SSOct08

SAW BUCKS: TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS

The Only Forum to Put Sawyers in the Drivers Seat

At last there’s a new forum out there geared up for sawmill
operators and it looks like “Saw Bucks” is just what the
doctor ordered. Focused on sawmills and all aspects of the
trade, Sawyers take the lead instead of being a secondary
topic section like other sites where milling is not the main
stream content but just a spin off. After seeing how each
section addresses all the inner workings of a sawmill
operation it becomes clear this is something new. No where
can you find a place that puts the Sawyers at the front of the
pack instead of a smaller group that is overshadowed by a
crowed forum. This down to earth group is not flashing fancy
ads from sponsors but instead real people talking about
real world methods, tools and techniques.
See for yourself, visit Saw Bucks at:
http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

Saw Bucks, the sawmill forum for everyone interested in sawmills,
trees, woodworking and the stewardship of our natural resources.

Logs in the burn pile
There is a growing number of logs
available from city tree crews and
county dumps. The logs in the photo
above would certainly be burned if it
were not for the efforts of Saw Bucks
member Papa1stuff who notes “While
I wait to have logs loaded , I salvaged
a few 2x4s & 2x6s. There is probably
enough plywood in this pile to panel a
small house!!“. With resources like
this headed to the burn pile Urban
Sawyers have the opportunity to
capitalize and stockpile lumber for a
rainy day. More

Members Put Their Mill on the Map
Now its easy to put your mill on the map too! Visit the Saw
Bucks Members Map and place your sawmill information for
all to see. This new map allows visitors and members to
locate mills all around the world.

Videos Go Live
Another new addition to Saw Bucks is the easy to use video
feature for placing your moving pictures on any post. Weather
you use youtube or googleviedo its simple and fast to show your
mill in action. See Mill Videos

Five Quick Tips to Thrive in Today's Tough Times
Tip One: Use todays hardships as a chance to lean your business and personal finances.
Now is a perfect time to look closely at your expenses and trim, cut, prune, and diminish where you can.
Your personal finances are your cost of living, or in the case of your business, your business's cost of
operating.
This might include negotiating with your vendors for better pricing on logs, blades or shipping and
delivery. or getting on a better calling plan with your cell phone provider (a friend of mine saved close to
$1,100 a year by consolidating all his family's cell phones to a better plan.)

Tip Two: Forget about your expenses.
I know this one contradicts tip one, but what I mean is once you've made your cuts, don't obsess about
them. If you live your life immersed in stressing over your expenses you'll never create the financial
successes you want. Instead, spend some concentrated time getting your spending in alignment with
your best interests, and then focus all your working attention on growth and growing your business,
finding great investments in tools, support equipment or low prices (free) on logs. You'll want to regularly
review your expenses, but don't lose sight of the fact that you need to play offense too!

Tip Three: Reach out to your peer group.
In tough times it's quite common that people withdraw and go it alone. This is not only painful and lonely,
but downright dumb. It's in tough times that your peers need you and you need your peers. Together you
can keep your focus on the positive, on what you can do to move forward towards your goals, and to hold
each other accountable. Of course this assumes that you have a positive peer group of doers. If not, I
URGE you to do whatever it takes to create one. Whether that be join your local business club, Chamber
of Commerce or become an active member of Saw Bucks. You need to get yourself around positive and
ambitious go getters.

Tip Four: Focus on creating value and serving others.
No matter what is going on in the world you will always be rewarded in direct proportion to the value and
service you share with the world. So focus on creating value, and on serving others. Not only will this help
you shift your focus to positive places you can make a difference, but it will also stabilize your position
and ultimately help you grow your business.
Tip Five: Remember to give thanks.

You are already a HUGE winner in life's economic lottery. You live in an abundant society. You will never
have to go hungry or sleep without shelter. Take time to DAILY focus on the 10 things you are most
grateful for, and where appropriate, tell the other people how you feel to have them sharing your life.

I hope these suggestions help you to maintain your focus and to use these current times to grow from.

Sawdust and Splinters

Promoting Sustainable
Forest Management