gunDriller
27th May 2014, 01:47 PM
I have gotten behind in taking care of my 15 acres. So I was looking for an affordable way to delegate some of that work.
I found one of the guys from a local Internet cafe. Technically, he is homeless - he sleeps in his truck.
It is hard for him to work more than 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and it is unhealthy for him to lift anything more than 2 pounds.
For me it is an interesting experiment in Learning to Delegate.
It is interesting to re-formulate a relatively standard gardening task for someone who is partially disabled.
I showed him how I wanted something done, e.g. topping off 20 pots with soil in about 5 seconds, while on my hands & knees.
But - he can not easily work on his hands and knees. He needs a desk 12 to 30 inches high.
So yesterday, we planted 100+ sunflowers, or pots with multiple sunflower seeds. Paid him $20 for an hour and a half, $13.33 an hour. I was hoping for more work done but that's life.
The guys name is John. One of the advantages of learning to work with him is his experience in programming.
I've gotten to know him well enough so I know what his approximate "drug profile" is (no meth).
Hopefully I can help him get healthier and if his productivity increases in the process, what the heck.
I got him a pass to the YMCA.
He knows Python. I gave him a Blender care package - Blender software Rev. 2.70 plus an add-on, Vis.2008 C+ Redist. I am hoping I can get him going with Python programming of particle effects in Blender.
I feel like this is sort of a human version of the "Horse-trading" thread - so I am thinking of AgNut as I write this.
In this case I can actually give John some of my Horse-trading stuff - e.g. an old computer - and show him how to turn that into cash with a place like Relectrocycle (they pay for shipping).
One of the good side effects of hiring somebody is that it sort of becomes wise to work around them. So like twice as much work gets done. I am cleaning around the broken pool and doing a bunch of miscellaneous things, while John is doing a single repetitive focussed thing, planting sunflowers.
In general I think you can get a great deal when you are hiring somebody who has slightly 'fallen through the cracks'.
But I'm sure there are some cautionary tales as well.
I found one of the guys from a local Internet cafe. Technically, he is homeless - he sleeps in his truck.
It is hard for him to work more than 1 1/2 to 2 hours, and it is unhealthy for him to lift anything more than 2 pounds.
For me it is an interesting experiment in Learning to Delegate.
It is interesting to re-formulate a relatively standard gardening task for someone who is partially disabled.
I showed him how I wanted something done, e.g. topping off 20 pots with soil in about 5 seconds, while on my hands & knees.
But - he can not easily work on his hands and knees. He needs a desk 12 to 30 inches high.
So yesterday, we planted 100+ sunflowers, or pots with multiple sunflower seeds. Paid him $20 for an hour and a half, $13.33 an hour. I was hoping for more work done but that's life.
The guys name is John. One of the advantages of learning to work with him is his experience in programming.
I've gotten to know him well enough so I know what his approximate "drug profile" is (no meth).
Hopefully I can help him get healthier and if his productivity increases in the process, what the heck.
I got him a pass to the YMCA.
He knows Python. I gave him a Blender care package - Blender software Rev. 2.70 plus an add-on, Vis.2008 C+ Redist. I am hoping I can get him going with Python programming of particle effects in Blender.
I feel like this is sort of a human version of the "Horse-trading" thread - so I am thinking of AgNut as I write this.
In this case I can actually give John some of my Horse-trading stuff - e.g. an old computer - and show him how to turn that into cash with a place like Relectrocycle (they pay for shipping).
One of the good side effects of hiring somebody is that it sort of becomes wise to work around them. So like twice as much work gets done. I am cleaning around the broken pool and doing a bunch of miscellaneous things, while John is doing a single repetitive focussed thing, planting sunflowers.
In general I think you can get a great deal when you are hiring somebody who has slightly 'fallen through the cracks'.
But I'm sure there are some cautionary tales as well.