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Mark Eastman

Nothing Can be Built Without Action

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Too Many Times This is Exactly Where Dreams Get Left

Dreams don’t magically build themselves. This includes a dream business.

For years people in the construction industry have asked me where I got the business system and tools that I use in my construction company. After my accident in 2012, I spent a lot of time thinking about this. That was when it became clear to me that my business and life had been on autopilot without much intentionality.

Being hit upside the head caused me to think about my life and business and how they weren’t what I had expected them to be.

Not that things were terrible…just not what I had envisioned.

There was so much more that I wanted to accomplish. I had been going through the motions of living without acting on the plan.

At that point I decided to become intentional and take action. I’ve always been a planner, but it’s sad that it took a hit in the head for me to realize that planning wasn’t going to accomplish my dreams without action.

When we’re young the tendency is to think that we have all the time we need. There’s no hurry…we’ll get around to it someday. Then one day we wake up and realize life has flown by, and we haven’t done all those things we wanted to.

Don’t wait to be smacked in the head to take action.

Think of your life or business as a construction project. It begins with a dream but doesn’t end there. You can see the vision of the completed project in your mind. The tricky part is getting that dream out of your head and making it a reality.

Having the dream drawn out is a step in the right direction, but it’s only the first step. It’s a great time to make changes and corrections, rather than waiting until construction, but the building still isn’t done.

It’s good to have the help of a professional when drawing out your plans for building your dream. Their experience, knowledge, and skill can save you time and money. Done well, it will make the entire process more productive.

But a dream drawn on paper is still not done.

Too many times this is where the dream gets left. It takes time and effort to build, and the cost of building can be scary.

This is where having the right tools and systems can help you turn that business you’ve always dreamed of into a reality. It takes intentional action to build anything.

Take intentional action today.

After continually being asked about our business tools and systems at Timber Creek Construction, we knew there was a need. People in the construction industry were looking for help with building their dream businesses.

This is why we put our tools and systems in the Business BUILDing Toolbox. This toolbox gives construction businesses access to the tools that we use at Timber Creek Construction every day.

Normally $297, the Business BUILDing Toolbox is currently being offered at a Holiday price of $147 through Nov. 30th.

You can learn more about the Business BUILDing tools here or you can schedule a free 30-minute consultation to ask about them.

Don’t wait to be smacked in the head to take action because the business of your dreams isn’t going to build itself.

Some content from a previous post on May 26, 2018.

What Does Being “All In” Mean?

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Be Careful to Not Confuse it With Having it All Together

“Close but no cigar” is a saying that is used when someone falls short of their goal or successful outcome and thus gets no reward. It is believed to come from the 1920s when public fairs and events would give out actual cigars as prizes.

Compared to modern-day carnivals, most of the entertainment back then was centered around adults. As you can probably visualize, when someone was shy of winning the prize, the game attendant would probably say, “Close, but no cigar.”

A game similar to carnival games is the popular game Cornhole. This is a lawn game, once known as “sack toss”, in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at a raised, angled board with a hole in its far end. The goal of the game is to score points by either landing a bag on the board (one point) or putting a bag through the hole (three points).

So when the bags are tossed and land on the board but don’t go in the hole, it’s “close, but no cigar”.

There are a lot of situations in life that are “close, but no cigar.” Like being an “almost Christian”.

As Pastor Lisa has been taking us through the book of Acts, we’ve seen how Paul has become an “all in” Christian. He’s willing to be mistreated, whipped, and imprisoned for standing up for his beliefs.

In this Sunday’s Scripture, Acts 26:24-32, Paul is speaking before Festus and Agripa defending himself and telling his story. Festus accuses Paul of being mad. But Agripa was a Jewish King, and Paul says to Festus “King Agrippa knows about these things, and I have been speaking openly to him. I’m certain that none of these things have escaped his attention. This didn’t happen secretly or in some out-of-the-way place. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Agripa was caught in the middle between his worldly power as a king and Christ. He was not “all in”. Like Agripa there were a lot of Sadducees and Pharisees that were having trouble believing in Christ. They were almost Christians, not “all in” Christians.

The world today is full of almost Christians, not “all in” Christians.

Being a Christian requires us to be “all in”

This is more than just doing the right things. Even the demons believe that Jesus is who He said He is, but they aren’t Christians. Being a Christian is more than just believing.

God tells us in Revelation 3:15-16, to not be lukewarm or He will spit us out of His mouth. He wants us to be “all in”.

Being and “all in” Christian, is constantly being in contact with Jesus through prayer and reading the Bible.

Being an “all in” Christian doesn’t mean that we have it all together. Too often, people who aren’t Christians think you have to be perfect to be Christian. This isn’t the case. Christians are like everybody else, except that we have a relationship with Christ.

It’s Important for You to Have the Right Tool for the Job

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And There’s More to the Right Tool Than You Might Think

For those of you that remember the TV sitcom “Home Improvement” you’ll remember Tim ‘the Tool Man’s’ Taylor’s attempts to give “more power” to everything from cars to household appliances and the infamous ‘grunts’ that accompanied this.

Guys love tools. There’s something primal in getting a new tool and learning to use it.

You’ve heard it said, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. I agree this works pretty well. However, I would argue that an even better way is…give him a new power tool.

There is a tool out there for every job, usually more than one. As cool as they all are, they’re worthless if you don’t have them and don’t use them.

The biggest “tool” problem is…the lack of “business BUILDing tools”.

Most “construction guys” would prefer to use a circular saw or screw gun rather than a computer. Paperwork most likely isn’t what they think of when considering tools.

One of the most important tools in the “construction toolbox” is paperwork.

Profitability and the success of the company hinges on the accuracy and knowledge of income and expenses. It requires having the right tools, knowing how to use them, and then actually doing so. 

Some of the tools needed for BUILDing successful construction businesses are sales tools like construction proposals and contracts. Production tools like change orders and payment applications. Financial tools like job tracking, job profit/loss and savings account transfers.

When I started my construction company, I had no tools for BUILDing a business. Like most construction companies, I just guessed. After looking for business BUILDing tools and not finding what I needed…I developed systems that took the guess work out of running a construction company. I’ve been using and refining these tools for more than 35 years.

You can have these same tools by purchasing the Business BUILDing Toolbox (complete with templates, instructions, and examples of the tools). This way you can stop rolling the dice with your profits and take control of your money and your business.

Too often construction companies see the benefits of having tools and systems for their business but aren’t willing to spend the time or money. They can’t see the value. These same people wouldn’t think twice about spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy cordless tool kits or pneumatic nail guns and compressors, not to mention the price of things like skid loaders!

The real question is value…not price.

When considering tools, you should consider the return on your investment. Those power tools that you purchase are going to wear out over time and need to be replaced. The Business BUILDing Tools won’t. You can get the whole toolbox for less than the price of a good quality cordless tool kit and the return on that investment is priceless.

Having the right tools, knowing how to use them, and then actually doing so can be the difference of having a successful company or giving up and going out of business.

You’ve never been afraid of getting a new power tool and learning how to use it. Don’t be afraid of Business BUILDing Tools either.

You can learn more about these tools here or feel free to schedule a free 30-minute construction company consultation.

We are going to be starting a half price Holiday Special on Black Friday (Nov. 24th) with the toolbox price increasing $25 each week through the end of the year. So, be ready to grab your toolbox full of Business BUILDing tools at the sale price before it’s too late. Also, feel free to share this holiday offer with any construction companies that you think could benefit so they can take advantage of the reduced price!

What Does Eating an Elephant One Bite at a Time Mean?

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Eating Something That Big Takes Real Determination

Most of us have heard the saying, “Eat an elephant one bite at a time.” At first glance, this phrase seems a little far out there for those of us in the middle of the United States. It’s not like there’s a lot of elephants around to eat.

This phrase is used when referring to how we can accomplish a large daunting goal through a series of smaller tasks.

A normal serving size of meat is between a half pound and three quarters of a pound. As we all have different sized mouths, it’s hard to know exactly how many bites are in a serving, but 10-15 bites are considered a good serving. In Africa the forest elephants are normally between 5,000 – 6,000 pounds of meat. (Thank you Skyler)

This means to eat an average-sized elephant it will take around…154,000 bites.

We are all faced with large, overwhelming undertakings, some bigger than others. Sonia shared a story about a large endeavor in the children’s message. She told me about a bicycle padlock that her brother had when they were kids. The problem was…nobody in the family knew the combination.

She said there were 10,000 options to finding the right combination with a four number padlock. She started in and after 4500 tries she got it. This was a pretty big elephant and a lot of bites.

This was some real determination.

The key to accomplishing any big task is determination and taking the first step.

This is what Paul was doing in Acts as he continually went from town to town sharing God’s message. It was a big and dangerous undertaking, but he was determined to eat the next bite.

In Acts 20:17-24 he told the people in Ephesus, “You know everything I did during the time I was with you when I first came to Asia. Some of the Jews plotted against me and caused me a lot of sorrow and trouble. But I served the Lord and was humble. When I preached in public or taught in your homes, I didn’t hold back from telling anything that would help you. I told Jews and Gentiles to turn to God and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

I don’t know what will happen to me in Jerusalem, but I must obey God’s Spirit and go there. In every city I visit, I am told by the Holy Spirit that I will be put in jail and will be in trouble in Jerusalem. But I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And this work is to tell the good news about God’s gift of undeserved grace.”

Like Paul we all have a purpose. It may not be preaching like Paul’s but is just as important. It may be the way we treat co-workers and customers; it may be in raising our children; it may be community service. Whatever it is that we’ve been put here to do…

We need to stay the course and keep eating the elephant one bite after another. Start chewing.

How Do You Choose the Right Construction Contractor?

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It’s Like Shopping for the Perfect Christmas Gift

Last week we talked about how a construction project should have the same sense of excitement as opening the perfect gift on Christmas morning. The problem is, more often than not, it’s like getting a stocking full of coal.

A construction project should be a good experience…not a bad one.

We talked about the six things to consider when looking for the builder that’s the right fit for you. There are some other things to consider as well. These things are about what you want.

  • What is the problem(s) or issue(s) that need addressed?
  • Do we need more space for our growing family?
  • What is our budget?

Maybe this construction project is building your dream home.

Determining the reason(s) behind your construction project can help when choosing your construction contractor.

An example of the need for the right professional help is a window project that I was asked about a few years ago.

The customer had a window that was put in in the early ‘90s and the bottom frame of the wood sash was rotting. They contacted the manufacturer’s retail store and met with a sales representative. The rep. told the customer that the problem was hail damage and all the windows needed to be replaced.

The customer received a quote for over $36,000 to replace thirteen windows.

Having done other work for this customer before, they asked my opinion.

I agreed to give the customer a proposal for replacing the windows using the same windows previously quoted. My price was almost $10,000 less for the same work with the same windows.

This was before I even went to look at the project.

Having installed a lot of these windows over my career, I found it hard to believe that all of them needed to be replaced. So, I scheduled a meeting to look at the project.

After looking at it, I determined that of the thirteen windows originally quoted by the manufacturer…only one needed replaced. All the others needed was some interior wood refinishing.

When it was all said and done the customer opted to replace all thirteen windows, and even with some additional staining and painting, the project was just a little over $26,000.

The manufacturer’s quote was a simple one-size-fits-all solution that did not have the customer’s best interest at heart.

It takes experience, knowledge, and a desire to help the customer find the best solution to go beyond one size fits all.

Construction projects can be overwhelming and daunting for customers. The fear of mistakes and making the wrong decisions keeps people from moving forward. Hesitance is a stumbling block that prevents people from enjoying their dream project.

When faced with the opportunity to make a decision, make one. “I understand that God did not put in me the ability to always make right decisions. He did, however, put in me the ability to make a decision and then make it right.” (Andy Andrews, The Traveler’s Gift)

We all have areas in our lives in which we are more skilled or knowledgeable. This is why it’s important to find qualified professionals to guide you through areas where you are less qualified.

One of the biggest challenges with building a dream is getting all parties involved moving the same direction. Too many times these parties are pulling in different directions. Like two horses pulling together as a team can accomplish more, we can do the same. That team of horses need someone to take control of the reigns and give direction.

Guidance is one of the most important things needed to build your dream.

Finding the right builder is like doing a construction project, in that it’s not as scary as it seems if you know what questions to ask and have someone you trust guiding you.

Make your construction project like opening that gift on Christmas morning that you’ve always wanted. It doesn’t have to be a stocking full of coal.

If you’d like to learn more about how to build your dream construction project, check out some of the Building a Dream Project blog posts at Solution Building.

How Can I be Sure That I’m Doing What I’m Supposed to?

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Wouldn’t it be Great if Everything Was Simple and Easy?

It can be hard to figure out if what we’re doing is what we’re supposed to do. Is this the job I’m supposed to have? Is this the direction in life I’m supposed to head? Is this the business I’m supposed to start?

These questions and ones like them can be hard to answer. We struggle with questions like these and many more.

We often second guess ourselves whether we’re making the right decisions.

As we’ve been going through the Book of Acts, there have been multiple times that Jesus’ followers have been questioned, tried, beaten and more. This could be enough to cause them to question if what they were doing is what they were supposed to be doing.

In Acts 18:5-6, the people Paul had been preaching to, turned against him. Then again in verses 12-13, some of the church leaders grab Paul, take him before the governor of Achaia, and accuse him of “trying to make people worship God in a way against our Law!”

If you were in Paul’s shoes, you’d probably be questioning your decisions. But in verses 9-10, Paul receives a message from God in a dream. God tells him to “keep preaching and don’t stop.”

We need clarity of direction like Paul.

Currently our book club is reading Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. As I’m reading it, I’m amazed at his search for his purpose and willingness to stay the course. This isn’t to say that it was crystal clear or without detours and corrections.

Like Paul, the one thing that Bonhoeffer did was to continually focus on God’s calling in his life. This clarity came through reading and studying the Scripture and prayer.

Both men received pressure from friends and people around them to take different and less dangerous paths. Both may have veered but would recenter.

How do we know if what we’re doing is what we’re supposed to be doing?

I received an email recently from Christian business coach, speaker, and author Niccie Kliegl that I think does a great job of explaining how to determine clarity of direction. She shares Matthew 12:22-32 where Jesus heals a blind man by casting out a demon. The Pharisees start accusing Him of using the power of Beelzebul to do this.

Jesus responded by saying, “Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself. So, if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last?… If you are not on my side, you are against me.” 

The two points she makes are…

  1. The Devil won’t attack his own work. If you’re doing what he wants he won’t be attacking what you’re doing. He won’t be working against himself. So, if you’re facing difficulties and struggles…this should tell you that what you’re doing is God inspired.
  2. The Enemy always attacks God’s work. When you’re doing what God has called you to do you will face opposition. If everything is going smoothly it’s a sure sign that you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing.

On the surface it can seem a little backward. Shouldn’t things be simple and easy if we’re doing the right thing? We need to remember that we live in a fallen world and that’s what Satan wants us to think.

Embrace the difficulties and keep pushing forward.

How Your Home Building Experience Can Feel Like the Holidays

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And I Don’t Mean Getting a Stocking Full of Coal

The weather is getting cooler, and Halloween has come and gone. This means the holiday season is upon us. Some people like this time of the year more than others, and I get that.

It’s a little like a home construction project. Different people have had different construction experiences…some good and some not so much. The problem with construction is that there are more bad experiences than good, and it shouldn’t be this way.

A home construction project should be like Christmas.

Each day building up excitement of opening a present on Christmas morning as the project progresses. Or the warm, comfortable feeling of sitting in front of a fire with a blanket, hot chocolate, family and friends after the project is finished.

We know what to expect when getting gifts from friends and family. You should have the same sense of trust and comfort when working with a construction company.

I remember one time when I called a customer to give them the production schedule for their construction project, they were relieved to hear from us. They hadn’t heard from us since we met to sign paperwork and get their first payment a few days earlier.

They were concerned that we had taken their money and weren’t coming back.

We’ve all heard the stories of the “storm chasers” that came through town after a storm. They get money for material and then never come back to do the work.

Or what about the guy that was laid off from ‘his job’? He has a pickup, a hammer, and a skill saw. Heck, he built a deck for his buddies’ cousin.

Oh, and don’t forget the kid that worked for a contractor for a couple of months and got fired because he wouldn’t show up to work. He’s now an ‘experienced contractor’.

I read a study years ago that ranked building contractors below used car salesmen. This is not to say that all used car salesmen are bad, but they have, over the years had a stigma of…shall we say…not being the most honest and trustworthy.

For builders to have been ranked below them was very confusing and a little disturbing. I then realized that I viewed my customers differently than most builders.

For me, my customers aren’t just customers, a project, or a way to earn money. They’re friends. When considering what it costs to have a construction project done…

Having a contractor who’s looking out for your needs and has your back is better than hiring someone who just sees you as a paycheck.

As a customer, it’s important to find a builder that will help you make your construction dreams a reality and has your best interests at heart.

To do this you need to know what to look for, so you can find the right builder for you. Here are six things I would recommend when considering which builder, you should hire. –

  1. Word of mouth – This is the best form of advertising. Find someone that you know and trust that has had a building project done. Ask them who they used and what their experience was like. This will give you a view from someone who is independent of the industry with nothing to gain.
  • References – Don’t be afraid to ask builders for references. This is a variation of ‘word of mouth’ to find references in addition to people that you know. A builder should be able to supply you with 3-5 names of past customers that you can follow up with. If not, you should proceed with extreme caution.
  • Professionalism – The level of professionalism will vary between contractors. There is not one specific style or level of professionalism that should be used in every instance. What you want is to know that this builder takes what they are doing seriously. You should be concerned if you get a hand-written estimate on a napkin.
  • Experience – This comes with time. Not every qualified builder has years and years of experience, but the more years, the more experience. You don’t want to hire that ‘experienced contractor’ I referred to earlier that was fired for not showing up to work.
  • Communication – Even small and simple projects require communication. Of course, the bigger and more complex the project the more important it is to communicate. In today’s world there are all sorts of ways to do this. The specifics of how aren’t as important as the doing it is.
  • Compatibility – This is the bottom line when it comes to determining who to use. Depending on what is important to you, what your focus is for your project. Find a builder that shares those core values. Each one of us is different. Take the time to get informed and find the best fit for you.

Too many times I’ve become aware of construction projects going badly, leaving customers feeling abused and abandoned. I have heard too many people say the worst experience of their life was a construction project.

A construction project should be one of the best experiences of life, not one of the worst.

Walking onto your finished construction project should feel warm and cozy…like coming home for the holidays.

How Do We Fill the God Shaped Hole in Our Lives?

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That’s Easy…We put God in it

I loved doing jigsaw puzzles growing up (and still do for that matter). I remember when getting near the end of a puzzle the level of excitement would begin to ramp up. In the accelerated push to get it finished more people would get involved. In the rush, often a piece would get lost.

If you’ve ever done a jigsaw puzzle, you know how frustrating it is to get to the last piece…and you can’t find it anywhere. This is the same frustration we experience when feeling that something is missing in our lives.

Often in life we try to fill the hole where the missing piece belongs with things like drugs, work, love, alcohol, perfection, etc. Not all of these are bad. Some are actually good, but when we try to force one of them into the hole where the missing piece belongs, things just don’t fit.

Finding the missing piece and putting it in makes the picture complete.

In Acts 17:16-34 Paul was in Athens, a city full of idols. The people worshipped all types of different things. One of the idols had an alter with the words, “To an unknown god”. Paul pointed out that they were worshipping so many things that they didn’t even know what they were worshipping.

Like the people in Athens, we tend to worship too many wrong things.

Paul went on to tell them about the unknown God. “This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn’t live in temples built by human hands. He doesn’t need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people. From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn’t far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are.”

We naturally have a feeling of being incomplete or inadequate, and this leads to looking for that missing piece. The problem is that if we don’t know what the piece is or make the effort to look for it…then we’ll never find it.

The hole in our lives can only be filled with the one and only piece that fits it. Finding God and putting Him in the empty spot makes our lives complete.

Why Choose Trick over Treat…Isn’t Treat the Better Choice?

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You Would Think So, But Construction Companies Do It All The Time

Halloween is almost here. Most of us have done trick or treating as kids. You know, that tradition where children dress up in costumes and go from house to house asking for treats with the phrase “trick or treat”.

The “treat” is usually some form of candy/sweets, although it might be some other small gift. The “trick” refers to a threat, usually an idle one, to perform mischief on the resident(s) or their property if no treat is given. 

Sure, there’s some cost to buying the candy and it requires some time to answer the door and pass out candy, but given the choice…

As a property owner…a treat seems like the better choice.

If the treat is the better choice, why do construction companies continually insist on tricks?

I’ve written a lot about construction companies being scared to do things differently. They’re stuck in the rut of “we’ve always done it this way”. Trying to build your dream business this way is like being in a horror movie.

Everything is predictable. Rather than doing something different, they hide in the basement, the attic or behind the chainsaws, when they could just get in the running car.

Hiding behind chainsaws is what most construction companies do. They choose the discomfort of the known trick, over the uncertain treat.

I don’t think these companies started out hoping to have unhappy customers, or not have enough money to pay the bills, or to be working 70-80 hours a week for minimum wage.

The reason most construction businesses are stuck here is fear. They are afraid that trying something different might not work. They choose the discomfort of the known over the unknown.

It doesn’t have to be this way!

This is why over 30 years ago I decided that I wasn’t going to hide behind the chainsaws anymore and I got in the running car (okay, really it was truck).

Did everything I try work…no. Was it scary…yes. But I didn’t stop, I kept trying until it did. Then I worked on it some more to make it better. And then I started working on a new and different business tool or system.

This is where I figured out the 5-step business BUILDing process. I BECAME AWARE that what I was doing wasn’t working. Then as I researched, I began to UNDERSTAND the problems. Next, I compiled INFORMATION about what was needed and began IMPLEMENTING new tools and systems into my business. The more I used these tools, the more I LEARNED and the easier it became. This process led to BUILDing my DREAM business.

The great thing is, YOU don’t have to go through the long, hard, and scary process to build your dream construction business by yourself.

You can get the tools and systems that we use by going to the Business BUILDing Toolbox and get started quicker, and it’s less scary. If you would like to learn more about these tools and systems, check out the 5-step Business BUILDING Process. To learn more about how these business tools and systems can help you build your dream business, schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Set yourself apart from your competition by choosing the treat over the trick.

What Does Being a Light in a Dark World Look Like?

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It Can be as Simple as a Candle Lit on a Dark Night

If you watch the news, follow social media, or talk to any other living person, it’s hard to not be overcome with the darkness in the world today. This foreboding feeling of darkness can be depressing. Darkness is nothing new, but there certainly seems to be a lot of it going on currently.

When things are darkest is when we need to let our light shine.

What does it mean to let your light shine?

If you’ve ever spent any time in or around a church you’ve probably heard about letting your light shine. This is a common topic throughout the Bible. I quickly counted over forty verses referring to light in the darkness.

In the beginning God said, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3-5) God led the Israelites in the desert with a light. (Exodus 13:21-22)

It’s interesting how the whole light in the darkness example makes such perfect sense.

One of the examples of the impact light has on darkness is a candle in a dark place. The small flame on that little candle makes a huge difference in the dark. And then if you use the first candle to light another one, the two small flames are pushing the darkness back. The more we use our candle to light other candles the brighter things get.

We share our light by living our lives using God’s word as our blueprint.

The sharing of this light can come through holding a door open for someone, giving someone encouragement, being honest and supportive when people need direction, or serving others through how we act and live.

As we’ve been going through Acts, we’ve seen Saul be struck blind by a “Bright Light” and then he turned his life around and began sharing that light with others. In Acts 13:47 Paul shares that he was “placed here as a light…”

Let’s be a light in the darkness to those around us.

This light doesn’t have to be big. It can be a small flickering candle lighting other candles around us.