Disqus - Latest Comments for chubred00

Re: The Resilient Farm and Homestead – A Review

Jake Olson — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 01:34:33 -0000

@Dianna Kasprzak that's a great idea about adding perennial flowers - would you think that early September is still a good time for transplanting perennials? I had feared that by the time we get back to the US, it'd be way too late for any such things.
We love composting - but in the end, it doesn't result in a ton of material. That was another area where Falk's book just wasn't practical for the homeowner - his composting operations are so complex and multilayered systems.

I love the idea of seeking old garden tools at fleamarkets!

Re: How to Win Friends and Influence People – By Dale Carnegie

Jake Olson — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 01:29:24 -0000

My pleasure - it's a book I'd really recommend - very easy reading and profound concepts

Re: Books of the Summer (Part 1)

Jake Olson — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 17:24:57 -0000

Thanks for the recommendation Luke. Sounds like a great study

Re: Book Review Friday: My Top Ten Favorite Business Books

Jake Olson — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 02:22:07 -0000

are any of these particularly well suited to audiobook listening?

Re: An Idiot-Proof Guide to Doing Business with Friends

Jake Olson — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 14:23:58 -0000

Thanks Robert! that's very wise. Love your blog.

Re: An Idiot-Proof Guide to Doing Business with Friends

Jake Olson — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:33:08 -0000

What do you think when there's a mismatch between what a company can pay and what the friend contractor is worth. I have a friend who's a high-caliber graphic designer and another who is an amazing Wordpress coder. Our company generally operates on more of a shoestring budget, hiring amateurs or off-shoring for these kind of things, so I pretty much always assume I can't afford these guys because their work is so high quality and client lists so impressive, but at certain times on certain projects, I think I should at least give them a chance to turn it down.

Re: Who’s on Your Team? How Leaders Build Dream Teams… Or Blow It Big Time

Jake Olson — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 12:05:36 -0000

Tracy, this is such a valuable article. I have a question. How do you approach hiring for jobs that would not be appropriate for an "A-Player" I need to hire someone to help me with the more menial things of the small company I work for. Honestly, it's hard to see a future beyond part time at 10-12$/hour in this position. How do you inspire this kind of vision for the greeter at the door and the guy who cleans the floor? How do you hire for those positions that will rarely flourish into a satisfying career?

Re: Not Quite A Sob Story

Jake Olson — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 09:06:55 -0000

I think there's something to the second sentence there. I went from being a laser-focused fan to being to being someone who visits the site when I think of it and catch up on videos then. What changed? The focus was no longer specifically on Minnesota. I think that's fine. You have a broader audience, now, that's implicitly less focused. There's a trade-off there for you as producers, I think. I'm sure the first season connected very deeply with Minnesota and Western WI people, but that's a small population obviously. That said, the second and third seasons continue to connect deeply with me. I can't wait to see your Turkey trip!

on the second thing (below) and the vibe in the comments about questioning someone's motives and relationship with with Intrepid Travel and a desire to find a broader audience. Daniel, I just want to encourage you to keep doing what you do as long and fund it in any ethical way you can find! For God's sakes, you have to make a living somehow, and selling or trading for advertising space is a great way to do it, especially if it's a company you love.

You're living a dream life, creating amazing videos that you're able to give away freely and you're not encumbered by the need to work a 9 to five for the man. You get to do it with the woman you love. That's really awesome. I know it's hard work, but it's the type of hard work so many of us long to do. I commend you and Mirra for the lives you're living.

Re: Lisa Earle McLeod Interview

Jake Olson — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:37:47 -0000

Hi Chris, I'd love to get access to that video. I'm realizing these days that success in my long term future will depend on my ability and ambition to sell with integrity. I was really challenged by interviews I recently heard with Daniel Pink when he was on Social Triggers ( http://socialtriggers.com/t... ) and look forward to seeing selling as a major component to how I can add value to my employer in the new year and crush it in my developing side-business.

Re: Top 5 Episodes for November 2012

Jake Olson — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:01:47 -0000

well, I hate to say this, because I am also a man of faith, and have travelled extensively with ministry groups overseas (I served overseas in Turkey for 2 1/2 years with Campus Crusade) and I expected to really enjoy the conversation with your minister about the missions trip he'd been on. Unfortunately I just wasn't feelin' it. But like I said, I've thoroughly enjoyed all of the other conversations. My fav besides Andy Traub's was the one with the micro entrepreneur guy with the food business in Minneapolis. Very cool ideas.

Re: Top 5 Episodes for November 2012

Jake Olson — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:24:42 -0000

Marc, your Andy Traub interview drew me in and I've loved almost every episode I've listened to since. I manged to find 1 boring one... but I think I've listened to 15 awesome ones! Great average if you ask me. Thanks to AT for the recommendation. I love the Minnesota connection too. Keep up the good work. This is a great podcast!

Re: #028: Become More Productive by Reengineering Your Morning Ritual [Podcast]

Jake Olson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:56:53 -0000

I'm curious Michael, (and other commenters,) how do you fend off sleep during your "be still" time. There's nothing I want more than unhurried time with God first thing in the morning, but I find I'm dozing off whenever I try to enact that discipline.

Re: Untitled

Jake Olson — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:09:11 -0000

Thanks Jean, We're keeping our fingers crossed, but the bathroom is actually costing less than I expected so far. We'll know the final tab in a few days. You're right though, the trips to the lumberyard, hardware store and menards are certianly more than expected

Re: Untitled

Jake Olson — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:07:57 -0000

Good point Aldemir, the floors in Turkey are already nice flat concrete, so no subflooring would be needed. I am concerned about the water though. I'm going to use a silicone caulking to seal between the tiles and around the tub, etc

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:18:29 -0000

Hope to have you up to do a workin and hangin out afternoon some time. I also hope to have a good fire pit set up soon.

Re: Why Buy a Cheap Home?

Jake Olson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 23:17:15 -0000

Thanks Kevin, I'm definitely glad we did tile under everything. Going around the toilet and vanity would have been a pain. The painting did go quite fast.

Re: Why Buy a Cheap Home?

Jake Olson — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 09:24:51 -0000

Yea, a count myself lucky that I was living abroad while the "bubble" was growing at such an unsustainable pace. I would have gotten caught up in the craze. it sounds like Financial peace University will be offered in our community here in Mora this fall, so I'm really hoping me and Rana can take it together.

Re: Why Buy a Cheap Home?

Jake Olson — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:43:04 -0000

Good to hear something good is finally coming from this stressed economy. It's crazy that we're able to get into a house so affordable.

Re: Who is Jake Olson?

Jake Olson — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:41:40 -0000

Thanks Aaron! and thanks for the prodding on "following" the blog. This theme is giving me fits trying to set up an RSS feed through feedburner! Hard to build a following without it!

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:49:48 -0000

Thanks for stopping by shadman

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:51:48 -0000

That sounds great Mandy, I remember talking with you. We had a mutural Turkey connection, right? It would be great to get to know you guys better... and I know the perfect way - there are sure to be a few more low cost houses on our street opening up very soon in the "very affordable" price range, come and join us in Mora. (I know of one death and one foreclosure)

My blog post today was about why we decided to buy a "cheap" house. Check it out. Good food for thought while looking for a home www.mnhometown.com/2012/09/...

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:05:41 -0000

Hopefully we'll be able to get you guys up for a little bonfire and a couple beers before it gets too cold... if Carlos isn't too busy with the campaign.

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:04:39 -0000

Good question Mel. Having an attached Garage was pretty much a deal breaker for Rana because she wants to be able to get in the car without walking in the cold in the mornings. I think we'll be better off expanding by transforming the basement in the short term future and then adding on in the LT future.

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:52:31 -0000

Thanks Beth, I'll have to take you up on that. Did you guys end up moving again since we visited you last? We look forward to seeing you guys some time this fall. Let me know if you ever happen to be in town.

Re: A Little House on Maple Lane.

Jake Olson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:38:18 -0000

Adrienne, you relate to the biggest part of this... no access to affordable cleaning ladies. In Turkey, we never had to do any serious cleaning, cause we could have a lady come in for under $20 and clean the whole house in under a half day. Yea... this is a huge benefit to a smaller house.