My job is getting easier
Post covid seems to be here. Even in Vermont, bastion of strict covid rules and masking, is finished with social distancing and masking, with packed ski lodges and slopes mask and safety protocol free. That was eye-opening. My son is even mask free in school, 24 months after masking up. It's hard to remember that only 5 weeks ago, we were running scared because of omicron.
On a business front, i haven't taken a sales call (except for those lucky few who have somehow managed to thread the needle and get me on the phone, or get a return email). I'm burnt out, my team needs a break, and the constant searching for a way to do more gets old. Our team, like many teams, was good before covid and is even better now, and now I'm focused on calibrating just the right amount of work that keeps the pockets flush, the bonuses and profit shares flowing, all 6 cylinders pumps but no danger of overheating.
It's a strange feeling after 24 months of pinned red zone RPM's, to be idling in the 6000/7000 range, able to let off the gas and gun it as needed, knowing what you got under the hood.
At this point, Catskill Farms has become very selective about who and why we work for. It's almost a reserve brand, fully priced, hard to get into.
As part of our employee retainage efforts, I started a 401k employer match safe harbor program 6 years ago. This year I paid out over $100k in matches, bonuses, and profit shares to my 10 person team. I also donated about $15k to local non-profits.
With a clean bill of personal health, post-pandemic business and personal plans ongoing, and a team to be reckoned with, 2022 should resemble 2021 in terms of success, but without all the uncertainty, stress, and fog of war.
That's something to write home about.
OH, Right, this is a blog about homes we build and sell. We sold 2 last week - one in Narrowsburg, Sullivan County and one in Saugerties, Ulster County.
