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Resolutions That Last

As the start of another year rolls around, we may find ourselves thinking about the events of the previous year. What went right, what went wrong, what went and never came back, etc. Right?

But for many, a new year is also a reminder that our “supply” of years, months, days, hours, minutes, even seconds are not limitless.

Sure, we may have done good if not even great things in the past year.  But how much time did we waste in those 365 days? Benjamin Franklin once said, “Lost time is never found again.”

That sentiment can be felt much more acutely when we pause to realize that another year is gone, and maybe not as much was done with it as we intended back on Jan 1, 2020!

So around New Year’s Day, most people often decide they want to make positive changes. Raise what you already have or are about to be , writing up resolutions or intentions or goals?  Have you?  Of course, the challenge with these resolutions, as anyone can tell you, is that they typically don’t last.

Perka’s founder, Ed Thevenot, started with his first “sale” (a packet of garden seeds) when he was twelve years old, and he never stopped selling. In his life as a salesman, he was devoted to finding things that did last and would even grow (like those seeds!).

He was dedicated to discovering what was best not only for him and his businesses, but his family, friends, community, the environment, and, most importantly, what was best for his client. That’s why, in late 1980, he decided to start his own “family” business.  And his product of choice? Perka Buildings.

He was the brainchild and creator of Perka’s unique, “hybrid”, wood-and-steel design building system.  Buildings that are intentionally designed to be a “S.A.F.E.R.” (strong, affordable, flexible, easy, and resilient) choice, AND thereby of great value and long lasting.  (They will last much longer than your New Year’s resolution!)

In fact, we are so confident in the strength and stability of our structures that we have just increased our 50-year warranty on our frames, to a LIFETIME WARRANTY!  How is that for Faith?!

 As you contemplate the past, and then the upcoming year, you may be looking to devote more time and resources into your children’s or grandchildren’s future, as well as your own. Perka ‘s Hybrid Buildings are a not only a great investment but will certainly make a lasting impression and appreciation on your family and whoever else you may choose to leave it to in the future.  Your Legacy!   If you are interested in getting a free no obligation consult to learn more, feel free to contact us or visit our website for more information.

  Of course, buildings can eventually wear out, and there are other, more important things which last even longer than any building or material purchase. Some of these are our ideals, core values and “promissory mottos”.

We strive to “Keep It Simple and Stress-free (K.I.S.S.)” in business, in our daily lives and in the lives of the people around us.

Our WHY is:

“To Rise and Shine every day, to be Stress-free Solution Seekers Trusting Sincere, Selfless Service” (#ssstsss)

so that we can all be healthier, Safer, more fulfilled, more secure and GIVERS.”

We started living these intentions ever more diligently after our founder’s death, and it’s because of the impact he had on this family, friends and this company.

He exhibited qualities that we should all aspire to. Qualities like dependability, industriousness, and kindness. As we are entering this new year, let’s think about the impact we’ve made on the world and ask ourselves, “Have I been kind?”

That certainly will be one of my resolutions this year. And I’m going to make sure it’s more than an ideal that I write down and forget about within the first two weeks of the new year. Because kindness lasts longer than a building, longer than a business, longer than a lifetime. Kindness can be passed down for generations, and it leaves a lasting impression and appreciation that can be OUR TRUE LEGACY!

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Peace on Earth, One Customer at a Time

3… 2… 1… Happy New Year!!! That’s right, folks. 2021 is almost here, and no doubt most of us feel that we are sure ready for something new – and that is not going to be too hard since so much this year has been “new”!  YES?

Check out these last minute DIY ideas for a stay at home type of celebration! 

2020 seems as though it has brought about one messy situation after another. But is it the calendar year’s fault!?  Is it a curse or can it be a blessing?  How we respond and deal with it can make a huge difference.

(Does anyone even remember those Australian fires from January? How about those murder hornets?)

Just because the Earth has made another rotation around the Sun does not mean that everything will just “go back to normal”. Humans have always been faced with challenges and problems (aka opportunities), ever since the very first people walked the Earth.

That is why it is so important to stay connected to friends and family.

This year, more than ever, we might be most served by and for each other in order to keep ourselves positive (and sane). Your friends and family may be a phone call away, a long car ride away, or even a socially-distant-and-masked airplane ride away. No matter the distance, we believe in the significance of strong, caring relationships. The slower times around the holidays are the perfect time to reach out to our loved ones and let them know how much we care.

But maybe this message doesn’t necessarily apply to you. Maybe your loved ones live too far away, and you are unable to be with them. Perhaps the pandemic of 2020 has taken its toll on those who are dear to you. Maybe you even lost a loved one.  May Peace be with you. 

It is possible too that you have just grown apart. Change and pain can be quite problematic aspects of human life (even though very normal), and we would like you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and all those who are facing challenges this holiday season.

At Team Perka, we care deeply about our teammates, our friends, our neighbors, and our families. Do you know who else we deeply care about? You!!! You, our fellow man/woman, our potential new personal friend-to-be, are one of the driving causes of what we do.

You are the highest priority of our business.  You are at the TOP of our Team’s organizational chart! 

If there is ever anything we can do from and with the growing resources of experience, “tools” and solution seeking creativity related to almost any sort of “building” question – that we can share, to give you a better experience in any way shape or form, feel free to contact us. Do you need help with a building solution or consultation, even if a Perka Hybrid Building is NOT your first choice? Let us know.

Or you are just not sure where to start? We can help!

Also have you had great a great experience while working and co-creating solutions with us? We would LOVE to hear it! And even if your experience was less than the best, please let us so we can improve. One of our inner team hashtags is #CSI!! Standing for Continuous Sustainable Improvement.  So we welcome ALL the feedback we can get to be able to do that to the MAX!!

We would love to partner with you to make your building project simpler, more stress free and/or easier so you are happier and freer to do what YOU love to do best.

After all, another of our many guiding mottos is “Keep It Simple and Stress-free (K.I.S.S.)”!

In other words, and in the spirit of the holidays, we hope to make as big a contribution to “peace on earth and goodwill to all” as we possibly can — even by one client at a time.

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Living in a S.A.F.E.R. World in the Midst of a Pandemic

Living in a S.A.F.E.R. World in the Midst of a Pandemic

Blog submitted by Olivia Truesdale

Back in February, Kansas City experienced one of its most epic moments ever: Winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIV.

After the Kansas City Chiefs won, there were parties and parades. The city could not stop celebrating!

I had a friend who was unable to watch the game in real time, so she settled in and watched the recorded game. She, of course, already knew what was going to happen: The Chiefs were going to win. It was all over the papers! Everyone knew! (They had already won!) Still, when the Chiefs were down by ten points at the end of the third quarter, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

Even when we know the outcome, it can be difficult to stay calm and positive, especially when, in a given moment, all hope looks lost. It’s like we know that we will eventually beat this COVID-19/Corona Virus challenge. In the meantime, everyone is (as we should be) concerned for their own health, as well as the health of others.

We at Team Perka are committed to help keeping you out of harm’s way, and we want you to stay S.A.F.E.R. too. Wait, aren’t those the same thing? At Perka, our motto, “S.A.F.E.R”, stands for “Strong, Affordable, Flexible, Easy, Resilient”. How can we at Perka (and you at home!) live in a S.A.F.E.R. world even in the midst of a pandemic?

STRONG: It can be quite the challenge to remain strong during our present situation. As humans, we often feel that we have to be strong for everyone: kids, spouse, parents, co-workers, etc. However, being strong doesn’t always mean “having everything under control”. It takes strength to be vulnerable and honest, especially when you don’t have everything under control. It takes strength to stay positively optimistic… especially when living through your very first global pandemic or otherwise new challenge! Life is quite different and can feel difficult right now. At Team Perka, we stay strong by continuing in our preparation, study, and readiness to help.  Feel free to contact us ; we’d love to know how we can help you!

AFFORDABLE: With all the prices of different commodities going up and down, how do you STAY poised and secure??? It can be difficult to figure things out, especially price vs value wise. We, however, continue to focus on USE VALUE and purpose filled worth/usefulness.  We are always seeking ways to create value and find the best fit and best price for you and your dream project!

FLEXIBLE: Stay loose and adaptable! With everything changing and evolving as much and as quick as it is, the only thing we can do is evaluate adjust and respond with whatever changes that are required right along with whatever is happening.  (Our preference is to be more in the lead of changes – but sometimes stuff just happens!!!)  It seems that information, recommendations, guidelines, and LIFE is changing, and sometimes even contradicting itself, by the minute! We must not get bogged down with the stress of change.  We keep traditions where we can, and remember that our life is not the only one that is affected by COVID-19 or whatever else is going on. At Perka, we remain open TO SERVE and are always at the ready to help Y-O-U!

EASY: Keep it simple, and don’t worry! Hopefully, a Perka building project can be a part of doing what is easiest and most efficient for you and your loved ones. Or, as we like to say, “Keep It SAFER and Stress free” (#KISS). We want to be part of keeping things safe and stress free for you and your family now, during the current pandemic and “tomorrow”, as we continue to evolve together

RESILIENT: When we all come out of our “going within” or “staying in” or “quarantine-ing”, after this pandemic has been resolved, it may still be difficult, or awkward, to adjust to all the new rules and way of life that we may have evolved into. We can’t let that discourage us; we must continue to bounce back and get up from the difficulties this pandemic, and this year in particular, is exposing . Hopefully, things will soon be back to a form of “normal”, though it may take some time for them to be a fully embraced “normal” again. In the meantime, let’s stay positively optimistic and confident. Never forget that we at Team Perka are on your side, ready to bounce back and stay strong in the game!

And voilà! What do you think? That’s how we stay S.A.F.E.R and how you can stay S.A.F.E.R., too.

For more info about how we can help you stay SAFER – CLICK HERE.

THE BEST COMMUNICATION IMPROVES THE “GAME” OF LOVING LIFE & LIVING LOVE.

I was sitting in an airport on my way back from Atlanta after several hours of delays due to this year’s wintery FREEZE.  I was beginning to get kind of bored from just reading.   I started to eavesdrop on some nearby conversations… An unknown woman was talking about a spent vacation in a beautiful location – villa Koh Samui on Thailand.  I realized by many of the varying topics – that REAL-LIFE conversations can be as informatively interesting as surfing the net, reading a book or watching a good documentary.

It just so happens that our team (PERKA) is always working hard at steadily improving our ability to communicate – so that we can “know” more, be more aware, to be able to use our individual, collective and combined awareness through a power of attention and focus on details.   We consciously chose to practice this; to not just “be” better for each other, or to “make” things better for clients but to intentionally work to “serve” others selflessly and sincerely more.  By having more than one of “us” involved in this process it is revealing that it is easier to be “selfless” – without “EGO” …  and work towards our primary team objective of seeking the best, most serving, STRESS FREE solution for the client and us as teammates!

From a practice of working on “listening” skills through “eaves dropping”, …  I was able to re-affirm 3 very important factors about collaboration and cooperating through effective communication.

  1. HEARING CLEARLY: I first “listened” to a young man talking to his wife on the phone about him going to have to quite regrettably miss their all but guaranteed family dinner that Friday evening…  you could tell from his tone and choice of words he was disappointed and apologetic.  He then had his daughter join in on another phone to be part of the conversation, so he could share his regrets and love to her.  The fact that they were on two phones on the other end now, seemed to make it hard for him to hear as you could see his frustration rise in an inability to understand his wife and daughter and to properly assimilate their responses with ease…  There were many requests for clarification and you could almost sense the two on other end also losing their thresholds for patience and communicating more.  It became evident the effect on being able to physically hear well and understand was so fundamentally important.
  2. EMPATHIZING WITH PRESENCE: Then I “scrolled” my hearing to focus on a pair of young men maybe in their late 30’s, early 40’s… (For me that’s young ok?).  They were trading stories about how much travelling they were each doing.   How they were racking up air miles going to various cities in the U.S. and to even towns and villages in other countries!  They lamented some at how they spent 2 days traveling, 3 days in office and 2 days at home almost every week of the year!  Yet the gist of their conversation was on the fact that they just HAD to see people.  And they recognized and valued that process.   Whether it be their clients, their suppliers, their teammates or even colleagues from other industries.  They said and agreed that they just could not get their FULL message out – without truly HEARING the voices, SEEING the eyes and FEELING the emotions and the body language from their client’s… especially as it related to their true needs, wants, desires and even dreams.  The phone, emails, texts, etc. could only bring them so far.  Not to mention the sometimes difficulty in hearing properly over the phone or “reading” the right emotion in a written word.  The words have power — but they were amplified, solidified, clarified and got more “results” by and with the FACE TO FACE visits!  With recent trends towards less of this happening, it was quite refreshing to hear this coming, ever so randomly, from two unrelated individuals in unrelated industries, in an airport no less.  And they were YOUNG! (In my eyes!!)
  3. REPEAT WITH VARIETY AND RESPECT (AND LOVE): After that conversation ended due to a much-awaited boarding call …  I got up, boarded and took my seat on the plane.  I was returning with my wife, from some R & R time in sunny Florida where I like to free myself from the daily grind to “think” – be “creative” and plan things out.   It’s part of my intention to periodically “keep the axe sharp” so to speak.   That way when I go back to “chopping wood” – it will be more effective and require less effort.  

After we took off and reached our cruising altitude I got to “eavesdrop” on an elderly couple … actually not that elderly as they were maybe about 7 years and 4 months older than I and sounded to be recently retired.  They were delightful to listen to.  BOTH were genuinely respectful of each other.  They did not “talk” over each other…  both were patient to wait till the other was fully heard.  It was a bit noisy in the cabin of course…  so, they tried to speak loud enough to be heard – but not too loud to broadcast their conversation.   Lucky for me I was close enough. Notwithstanding – they both took turns to repeat what the other was saying or asking for clarification to be sure they understood and to confirm that the other was heard.  They did it gently, with kindness, patience and an obvious total respect and LOVE for each other.  I could FEEL that sentiment flowing back and forth.  They seemed to be reminiscing too of some of their past and you could hear them even apologize for certain things they may have done or not done at some time or another.   Yet, the other would acknowledge it with a chuckle of rekindling a memory and say it was “all good” and part of their journey together.   This immediately reminded me of an old African proverb that says people who love each other do not dwell on each other’s mistakes…  And so, ideally, in that moment, that said to me that the pinnacle of great communication is to listen and hear another with so much empathy it resembles and behaves like LOVE!  (I did also hear, while we were deplaning, someone say to them how they looked so “adorable” together.   The woman quite proudly said – “well that’s what 50 years of DATING each other can get you… constant wind beneath my wings”.   Hmmm now that was something really interesting to ponder on.  Watch for a future blog on that!)

And one never knows what they can “learn” from being “divinely” delayed and waiting around in an airport!

May we be so lucky to always have wind beneath our wings,

Martial Thevenot

Who exactly is a Perka Team Mate?

(Paraphrased from Father Athol Murray’s “The Notre Dame Man”. Father Murray was head of small High School “Notre Dame College” in Wilcox, Saskatchewan)

Our World today
is looking for men and women,
Who are not for sale. Who are honest,
Sound from center to circumference,
true to the heart’s core.
With consciences as steady as the needle to the pole.
Who are steadfast if the heavens totter and the earth reels.
Who can tell the truth and look the world right in the eye.
Who neither brag nor run – Who neither flag or flinch.
Who can have courage without shouting it.
Who know their message and tell it.
Who know their place and fill it.
Who know their business and attend to it.
Who will not lie, shirk or dodge.
Who are not too lazy to work.
Who are willing to eat what they have earned,
and wear what they have paid for.
Who are not ashamed to say “No” with emphasis.
Our World is looking for them, men and women,
who can unite around a common faith,
who can join hands in a common task .
Not only are they better prepared to fulfill their
duties to their world, they make a better friend,
a better husband, a better father,
a better wife, a better mother. Because free people do.
They are better prepared to live, and when their hour comes,
they will know better how to die, because free people do.

This, is a PERKA TEAM MATE.   Are you?

Would you like to join our TEAM?

Call us at 800-467-3752 or email to perka@teamperka.com

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