This really is the key to figuring out just what it is that you truly want and will be happy with over the long haul. First you’ll want to do a whole bunch of research… collect pictures, articles and info which have qualities you would like for yourself. (get yourself a folder, binder or another way to organize the info you’ll collect)

• Magazines
• Library
• Google
• Books
• Talk to your friends
• Ask professional experts
• Visit stores
• Attend seminars
• Go to trade shows

Every time you add a piece of info, note, picture, etc. to your binder,

Ask yourself the following questions:

    A. How does ____________ make me feel?

    B. What exactly makes me feel this way?

Jot down your responses to these questions without over-analyzing, so you will get better results from your research. Because writing things down gives you something to refer to in the future, makes your thought/feeling concise, and helps reveal the boiled-down, underlying force behind what you want or what you've been looking for.

Example 1:

    A. This picture makes me feel like life is in control, I’ve got a solid place to live. (jot down control-stability-security)

    B. The warm lights, the fireplace and clean organized atmosphere.

Example 2:

    A. This picture makes me feel anticipation and happiness.

    B. The people seem so content, the beam style is bulky (just what I’ve been looking for), and I would love to share something like this with my friends for spring & summer lunches.

After you have consistently jotted down your reactions/feelings about pictures, articles, books, ideas, etc. that you like, you will have developed a wide, solid database about who you are and what you like. This is good because you will be able to communicate your vision better to your spouse, your service provider or anyone who will help you move towards your goal.

(Adding dislikes into the mix can help clarify your desires and aid communication, just use the negative power sparingly) Next you’ll want some quick ways to get fast, painless, ball park prices without eating up a bunch of your time.

You’ve got a choice of:

• Getting a complete detailed bid.
• Asking for a basic square foot price.
• Asking a friend what they paid for their project.
• Asking your timber framer what the cost was for such and such gate, house, truss, etc.

Of the 4 choices, asking a friend or acquaintance how much their timber frame cost them is probably your best bet because they’ll be able to tell you all of the costs associated with getting their dream… roofing, tile, painting and everything without any fear of chasing you off.

They’ll also be able to tell you what they were extremely happy with and what they would do differently next time. (If you need someone else to talk to I can hook you up with past clients… and they had better give you the whole truth and nothing but the truth!)
A friend or third party is also very good for setting goals and implementing a plan, because you get to experience the timber living and you can see yourself enjoying the same thing that your friends have.

The next best option is to ask about a certain package, plan or past project. (Usually viewed on the internet or seen around town, or viewed at trade show) This is a quick way to see the product and get a proven price – The weak point is the potential grey areas, what does it include & exclude etc.

The 3rd option is just an average sq. ft. price – the grey area is huge, huge, huge, but is good for general numbers give or take $50,000 for a completed home.

The last option is very time consuming and tedious for both parties. This is real close to a contract, because it is a customized bid. Many questions to answer and specifics to think about, but is very good for goal setting and getting started, because it is so detail specific that you can taste your future living.

Read the Elusive Dream Story and get acquainted with the “Master Method Formula” that John & Lisa use to solve problems and reach their goals.

Est. Time: 1 Hr.

(Be aware – its a little bit serendipitous [story book ending], but portrays the “Master Method Formula” very well.)

Set your goals and create your fluid, flexible plan to overcome obstacles and get where you want to go step by step using the “Master Method Formula” DVD. Send me an email to request your Master Method DVD. (Master Method can be applied to virtually any situation including Step #1)

Here is where you get a bunch of ideas for getting and keeping your motivation. I’ll close with a tangible and personal guarantee.

    A. Tell as many people as possible about your goal and when you plan to achieve it. Don’t be afraid of looking stupid or failure. Tell your friend, your family, co-workers, neighbors, baby-sitter; everybody. If you really want some staying power… tell somebody that you really look up to and respect. As you can see, the more people you tell, the more you will see and believe, the more your goal becomes reality.

    B. Hang-out with people who share enthusiasm for the ambience and sturdiness of timber framing. Consider becoming an Arrow Member, because you will get good, solid, info straight into your inbox. Expect an article/video to be enthusiastic and give you info to make better decisions. Regularity should be about once a month. +/-

    C. For those of you without budget constraints, your biggest challenge may be how to aquire a cabin or home that has some staying power.

• Something that you will always cherish.
• Something that will never become boring.
• Something that will always make you feel good.

To attain these qualities you will want to figure out how you can give a substantial piece of yourself to the creation process. (Keep an eye out for the next arcticle, "How To Personalize And Get Involved In The Building Of Your Home Without Driving Your Contractor Crazy.")

    D. Boil your goal down to a short sentence and write it down daily - As you know, the reason anything is achieved is because we believe it can be done... Also the more something is written, said, and repeated, the more likely we are to believe it. (I'm sure you can think of many examples... WMD???) This is probably the simplest form of positive reinforcement available - so you'll want to take a minute a day to nurture your can do attitude with this tip.

    E. Don't be afraid to look silly... I have to admit that this is a particularly sensitive spot for me... It fuels my fear of failure, it can prevent me from being myself in a group, and really is a nuisance in a lot of other ways.

I'm sure none of you let this fear of looking bad affect your life as much as I do, but I'll share some tricks that I use on myself to counteract the negative effects this little troll brings about.

Here is a sage piece of advice which can be very comforting after a disappointment. "If you want to live your life mistake free, you really should just stay in bed." (This is what my father would tell me after chewing me out for a mistake.)

One thing that keeps me going is the fear of quitting! So if I can focus on how bad it would feel to quit, the fear of looking bad diminishes a lot...

This was very obvious when I was learning to speak Finnish as a twenty year old... Very many humiliating situations... However, the situation was embarrassing only if I felt uncomfortable! If I was enthused rather then embarrassed those around me felt enthused.

I'm sure you've all experienced a situation similar to this (Have you ever been embarrassed for a public speaker who was uncomfortable?)

Perhaps the most important, is the prayer to stay small... Small in my own opinion. I have noticed an increase of problems in my life whenever I grow big in my own estimation, along with increased fear of looking bad/fear of failure.