Next Level Blogs

I like working with wood. I think I am pretty good at it. The project I am working on now will look absolutely fabulous when it’s done. I can hardly wait. But I also have the pieces of two stalled projects nicely put away in bins, one of which I haven’t look at for...

I’ve heard this dozens of times; “I try to be a nice guy with my customers. When they lie to me I let it go. They treat my guys like shit on site but I tell my guys, ‘Just let it go. Do your job. He’s the customer.’ I try to lay low and take the abuse, expecting to...

I spoke to a friend who is starting his own company. His first order of business was to do a month or two of clerical work to build an email list. The work is tedious and boring, but he doesn’t want to hire someone to do it. He is saving his money, One of the basic...

I was searching for a part for an engine. It took seven weeks to find and finally install it. The engine runs fine now, but those seven weeks tried me in ways I never expected. The problem started when the revs would drop for no reason, then pick up again. There was...

Start with These Four Things Small renovation contractors have to manage their business as well as drive nails, and this is where they often come up short. They know that marketing, lead generation, and sales are vital to securing future clients, but because they are...

My initial interests out of high school were accounting, finance and business. At the same time, I had an admiration for the work of tradesmen. I appreciated the importance of a healthy, well paid workforce of men and women that were willing to get their hands dirty,...

Forty years ago, the day after the boat yard where I apprenticed went bankrupt, my boat-carpenter f riend and I announced to nobody in particular that we were renovators. It was that simple. Soon after, we’d heard a friend of a friend needed work done. We provided a...

I’ve heard this dozens of times; “I try to be a nice guy with my customers. When they lie to me I let it go. They treat my guys like shit on site but I tell my guys, ‘Just let it go. Do your job. He’s the customer.’ I try to lay low and take the abuse, expecting to...

The following story was published in 2011. I was writing another story on safety and this question came up: How do we value,  from an actuarial point of view, a human life? As our government wrestles with reengaging our economy against the risk of encouraging increase...