do and how you can be part of it, check out my website(s). Start with http://www.rurallifeyourway.com/ and then go to Darby Consultants and Darby Schoolhouse. If you'd like I can meet or talk on the phone about the details of this proposal.

Call 360-546-5551

curt@darbyrural.com

Darby Schoolhouse

Contact: Curtis Miller
Office: 360.546.5551
Web: www.darbyschoolhouse.com

DIYs: A BETTER WAY TO BUILD OR REMODEL IN TODAY’S UNCERTAIN ECONOMY

Owner/Builder’s and DIYs - Attend Darby Schoolhouse Workshops and get coaching and networking connections to help build right and save money. It's a safer bet for your construction projects in 2009. Workshops are held in April, May and August.

Lot's of people are nervous about building. Uncertainty about the economy and the construction industry has spurred Do-It-Yourselfer’s (DIY) to become an increasingly larger percentage of a struggling market. Planning to save money, homeowners are taking on the management responsibility for their construction projects. Unfortunately, without help, the complexity of home building or remodeling is more than most home owners are prepared for.

Many times, owner/builders end up frustrated, exhausted and disappointed in their results. Designing a project that works well, coming up with a realistic budget, getting permits, selecting and managing reliable sub-contractors, choosing the right products, staying on top of the finances, controlling quality and managing a constantly changing job site is a lot of work. Many DIYs are unaware of the time, energy, physical capacity and skill set required to be an owner/builder. They are often at the mercy of a disjointed stream of advice from sub-contractors and suppliers who have no personal stake or coordinated effort in the project. Success in this environment is rare.

This is the problem Darby Schoolhouse focuses its attention on. By offering expert guidance in a workshop environment, Darby Consultants assist home owners in their preparation. In three Friday afternoon workshops in April, May and August, a potential owner/builder will learn about the construction process from beginning to end. From design, permits and budget through job site strategy to vendor management and finances, DIY’s will receive a thorough immersion into the world of the homeowner/contractor.

The instructors for the workshops are experts from Darby Consultants and suppliers and sub-contractors in the Darby Network who have proven to be legitimate craftsmen with integrity that care about people. With their guidance, Owner contracted homes, additions and accessory buildings meet high standards in Clark County and the Portland Metro area.


Darby Schoolhouse provides education and guidance to DIYs building homes and accessory buildings or additions. We connect owner/builders with experts in a workshop setting to provide the tools and knowledge they need to save money and complete a satisfying project that looks great, performs well and lasts a long time.

We're excited about this new opportunity. Check out the web site at http://www.darbyschoolhouse.com/

What is Fort Darby

I just sent an email to a whole bunch of people and addressed them as the "Fort Darby Community." I also posted on Facebook. Knowing that many of them will want a primer on Fort Darby, I am re-posting this explanation from several moons ago.
The short version: Fort Darby is a community of people who believe in the values of rural life, small town life and the wisdom from the good old days. They are taking responsibility for their own lives and the lives of the people they care about - trying to at least, live in true community (not to be confused with hippy communes or religious cults). It's not about geography, it's a heart condition that dictates an approach to life. We are independant, but we help our neighbors and realize we need their help. We work hard, do our best at whatever we do and celebrate when the work is done. We like simple life and try to shrink the distance between our actions and our experience. We believe that real is better than pretend.

As of right now, there are no official meetings, no creed, no secret handshakes and no club house. That may come in the future but right now, the Fort Darby Community exists in the lives and relationships of people. If you want to be a part of it - go ahead. Nothing is stopping you. Consider yourself invited. Actions speak louder than words. If you want to send me your email, I'll send you future letters.

There is more about this on the website: www.rurallifeyourway.com

Pain is good

Remodels and big projects can be painful. So the question is, why would anyone do it? Of course, that assumes one very underconsidered perspective. The idea that pain is bad. I agree that some pain is to be avoided at all cost. Such as the pain of shopping for hours for clothing, at the mall, touching every piece of fabric, trying on multiple items, having a smoothie for lunch and buying nothing but a onesy for someones baby shower. There is no conceivable reason for that kind of torture. But for a remodel project or a new deck or a barn... There is a reason. Pain is the price for many valuable things: character, child birth, a strong heart, being married, taking off a bandaid (imagine if you left it there), and yes, remodeling or building something. Carrying heavy things, digging in rocky ground, smashing your thumb, splinters, fixing mistakes, late nights, long weekends and sore muscles. Painful - but worth it. You save money, you have no one to make stupid mistakes that you (of course) would avoid, you get the glory and satisfaction of a job well done. Most importantly, you have something to leave behind a mark on the world that tells who you are. I know that whenever I finish a long, hard day, I enjoy immensley the moment when I can stand back and gaze upon all that I have put my hand to - and it is good.

Check out these pictures of my floor project...

We were created with the capacity and desire to work, to do something worthwhile and lasting. Just like our creator, rest is most enjoyed when work is done. Without the work (any kind of meaningful work - not just building things), resting is laziness.

And something else that is joyously true; the more pain I endure from meaningful work, the less painful it is. I have been working on this remodel for 3 months now - usually an extra 40 - 50 hours per week on top of my job. I don't hurt nearly as much as I did in September. What will I do when it's over???

So my vote - the pain of a remodel or a construction project; or even a get the finances straightened out or the attic/garage cleaned or the research done or home work or whatever, is worth it because trials produce perserverance and perserverance produces character and character changes the world.

A funny story about the pain of shopping according to most men:

This is why women should not take men shopping against their will.
After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, my wife is like most women - - she loved to browse.
Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart.
Dear Mrs. Samsel,
Over the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr. Samsel are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.
1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.
2 . July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away.'
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department.
8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'
9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked t he clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the 'Mission Impossible' theme.
12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'
And last, but not least.......................
15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!'


Well, I can relate. Although if I got to do that kind of stuff, I might go shopping more often.

How Much? is the Wrong Question!

I get asked that question all the time: How much should I pay for concrete work, a tractor, a cow or new brakes. Really, it’s the wrong question. It isn’t necessarily a bad question; it’s just out of order. For years, I sold alfalfa hay. People I had never met would call and without even telling me their name ask how much. It has become a pet peeve. A good deal has three important parts: quality, availability and price. They are in that order of priority. The cheapest bale of hay in the county isn’t worth a quarter if it is full of tansy. Saving money is stupid if you are buying junk. Cheap is also useless if you have to go to a lot of trouble to get it or wait too long for it. It’s a bad deal if you buy cheap hay from a liar and a thief and he gives you three and a half tons and tells you it’s four. So the right question would be something like, “How good is your hay?” And it would be followed by other questions to determine the character of the person you are buying from. Only after character is established, should price be considered. You get what you pay for...

Alan

Slow is Better than Fast

Over the years, I have been involved in more projects than I can remember. I have asked for help and been called on to lend a hand. While there are lots of reasons a project can either go well or turn into a nightmare, there is really one critical perspective that makes all the difference. Here is my strong recommendation: be willing to participate in your life. The people that enjoy a building project are the ones who take the time to do the research, plan it out, make careful choices and then let it evolve. The process, the journey is where the enjoyment is found, not the end by itself. If the end is the only goal and you do not participate in the journey, then the end will not be fully enjoyed, if at all. I’ve seen it so many times; hurry, hurry, stress and worry – “we’ve got to get this done before… whatever”. Then as soon as the project is done, it’s on to the next goal with more hurrying and stress. Never pausing to breathe and savor each moment. Life is lived in the moments, not the accomplishments. The accomplishments and completed tasks only have value if they were filled with life. How many times have you said, “as soon as this is done, then I will be able to relax and enjoy life…”? As soon as “this” is done, there is another “this” to do. It will never stop. This world spins too fast and we are never satisfied until we decide to stop needing more. People will tell you that you should try this and do that because they need to justify their furious, unsatisfying pace. Say no, be the one who goes slower, takes longer, listens better, gets to know the plumber and makes coffee for the trim guy. You will enjoy the process.

Now, there are consequences to this unusual attitude. It will take longer, you will invest more time in activities that do not have a direct impact on the conclusion of your project. It may get to the rainy season before you are done. You will irritate people who are still in a hurry. And you won’t be able to do as much. Pay the price! Whatever your reduced pace produces will be worth far more than the missed opportunity to actually live your life along the way. Here is another thing I can guarantee – if you go slow, take your time and appreciate each morsel of the process and each person involved, you will value and enjoy the end result much more.

I have a friend (we'll call him Jeff) who used to come home from work each day during a construction project, drag a lawn chair out and sit in the middle of the job site with a glass of wine. He just looked and pondered, imagined the finish and enjoyed the quality of the craftsmanship. He relished the changes that had taken place during the day and the new look of his home. He always came up with new ideas to improve the original plan. His projects were living and vibrant and fully experienced. He got the most out of them because he participated in the evolution, changing with the project as each opportunity presented itself.

Now, I’m not talking about some kind of idealistic, utopian experience where nothing goes wrong and everything comes out like you planned. Just in case you wondered, that doesn’t actually exist. Like I said, you make your best plan; write in pencil and then step out on a journey that reveals itself new ever day. If you try to force each new day into your own set of strict parameters, you will significantly reduce your ability to respond with expectancy and you will miss the mystery and surprise of life. Problems and obstacles are only satisfying solutions waiting to happen. There is nothing more satisfying than a great recovery.

So, slow down, do less, enjoy the journey, participate in your life.

Alan Darby

Be safe - Do It Yourself

Now is the time for Do It Yourselfers to rise up. Be the example of American Get 'er Done. Take responsibility for your own life and blaze a better trai. Take on that building project on your own. Don't hire a general contractor and just hand them your check book. Figure out how to get it done on your own. If something goes wrong - let it be your fault. If you don't like something the way it is - change it. If you want something a certain way - figure out how to do it.

In these economic times each of us has to figure out a way to do what we need to do for less money. I know this is a crazy idea but one way is to DO LESS. Maybe it doesn't need to be that big or that fancy. Maybe it doesn't have to be that comfortable. If we do our project ourselves, it will take longer, but it will cost less. It will be harder, but we will be more satisfied. It will be more frustrating, but when it's done; we'll get the credit all to ourselves.

And let's talk about risk. Not a good thing right now when so many people are having trouble making ends meet. And it will get worse as the ripple effect starts to happen. As a DIY there will be less risk. Here is a real truth: contracting is like gambling. If you are a contractor (I was for 15 years), you try to predict how much a project will cost before you start and then charge enough to make a little extra. You hire a bunch of different people who are each predicting how much their part will cost before they start. You do this for someone (the customer) who is hoping to pay as little as possible for as much as they can get. You are hoping to get paid as much as you can for doing as little as possible. That's called a win/loose situation. There is a very good chance that it will cost more than you predicted, take longer than you thought and the customer will disagree about how much they owe at the end. So the gamble becomes more and more risky.

As a customer, you are paying the contractor to take the responsibility for the risk so you don't have to. That costs anywhere betweeen 15 and 35% depending on the project and the contractor. And if their wrong predictions catch up with them while they are on your project, you'll be left holding the bag. You have to pay the inflated price they originally charged you as well as the actuall cost because they didn't pay their bills. It happens to the nicest people - especially these days.

So, save the mark up to cover the risk management and pay each subcontractor and supplier individually. BE THE CONTRACTOR. Get the numbers up front so you don't have two layers of risk. Control quality as you go rather than fixing a bunch of stuff in the end. Get everything well communicated in writing. That way if someone does go belly up, you are still safe. Your money went where it was supposed to. Also, don't pay without a lien release.