Waterlogged Millionaire
by Simon Frigon published on March 22, 2017
When people ask me: “Hey Simon what do you do for a living anyways?” I usually respond with a ~ ‘’it’s complicated… what version do you want, the short “work” version or the long “living” version.’’ If they’re looking for the “work” version I simply say: “Our team and I operate a 3rd generation property disaster restoration family business. When homeowners have a flood or fire in their home at 2 am they call their insurance company and from there we are sent a claim assignment via our smartphones to attend, extract water, dry in place and rebuild to pre-loss condition. And their response goes a bit like this: “oh ya like the guys with the yellow trucks” … and I pause… Ya sure.
Now if they want the longer “living” version it goes a bit like this…: Our team and I run 2 companies side by side. The first one being the DR company that does the insurance “work” …. The second is a REinvestment group of companies which is made possible thanks to all the hard “work” of my property disaster restoration team.
Our urgent property damage `work` is the lifeblood that allows us to ‘’live’’ up to our vision of : Rebuilding Environments by Design with the REinvestment group of companies. One can NOT live (Thrive) without the other.
From the top down and spanning three generations of our family business, Our REinvestment team and I share a passion for locating, acquiring developing vacant land. This can be both residential or commercial land and they are almost always difficult, challenging, unique parcels of land that requires extraordinary patience and an eye for unique adaptation. What began with the rebuilding and crafting of estate properties as stone artisans in the 50’s — has grown into a Design Build slash Rebuild group of companies with an exceptional revenue stream.
See the thing is, insurance mitigation ‘’work’ ’isn’t what it used to be in terms of profitability and that’s ok. The industry has become performance based and time sensitive so why fight it. Instead, I say use it in a + way. When it comes to the bottom line one can no longer look at each individual job instead we must look at the overall account. Today’s water mitigation ‘’work’’ is still as important as it was in 1980 when my father founded the co. and that’s why we continue to strive towards award winning performance based mitigation service but what the REinvestment group of companies does is design build commercial rental properties to create a revenue stream that allows us to REinvest in the DR “work” company to make it more efficient and most importantly sustainable.
I’ve learned that it’s best to concentrate on things we can control. A figurative drip, drip, drip. Showing up, every single day, gaining in strength which in turn allows me more time to acquire new ideas, concepts and organize for the long haul.
Building on our 10 year vision of Rebuilding Environment by Design, laying track hashtag TRAILBLAZING — this difficult work is how you design build a rock solid foundation.
So how does this connect to the waterlogged millionaire you ask? Let me explain the correlation
The waterlogged millionaire concept is enabling REinvestments in what’s important. It’s realizing the importance of what’s considered URGENT but driven by design with what is truly IMPORTANT.
To most people the word “waterlogged” has a negative connotation but to the design rebuild craftsman it can a source of inspiration in his or her road to success. In it’s most natural form a waterlogged or REclaimed piece of lumber wouldn’t look like much to most people.
The wood comes out and it looks like that, it looks like debris. In reality the water’s unique chemistry brings out unexpected textures. It turns out, the quality of reclaimed waterlogged timber is actually enhanced during its long stay underwater because much of the resin had leached out.
Fact, anyone can go to his local lumber yard and purchase wood. It’s affordable, quick & easy to purchase and install. On the flip side REclaimed timber is the complete opposite. It’s harder to locate, complex to install but the finish product is not only “to die for” it also gives every project it’s own unique trademark.
Urgent WORK vs. Important LIVING
The great author Seth Godin thought me an important lesson. We all know we should be focusing on the long-term journey, on building out our master plan but instead most disaster restoration companies focus on urgent things, all justifiable, all requiring your undivided attention. And so we do, pushing off the important in favor of the urgent. The path of least resistance is always easiER and if we’re not making our margins it’s easiER to find creative ways to make them. BIG MISTAKE
Of course, everyone has this challenge, but in my experience heading up the Canadian Disaster Restoration Group for the last 13 years and the RedTeam going on 20 years less than 20% manage to get past it.
The reason we go for urgent is that it makes us feel competent. We’re good at it. It’s comfortable.
Important, on the other hand, is less tangible and filled with uncertainty and with the risk of failure.
Once again, the waterlogged millionaire concept is realizing the importance of what is considered URGENT but driven by design with what is truly IMPORTANT to you.
Simon Storm Frigon
Third Generation Design Rebuild Craftsman | CEO @ cdrg+RedTeam | Rebuilding Environments by Design #Rebuild4Life
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