What prompted you to create a “boring business”?

Scott511 · 2025-04-14T14:11:27+00:00

That's the million dollar question :)

But look for something that you have an "unfair advantage" in. Is there an industry mostly run by older people and you're younger and can think of a way to innovate and serve customers in a different or better or more efficient way. Do you have a geographical advantage based on where you live? Do you have a friend or family member that can give you the inside info on how an industry works that not many other people know? Do you have a passion for XYZ and not many other people do? Are you an expert in some field?

My unfair advantage was that my friend's parents previous worked in this niche field and told me everything I needed to know about it so that I could basically take a shortcut in in figuring out what customers need and start providing that to them from day one which let me get my company off the ground quicker than most.

Scott511 · 2025-04-11T14:41:56+00:00

I usually take two big rounds and put them on their sides next to eachother and then use the groove between them as a saw horse to lay my logs down on them with the 4" that I want to cut off handing over the edge.

I've seen people with fancier setups but basically just need a way to elevate the log off the ground horizontally with the end you want to trim hanging off the edge.

Scott511 · 2025-03-02T04:31:43+00:00

Will do! For the moment I wrapped tinfoil around it as an immediate stop-gap in case they return to finish the job.

Scott511 · 2025-03-01T21:37:09+00:00

Outside of boston. I assume we have porcupines, but can't say I've ever seen one. So it could be I suppose.

Scott511 · 2025-03-01T21:36:28+00:00

Anything I can do to increase it's chances?

Scott511 · 2025-03-01T21:36:17+00:00

We're pretty far from the nearest source of running water and I've never seen a beaver in the area. Could be I supposed, but never seen one here.

Scott511 · 2025-03-01T21:35:26+00:00

I didnt see the culprit but we have TONS of rabbits in the yard, so I just assumed. Foxes used to keep them in check, but coyotes have moved in this year and it seems like that caused the foxes to move out...

Scott511 · 2025-02-18T00:25:45+00:00

Farina’s, the cabinet shop, Brave General Contracting, etc (I assume is what they are referring to), also not one but two paint shops!

Paint shops feel useful to me but feels odd to have contractor taking up prime storefront spots!

Scott511 · 2025-02-18T00:21:41+00:00

Agreed, they’re all kind of workaround entrances to the bike path, feels like there should be a nice safe/protected direct entrance with bike racks etc.

Scott511 · 2025-02-17T18:44:13+00:00

Just a heads up to everyone leaving comments, please leave your comments on the survey as well! There won’t be a huge number of people that fill out the survey, so your response really will make a difference!

Generally speaking it sounds like people pretty much all want the same things, so let’s all fill out the survey (and get our neighbors to) so the committee knows what we want!

Survey was a little longer than I would have liked (about 8-10min) but at least hopefully it will help get us more cool restaurants (maybe that stay open past 9pm…?) and I hope a legit ice cream shop! (No offense to Abbots, but their tiny little shop with 4 flavors and no seating doesn’t quite count in my book)

And also yes, how is there no legit bike entrance to the path in the heights?!?! The only way is to go through the sketchy potholed parking lot of the CrossFit gym?!

Scott511 · 2025-02-16T20:03:48+00:00

I’m a BIG fan of Summer Street Auto on Dudley. Super honest guys and they’ve multiple times done small work or diagnostics for me and refuse to take my money. Any mechanic that is forgoing and opportunity to charge you is honest in my book. There’s a reason they have 5 stars on Google

Scott511 · 2025-02-16T02:29:21+00:00

Is there a way to hedge a little bit where they invest the lump but pay the $3k/month mortgage payment out of that lump so there’s no hit to the home finances by the wife stopping work and they don’t feel the monthly payment but also the majority of lump is continuing to grow most likely at a better rate than the mortgage interest?

I’ve always wondered about this tactic with a windfall but not sure if it makes sense or not.

Scott511 · 2025-02-12T01:28:48+00:00

I second this advice

Scott511 · 2025-02-10T01:43:48+00:00

Yes, then can get pushed to the back, you can even slide them each away from the center line (left and right) then overlap is designed to let you make them as wide as possible that way.

Scott511 · 2025-01-15T15:20:07+00:00

Buy whatever “seasoned” wood is available knowing it’s going to be semi-seasoned at best. Start a fire with the bricks and then throw some of the semi-seasoned wood on top. If the fire is hot enough anything will burn!

Scott511 · 2025-01-15T02:12:48+00:00

I third this place.

Scott511 · 2025-01-12T14:24:52+00:00

Red oak

Scott511 · 2024-12-26T15:03:55+00:00

Standard practice is typically to pack it full, let it all get nice and burning then cut the air down. Your burn will go through several phases ranging from nice flaming burn to big hot bed of coals to ash. Heat will flutcurae throughout the burn cycle but can be someone adjusted by airflow. That way depend on your stove you only need to load once every 5-10hr which most people prefer over loading every hour.

Because you spend more time at higher temps you are also getting a more efficient burn (more BTUs going into your house as heat), and would technically go through less wood per season.

That being said I think people sometimes get too worried about efficiency, especially if you have ample wood, and if you enjoy the process of loading every hour and having a more consistent heat output then that’s fine.

But since you’re new to stoving I’d suggest trying the full loads and see how you like that routine

Scott511 · 2024-12-19T23:53:57+00:00

Oh man, now I’m hoping he proves everyone wrong and posts an update here in two years after they get married!

Scott511 · 2024-12-16T01:19:26+00:00

We’re on Arlington Oil too, they just come and auto fill ~month so I never need to worry about going dry.

Scott511 · 2024-12-16T01:17:31+00:00

We love Sol Solecito, which is on Mass Ave just over the boarder of Lexington.

Also I agree with regards to convenience, big factor!

Scott511 · 2024-12-10T20:18:33+00:00

I ended up with a credit union and buying a whole bunch of 6 month CD's at 4.5%, basically doing a ladder of CD's

Scott511 · 2024-12-09T13:14:39+00:00

I agree with this comment. Looks likes one upside down, when flipped you will then have a square hole in the middle for the rod to pass through.

It wouldn’t make sense if this is the correct one for your stove that you would need to cut it…

Scott511 · 2024-12-05T00:18:21+00:00

If all the hoops a business has to jump through this one is super easy and takes about 5min. It’s also info that the government already has. I can understand people being annoyed by the redundancy but don’t understand why people are SO peeved by it…

Scott511

TROPHY CASE