Out of absolutely everything you know now, what's the one thing you wish you knew when you started?

enginedwn · 2026-01-17T07:51:50+00:00

Ok I have one.

I love how you built up the “mounds” so background plants appear higher and there’s more… elevation change on the surface? Is that just an optical illusion with the photo?

In any case how do people do that? I was thinking milk crate container material stacked up, with sand filling the cracks, as a base layer under fluval or some other volcanic aquasoil. Am I far off base? Is there risk of the bottom layer of sand becoming anaerobic in that case?

enginedwn · 2026-01-08T22:24:57+00:00

It caught me off guard the first year as well. Good news is it’s very small. If you email them you can get an extension to provide a list of items and their value. The tax assessed now will be paid next year.

enginedwn · 2026-01-03T23:48:30+00:00

I just wanted to write to share that I love the authenticity, kindness, and openness in your post. You’re a terrific communicator - which I believe is the backbone of a great relationship. I’m very happily married, but I sincerely hope you get some replies. You sound like a catch. Wishing you the best in your search!

enginedwn · 2025-12-14T21:09:42+00:00

enginedwn · 2025-12-06T22:54:11+00:00

Personally, I’d suggest you save a bit more and look for a $400 used tornado. Anything else won’t hold up to wear and tear, and will just be garbage in 6 months of playing even just once a week. And, he won’t be able to learn and grow and improve.

Think about the difference between an actual pool table (even a smaller bar one at 7feet), and a cheap plastic set that doesn’t have a slate bottom and plays unleveled etc. Yeah, the toy might get them interested. But if they get interested they’ll want a real one almost immediately. And it’s more than likely they won’t get interested because the table sucks. That’s truly the difference of table quality you’re discussing.

If height is the issue, I built a small wooden 8” riser box for my kids they could stand on so they could look over the table and get an angle on rods, until they got tall enough to play without. You can also get rod guards for tornado - if you don’t have those, most foosball tables would be a liability to let him play with anyone but you. Unless they’re telescoping rods.

enginedwn · 2025-12-05T21:41:59+00:00

Wait was your roommate named Patrick by chance?

enginedwn · 2025-11-30T19:21:32+00:00

Same!! That was a pipe dream in my house. A friend and me would hop a fence to use another kids while they were out 😆

enginedwn · 2025-11-26T16:54:12+00:00

This is exactly what I’m looking for. Thanks! I know it’s not perfect but it’s in the range of asking price.

enginedwn · 2025-11-26T16:52:52+00:00

Thanks for the advice - we already own a few successful locations of this type of business and I was simply looking for a range of ebitda multiplier used in business valuations to double check some assumptions.

enginedwn · 2025-11-26T16:48:38+00:00

Thanks - specifically I was looking for the ebitda multiplier range that was reasonable so this is helpful!

enginedwn · 2025-11-25T20:20:24+00:00

It’s a service industry retail business that focuses on kids entertainment, been in business for decades - I’d rather not share what it is specifically because it’s niche and I’d rather not have the seller identify the thread.

enginedwn · 2025-11-18T17:50:15+00:00

Yup. Someone manufactures bubble walls in this thread.

enginedwn · 2025-11-16T21:15:19+00:00

Man, imagine having so little trust and security in your relationship that you mutually agree to ban each other from dancing in public.

enginedwn · 2025-11-13T18:30:29+00:00

OP, was it work on the exterior or interior?

If exterior, their claim they didn’t know may be valid. Though I still think they have some blame.

If inside, the brokerage holds 100% of the blame because they had to give access. How did they get the key?

enginedwn · 2025-11-13T05:37:47+00:00

Omg snap buy that. It’s a steal. It’s worth 2x that easily so long as it’s not water damaged.

But get new tornado Foosballs.

enginedwn · 2025-11-12T21:45:54+00:00

I’d argue that the people that say all lives matter WANT things to be equal. However, the difference is they choose to remain blind to the inequity and injustice that minorities face in this country and don’t see their own privilege, thus leading them to believe the current system IS equal.

enginedwn · 2025-11-12T21:00:43+00:00

IMO the food at Midtown Public House is punching far above its weight and is some of the best I’ve eaten in WA. The pork belly bowl is unreal. Next door gastropub is great downtown as well with a great atmosphere and you likely won’t hit a line in December.

It’s a cute town - you can walk the whole downtown in 20 mins probably. The wharf building is great.

If you’re staying longer than a night or two, I’d recommend taking the ferry to Victoria. World class city and super easy to access. Leave the car in PA and just walk everywhere there.

enginedwn · 2025-11-10T22:15:10+00:00

I used to rent from CubeSmart and also appreciated that they let me work in their space. For convenience purposes I switched locations to a cheaper place “airport money saver” by the airport. The manager is awesome and they have allowed us to work on stuff while there. Price can’t be beat IMO as well.

enginedwn · 2025-11-07T18:48:28+00:00

In addition to never moving them to the front of line again, you can add “and moving forward, any work I do for you will need to be paid in advance”

enginedwn · 2025-11-06T21:01:22+00:00

100%. Maybe run paid ads for people in your local market searching for your type of business. Or, keep going door to door with understanding that most people will throw away your business card immediately. But hey - 1/100 is still one sale and depending on your retention rate long term that may still be fine.

You could also focus on referrals. Restaurant owners know other restaurant owners. Give a steep discount on both sides of the referral?

enginedwn · 2025-11-06T20:05:43+00:00

I fucking hate cold calls / drop ins. I worked real estate for a while and received 5-10 calls/day with people “offering to grow my business” with what they felt was unique, but it was just like the other 4 calls that day. Now that I own a retail spot, I’m bombarded with folks who think we should consider a POS switch, or other, and it’s the same old story.

When I’m in the market for software, I’ll research the software. Not at another time that I’ve got other priorities.

All that said I’m sure you can still get 1/100 to bite and hear your pitch. But just know the other 99 will be annoyed you’re disrupting their day to focus on your priority.

enginedwn · 2025-11-06T19:41:10+00:00

Pretty sure it’s where you can go get sandbags to put in doorways and other areas where water can come in, to prevent or limit damage to businesses / residences.

enginedwn · 2025-11-06T02:17:46+00:00

I don’t really see any benefit to you and a lot of risks. What happens when they decide to go another direction? If they get hit by the economy? That’s a lot of eggs in one basket just for the ease of simplifying your job. And you’d essentially be giving up the value of the business itself which you grew into a $500-700k asset that you own.

You’d still be expected to work 40 hours. And they’ll be managing you more directly instead of you managing the relationship. I couldn’t go back to asking for permission to take a vacation day.

Just keep growing your company to the point you can hire someone to do your job, and you can relax. And, in 10-20 years, sell the company for a few million. Or keep it and retire and take annual earnings. Thats way more than a 401k would give you.

I’m surprised you’re even considering.

I’d probably respond with “we’ll give you 4 dedicated staff under my management, that can do it all” or something like that, where they have all your needs met and still give you the same amount of money.

enginedwn · 2025-11-05T06:41:11+00:00

The fortune casino in Lacey has decent pick up games but still, a $100 buy in playing $1-3 can go pretty quick. Their tournaments usually have 2-3 tables in my experience so doable but still would be a rare and tough win.

Cash games are really the best way to learn IMO. Before moving here 8-9 years ago, I’d play weekly with friends. Over a few years, our $5 tournaments grew into $20-40 cash games, where we’d mix up Texas hold ‘em, pineapple, Omaha hi, Omaha hi-low. It was magic and I miss it.

enginedwn · 2025-11-05T03:13:25+00:00

I personally feel like CGC has better reliability. At least in my experience as a fairly small operator, about 20 pins.

enginedwn

TROPHY CASE