Another grilling session coming up, up top? I love that picture. Its a story I tell about rec climbing... This crazy Danish vegetarian logger/ arbo that works at castles, strapped a grill in a huge oak during an overnighter. I have never met a vegetarian logger in the PNW, not that I know a ton of loggers, but more than a handful. That makes for a quirky detail in the story.
I took all the paperwork out of my office yesterday. Nothing goes back into there without it going into a proper place. Paperwork and mail have been my nemesis. If everything were either electronic or on paper, it would be easier. The mix of it feels like trying to do some admin work on a pc and some on a mac.
I'm trying to get systems into place for things so that I don't have to mastermind everything, knowing what has/ hasn't worked and how we do things, such as having a bid checklist (don't forget irrigation systems, wires overhead, check the onsite dump spot's cross-slope, etc) with an equipment checklist for the job (bring the 16' orchard ladder and fence tools or digging tools, 4 extra sheets of plywood for protecting windows, etc).
An upcoming concept that I'd like to develop is a form for the customer to fill out before an estimate or consultation, downloadable from my website. A few years back, I told the customer that since I was charging them by the hour for a consult, they would do best to make a map/ use an aerial photo of their property and list their questions and concerns for each tree, if any. They could then take notes right on their copy, or have a numbered list on another page that corresponded to the trees.
I could quickly gather a lot about them as a customer, and the scope of the bid. A pre-qualifier, plus a tool to estimate time necessary for the bid.
My accountant told me yesterday that she thinks that its a good idea, as it give the homeowner a bit of an investment/ ownership of the project, plus its easier if they have to consider what they really want, and verbalize it.
I'm trying to delegate more. Use my accountant to do cash flow management, payables, etc, and I'll get Erik to make the form, because neither can track down a new smog pump or put shocks on the truck or rig removals.
I cut tonight's slabs a little shorter. Getting ready to start milling all those logs I've been dragging home this winter. Going to be a war zone with piles of slabs, lumber and timbers all over.
