MANIFESTING YOUR DESTINY

The old cliche, "Thinking Makes It So, just might be right on the money. I have been cheated and misused by contractors for so long that I have come to expect that I will be over-charged,and get half as much result for twice as much money. Indeed that is just what has happened to me for the past ten years to the tune of over 90,000 dollars. I became afraid to hire any contractor for any job and started asking my male friends to deal with these men. The result was that indeed I did get the work I wanted finished to the satisfaction OF THE MEN I REQUESTED TO HELP ME and I had no recourse for complaint if the people they hired did an unsatisfactory job. I have been waiting for over a year to install two skylights in my kitchen. The original contractor walked out on me after taking over $10,000.00 and creating a mess that caused hysterics in the city building department where I was fined hundreds of dollars and my construction was stalled for six months in retaliation. The man I asked to supervise getting my house back in shape was absolutely marvelous but not cheap. He was determined to give all my different jobs to his friends. He didn't know anyone who would put in my skylights and so they remained in my backyard gathering dust. It occurred to me that if I wanted to get those things installed I would have to bite the bullet and call on someone to do it myself. I would have to prove that I did not HAVE to be a target or a victim unless I allowed it to happen. I told myself "I will get a proper estimate; I will get the job done from someone reputable and not try to get the cheapest contractor. I will not plead poverty nor will I try to be his best friend and solve all his problems."
And for once, I listened to myself. The job was done, the skylight is in and the cost was $200.00 below estimate because for the first time in my career of dealing with construction people, I found an honest man and I made a business deal.
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Well I disproved that cliche as well.