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... He had found local craftsmen and artisans to build a den and master bedroom s...erally dozens of trees. The original builder had the vision to plant these tre...

... WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HOW YOU DID IT UP NORTH!" That bumper sticker provided the impetus to make us realize that although Good to Great and/or Built to Last were powerful tools that could be used to meet my friend's challenge. On a practical level, however, they were overkill. The addition to his my friend's home is beautiful. He had found local craftsmen and artisans to build a den and master bedroom suite that would rival any such additions by the biggest, and best international contractor. My wheels were starting to turn. He could have found and could have afforded such a mega-contractor, but he didn't. He will end up with a better addition, more control over the process and results, and more personal satisfaction by completing this project with local talent ... Values, a Mission, and Standards. To get to my friend's house you cross a railroad track. There are probably 50 to 60 houses on the single road that is this subdivision. The land was once a sugar cane field so there are no trees except for those that formed the fence row. The one exception is my friend's lot. It has literally dozens of trees. The original builder had the vision to plant these trees and my friend and his spouse had the vision and discipline to maintain them when they really were out of place in the subdivision. His yard is different in a subdivision built on sameness. As you drive down this road you see houses that vary in price from $100,000 to to-$500,000. Before the addition my friend's ...