Archive for 2010 | Yearly archive page
Belated post to THANK all who came to make Don’t Be Elfish!  a spirited last minute event of the holi-DAZE 2010.  The whole idea was to enjoy good people, food and fun while ramping up the season of giving. A guest afterwards sent me this email:
“It’s nice to see the spirit of giving during Christmas. Wish there were more parties like yours!†– Mark, Lansing Linoleum
The Finlay Boys look forward to expanding the agenda during December 2011, and to entertaining all of you all over again.
Special thanks go to Wendy Novick for so bravely letting the Finlay Boys pack people into her house for the evening. To the Carri Bella Combo for the smooth holiday jazz sounds. To Aaron Trotter for his intriguing art cards of Portland and ever so wide engaging smile. To the NPOs represented by Kris Thompson from Wallace Medical Concern, Juan Martinez from Basic Rights Oregon, Stephen Marc Beaudoin from Phame Academy, Beth Burns from p:ear, Kate from Live!Wire Radio and Dennise Kowalczyck from KZME Radio.  Portland keeps growing and flourishing with all the great work you guys put out into the community.
Thanks for what you left behind, the dirty dishes AND the donations.
– Paul
The Finlay Boys are throwing a holiday party to celebrate Tychon’s online launch and to benefit our “NICE” list of PDX nonprofits in this seasons’s  Willamette Week Give!Guide:
• Basic Rights Oregon
• KZME Radio
• LiveWire Radio
• p:ear
• PHAME
• Wallace Medical Concern
Festivities include:
• Live creation of a gingerbread house decorated by each of the nonprofits
• Portland Art Cards and performance by Aaron Trotter
• Handmade Almond Toffee by Mike Calder of Vollie Austin Toffee
• Complimentary holiday gift bags with schwag and goodies, including fun stuff from Big-Ass Sandwiches
• Live holiday music by the Carri Bella Combo
• FREE BOOZE + FOOD!
Thurs December 16
6-9pm
2804 NE 31st Ave, Portland 97212
No cover, but prepare to donate!
Dress Code: Sexy Santa!
Feeling extra philanthropic?  Bring canned food and clothes for the Sunshine Division
A lot has happened over the past three decades, and a lot of what has happened is change. Connecting with clients was simple and direct. I didn’t even have a business card for the first 20 years of my career as a contractor.  I lived and worked in a small town in Central Oregon and everybody knew who you were whether you wanted them to or not. And they always knew where to find you.
Now with a good start into the 21st century communication is a whole different set of strategies. Word-of-mouth referrals still have great value, but people are looking for the information they want on the world wide web. Took me years to break the hardcopy habit and go straight to the invisible electron stream for the information I needed. Now those free phonebooks that show up on my door step go directly to recycle.
My son with a black belt in social media development kept pushing as I drug my feet until I conceded that I should build an online presence. Now that you have found Tychon Development’s webblog, why would you check back in after today? When I sat down to make a list of possible blog entry topics, I found that the list developed almost exponentially. After 30+ years in the renovation business you pick up a lot of experience, and you form some pretty clear ideas about what works best in many aspects of the trade.
I am never at a loss for opinions and you may not agree with all of mine. After all these years of wondering why people keep struggling for the same solutions, I am going to put in print the “Word According to Paul.â€Â I have always worked to create the approach, strategy, method or system that would make the next project more effective. The information and resources that come with my point of view will hopefully be of help even if the opinions don’t fit everyone. I do have a lot of client stories, some bordering on the paranormal, but those will have to be published posthumously.
