| e a simple saying that goes like this... "There are | | | | sub-contractors I had never heard anybody say |
| 6.2 billion people on this planet and I can learn | | | | this. They always required a deposit and usually |
| something new from every one of them." | | | | wanted cash. Roy told me he would be out in a |
| Here is a true story about what I learned from a | | | | week to build the Tiki Hut. |
| Miccosukee Indian named Roy. | | | | One week later Roy and his crew of 4 Indians |
| I live on a lake in Miami Florida, and a couple of | | | | arrived at my home to build my Tiki Hut. They |
| years ago I noticed that one of my neighbors had | | | | had a trailer filled with palm fronds and beautiful |
| paid someone to build a Tiki Hut in his backyard | | | | Cypress Wood. For the next 8 hours they |
| near the lake. | | | | meticulously worked constructing the Tiki Hut. |
| The Tiki Hut was made of Cypress Wood and | | | | Some friends stopped by and we watched |
| was very attractive. My wife and I decided that | | | | together in amazement as they built the Tiki Hut |
| we wanted to get one and I asked my neighbor | | | | using techniques that had been passed down for |
| where he got his Tiki Hut. He replied, "the | | | | generations. |
| Miccosukee Indians built it for me." I asked him | | | | When they were just about finished I noticed that |
| how to get in touch with the Indians who built it, | | | | Roy was sitting at the top of the Tiki Hut....he was |
| and he game me the phone number of an Indian | | | | looking off into the distance as if he was looking |
| named Roy. | | | | back to another time many years earlier. I took a |
| I called Roy and told him that I wanted a Tiki Hut | | | | photo of Roy as he rested on the top of my |
| like the one he had built for my neighbor. Roy said | | | | new Tiki Hut. |
| he would come out to my house and give me an | | | | Before Roy had arrived that day I had gone to |
| estimate. | | | | the bank to cash a check for $1,900 dollars. I |
| A few days later Roy arrived at my house to | | | | placed 19 crisp $100 dollar bills in a plain white |
| give me an estimate. I told him where I wanted it | | | | envelope. Now that the work was complete, I |
| built and what size I wanted. Roy said the price | | | | shook Roy's hand and thanked him for doing such |
| was $1,900 dollars....I was impressed as I | | | | a great job. |
| expected it to cost more. | | | | I reached into my pocket and pulled out the |
| I told Roy I would contact him when I was ready | | | | envelope and handed it to Roy. Roy looked me in |
| to proceed and he left. A few weeks later I called | | | | the eye and placed the envelope in his pocket...he |
| Roy and told him that I was ready to have him | | | | never once looked to see what was inside the |
| come out and build my Tiki Hut. I have worked | | | | envelope, he said goodbye, got into his truck and |
| with housing contractors many times in the past | | | | drove away. |
| and I expected that Roy would require a 50% | | | | Think about this story, read it to your children, |
| deposit to get started with the work. When I | | | | Roy's example is one to be followed for the rest |
| asked Roy about the deposit his reply was " I will | | | | of our lives. When Roy made a promise he kept |
| come to your home and build the Tiki Hut,and | | | | it...he is a man of his word. We must make it a |
| when I am finished you can pay me." | | | | habit to always keep our word, no matter how |
| I was shocked! | | | | small the promise. |
| In all my years of dealing with contractors and | | | | |