And now for a brief but very important overview of Virginia Decking: The Lord has blessed us with a business that (as far as I can tell) is unique, no really... one of a kind. We market, design and actually sell decks, porches, sunrooms and gazebos via the Internet (I own four related websites... the one you are on, ipe-deck.com, composite-decks.com, and hot-tub-spa.com) through our "design-at-a-distance" service. We also sell Building Plans worldwide (both standard and custom). In addition, we do national and international marketing for an exotic hardwood distributor as well as a fabulous composite decking and vinyl railing distributor. (You can read all about this at the websites above) All of this certainly keeps us busy.

Another thing that makes us different is that my firm is one leg of a three legged partnership stool:

1. Homeowner
2. Virginia Decking & Remodeling
3. Builder

It is a kind of "business partnering" that works extremely well at driving the cost down for each deck, yet giving the homeowner a superior product. Here's briefly how that happens:

• The homeowner becomes the General Contractor by buying the materials and obtaining the permit.
• My firm provides the design, consulting, Building Plans and Building Permit Packet. We also place the material order and have the materials delivered.
• The Builder (licensed and insured) provides the labor to build it.

Here's where you come in: I need someone with administrative skills (including a working knowledge of MS Office) and programming experience who can...

• Take care of administrative duties (real fun stuff) like filing, making plan copies, mailing plans, making deposits, some record keeping. This we estimate at 4 hours a week in off season (winter) and maybe 8 hours a week other times.
• Complete the Client Worksheet form (see the link above) into an interactive version of the same form (turn on "macros" when you try this form). I estimate this will take maybe a total of 20 hours.
• Either work up a simple overhead deck designing program that works with my Excel Price Worksheet to give folks the cost of the deck as they design it online... or reverse engineer an existing deck program to do the same thing. I have no idea how long this will take.
• Interface all of the forms and files above so that the information the client inputs will populate a Contract Proposal which will be emailed to me. No idea of time.

Soooo, how much do you get paid? Where will you work? How much time will you put in? What kind of a kooky boss am I? (I think you've already figured that one out)

Hours will be flexible. I am here in my office in my home three to five days a week... and my own hours vary somewhat. I try pretty hard to maintain telephone hours of 10am-1pm m/w/f.

[I know...you really want to ask me, "You only answer the phone NINE hours a week?!?! How can you get away with that?!?" Do not forget my goal: A "lights out end to end" deck sales solution for homeowners. With your help we can create a business that flys on autopilot in the middle of the night. I am almost there. I just need a little more help.]

So you may put in 8 hours on Monday, then work from home on the Client Worksheet form for a day or so, then work here again for a half day... you get the idea. It will be flexible to match our schedules and what we are trying to get done.

Pay? (You really think you should have all this fun working with me and get paid, too?! OK, OK.) If you have got what I need (which admittedly is a very tall order), I will pay you two ways: $10/hour for the time you work on my stuff whether here or at your home... plus a very generous profit sharing plan that should eventually generate a six figure income some time after the first year. I cannot give you more specific information here on the website, but I will be happy to go into detail if and when we meet.

What is your next step?

• Decide if you qualify. If you cannot do what I need done, please do not apply. I need someone who has administrative skills, real ability with MS Office including making forms in MS Word, and real programming ability. If you qualify, then your next step is to...
• Email me a cover letter and thorough resume that details your education and work experience that relates to what I need. What am I saying? Tailor the resume for what I need. If you are an astro physicist working on a new space station design... I don't care. Leave that off the resume. Tell me only about what would make you attractive to my needs. Email it to: business@vadeck.com.
• Feel free to discuss in the cover letter your personal situation (married?, children?, goals?, home owner or renting?, plans?, etc.) and even include a photo if you would like to. This is where you can get personal. Feel free to discuss pay, hours, problems with previous employers, what ticks you off about the government, personal preferences, and anything else you want to discuss. Don't hold back... better to tell me the good, the bad and the ugly now rather than later.

Once I have received and read your material, if you look good on paper, I will email you with times we can do a telephone interview. If not, no harm in trying.

Thanks for reading all this material! If it bored you, don't apply. If it was exciting... there may be hope for you. :-)

Mike French/owner