Mike the Pole Barn Guru

Self-Disclosure

Pole Barn Guru BlogPeople are fascinating, we all have life stories to tell, and most of us are merely looking for others who have listening ears so we can share our stories. This dates back to the days of prehistory, when early man sat around campfires and swapped lies. The homes of a hundred years ago were frequently designed with front porches, which allowed folks to stroll through their neighborhoods on pleasant evenings and share the news of the day with those nearby.

Social media, such as Facebook, is today’s front porch – where we share our stories (sometimes with TMI – Too Much Information) with our neighbors.

I conduct usually about a half dozen training sessions annually for potential Building Designers with Hansen Pole Buildings. These are single day dawn-to-dusk, in which I get to share the stories which have made up the fabric of my life in the post frame building industry.

Now I have had more than a few folks invest their usually hard earned dollars in pole buildings which I have designed, however, as I relate to the trainees, I have never sold anyone a building. It is about building credibility and trust with the clients, so they know I am looking out for their best interests – which I absolutely am.

In fact, in one four year period I had clients purchase 1006 pole buildings from me – and I never sold a single one of them!

How have I been able to do this?

Well, pay attention here competitors (I know more than a few of you subscribe to my blog and hang on every word looking for “secrets”)…..

I use appropriate self-disclosure (just like in my blog articles).

And what exactly do I say?

I describe my own painful experiences. I started my first business on less than a shoe string, providing pole barn kit packages to DIYers (Do It Yourselfers). Frankly, as I look back, I was so clueless I didn’t have the smarts enough to know I was clueless!

I share my personal flaws. And there are plenty of them to go around! I don’t set myself up as the perfect person whom everyone (or anyone) should strive to emulate. Instead, I openly admit choices I have made which got me into trouble….and the consequences I’ve suffered as a result.

I make fun of myself. I have somehow been blessed with the uncanny ability to talk (or write) about my imperfections which seem to elicit a certain degree of admiration, respect, and most importantly, laughter.

I am authentic. Luckily I have no idea of how to be anyone other than myself. Having made more building mistakes (or my crews having made them for me) I have a genuine desire to help others and save them from the same pains I have experienced in my journey.

Whilst it is natural for all of us to want to present ourselves in the best light, however I have always found it best to show genuine concern for the situations of others, quickly admit my own mistakes (there have been plenty of them), reveal my true thoughts and feelings, and not take myself too seriously.

I’m able to be comfortable in my own skin, which allows for relationships to be built upon a firm basis of trust and respect.

If you are amongst the thousands who have chosen to invest in a Hansen Pole Building, I thank each of you greatly. I’ve been blessed to learn far more from you, than I have ever been able to give back, however I will continue to strive to be a part of delivering, The Ultimate Post Frame Building Experience™.

6 thoughts on “Mike the Pole Barn Guru

  1. i read your article on unvented roofs. My building has a vapor barrier installed. I am at the point of insulation and plan on doing closed cell spray foam. What would be better spraying the roof deck or the attic floor/ top side of the ceiling. I was thinking spraying the roof deck and then doing blown in insulation above the ceiling to get my r value. I thought having the entire building done in closed cell would make for the tightest building.

    Reply
    1. If you spray foam the underside of the roof deck and blow in insulation above a ceiling, you have created a dead air space which must be ventilated – defeating your tight building concept. If you have not installed a true method of controlling condensation on the underside of the roof steel (radiant reflective barrier, DripStop, OSB or plywood substrate, etc.), not just a vapor barrier, then you need to be spraying at least two inches of closed cell foam on the underside of the roof steel, in any case.

      Reply
  2. I can never get enough of reading your information. I have a quick question I have a nephew in Oregon that has this small construction company he has an excavator and he’s asking me what size auger that he’s going to need to get for his excavator to do my holes for my building I thought that it was 18in but that seem to be kind of small would he need to get a a 2 ft auger.there’s so much information I’m blue in the face for meeting at all so I just thought I’d just ask you what would be the best size auger for drilling holes for the columns no 6 by 6 post thank you Mike again and you have a good rest of the week take care later GW from concrete Washington

    Reply
    1. admin Post author

      Until your engineered building plans are produced, you will be unable to know for certain what diameter the holes will be.

      Reply

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