more important comments

Gary at Raybern is in sales, he works the front desk and generally is on the left hand side. Always he has a smile for the clients when he see them walk in the door. I generally gravitate towards Gary at Raybern, maybe because he is closest to the door. Well last SAterday I was in Raybern myslef getting some drawer slides for a cabinet at my house. Gary was telling me how much he liked reading this blog. He said it was very interesting. It made me feel great because I just don't know if anyone reads this or not. But Gary went on to say how the blog indicated to him that I know what I'm doing. Thank you Gary. Also that I'm not glazing over things. To that Gary I say yes that is true but I only sharing half the truth. I think that I tell the whole truth about what is going on then I wouldn't get any new buisness for sure from the blog and I'd problly loose all the buisness that I have. I don't think people need to know every problem that I am up against. Pehaps I will change my position on that. And someday I will reveall all that is happening to my buisness, it's just hard to do that with out being negative towards my clients. I can try to disguise my clients as I do with the job numbers but my astute clients could easily figure out thier own job number. So for now I will try to glaze over as little as possible.
After reviewing the shop drawings with a client on Friday, my client asked me if the plans were then hung on the wall for the bench men to read. I said that we used to do that but more and more the bench man are using the computer for the plans. I mean that the guys in the shop are using the Cad files on the work station at the shop to build the cabinets. My client said that is very green. And it occurred to me for the first time that it's true, that by going to a paperless shop which is a goal of mine we are going green. Going green is something that is important to me and althouhg I don't get much time now to invest in it. We are actually doing by accident, by going paperless. My motive for going paperless is it's just easier and faster in terms of the information flow which exist in my buisness like it or not and seems that the information circles around more often then flows in a steady direction.
Exciting stuff happening this week. First up is that I'll be making several knives on the profile machine. My new passion. I''ll be making the first of my own knives that will make up a part of the top moldings called crown molding. I am planning on making a sort of freeze board, or soffit face type of board that will carry just about any other standard crown that may be exsiting. The template is half made and the rest of it is in my head. I am quite fond of this new knife I am going to make. nobody else has anything like, that doesn't make me great or anything. When I was at the RDC show a few weeks back Woodmiester had a booth set up with some very nice moldings, very nice moldings. So, I'm no woodmeister but I am working down in the trenches and creating some cutting edge millwork, No one has the same library as me and has the same inspirations as me, so what I make will be unique to my style.
Second I have the third prong coming out this week on a few new contacts. The third prong is when I start calling some new prospects. I've tried to prime the pump with some letters and faxes lettin them know that I'd be calling soon to scehdual an appoinment. I think I have spoke of this before calling the contacts the fantastic 12 or something. Builders that I met at the RDC show. I'm excited about this a little nervuous becasue I will have to caome out of box. Here is what they say; "you've got to do your ABC's" that's Always Be Closing, and better yet there is "you've got to do your ABP's that's Always Be Prospecting.
We should be completeing a61 this week finally. ESteban is already moved on to c74. Gagan will move on to a75. We should be installing a75 next week, as well as doing some service work at 12 Kirkland. C74 is slated for install last week of April that is if we get the paint in-time. Afterwards b58 should begin install. We will start much more intently on fabricating b67 as that is approaching install. For now my thoughts are deep in b58, it is going to be a tricky install and it will require all my attenttion.

week 13

The week is going thus far pretty much as planned. We had a staffing absenteeism on Monday, considering that it's surprising that the week is going so well. We received our glass for job a69 which is great news, that was the one long lead item that could really slow things up. We've ran into a small snafu with the wooden counter top, for job b68. The cabinet vanity will still be installed tomorrow, we will have to return a little later with the top. It is an under mount sink and so it's tricky to make that opening in the wood. We have to make a template and use a flush cutting router bit. Which is fine but the wood grain tears at two points in a circle and it is easy for the bit to rip out an enormous chunk of wood, ruining the top. Making the top template is no cinch either, it requires the careful skills of a pattern maker. Note to self: a cnc machine would really shine at making templates. As it turns out Gagan is showing a great skill at making the hole for a sink in a wooden top. Which is good because we have another one coming up made from teak.
We are preparing for a big install at the end of this week. Four huge doors and one window beginning on Thursday and going maybe until Saturday. I've got to buy some 4x4 mahogany post so we can start building the side and end panels for an exterior cabinet job a61.
I Looked at a new job today, I'm so curious as to what we are going to build next.
The designs for c74 are going quite well. I have submitted my first copy and received very good feed back. It's always a pleasure to work with people who have a lot of input. I know that they understand what they are getting. It does seem hard to get the criticism that can sometimes come with the feed back, that takes patience and understanding on my part. In the long run it's better for me.

Today we had our 2008 q1 fun event. I think that for 20 minutes the team and myself actually had fun together and forgot about work. Well the whole 1.5 hours event was fun for everyone but the 20 min refers to the entire group engaged in an activity together. This is powerful stuff. Why? When a team is tougher either working or playing the progress of the team effectiveness is growing and improving, only then. We have a very solid team right now. And I hope we stay together.

Now we are around the bend. All the doors are in and they only need to be adjusted. We then need apply the molding the stops and all the hardware. We have to finish by tomorrow, I can't go back on sat. and have no intentions of returning Monday, but I will if I have to. I hope by getting there early tomorrow we'll be able to finish, it will take focus.
c66 is slated for install starting on Monday. Sondu and a out of hall of famer "Gagan" are going to lead that up. I need to go there and install the vanity while those guys are installing the wall unit. maybe do that Monday and Tuesday.
b64 is also slated for install on wed. that will be me and Andy. We need to get some detail dimensions for a69 which is down cape sometime early in the week, and we are tentatively scheduled for work on Friday down there. Where we'll install a door frame and surrounding casings. Esteban will start fabricating the parts for that next week and then the door after that.
Next week is going to be jamming for the staff and myself. I'm happy for the c66 guys they will probably have a good time installing the C client.
On top of all this I'm trying to get all my year end stuff done for the acountant. So I hace to reveiw the chart of accouunts sometime and make year end adjustments, which takes time.