Part One — Fear

Fear paralyzes.

I’ve been a carpenter my whole life. Even as a little boy, I was always building something. What I didn’t know never stopped me — I simply found out what I needed to know. I studied a lot, always watching and learning from the older carpenters. Not much was said back then. It was mostly paying attention, working hard, and doing what you were told.

I carried lumber through freezing rain, deep mud, and up steep hills to get it to those carpenters with a simple “Yes sir.” At the end of a long day, you hoped for a small grin and maybe a quiet, “Good job, boy — see you at 7 AM.”

Those old-timers didn’t fear much of anything. One look at the plans and up the building went — rain or shine. You either learned how to do it right, or the next guy would take your place. We didn’t have internet, YouTube, or Instagram. We had books, hard work, and what they called the School of Hard Knocks.

Looking back now, I’ve built more things than I can count.

And today, I realize something — I’m that old carpenter now. I’ve seen a lot of young men come through the gate over the years. I taught them everything I knew, gave them a pat on the back, a small grin, and said, “Good job, young man.”

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Part Two — Procrastination

Procrastination is fear’s best friend.

I’ve always been the kind of person who sees what he wants and goes after it. Years ago, I dreamed about building a little cabin in the woods.

One afternoon during lunch, I was flipping through the newspaper and saw a tiny ad for land for sale. I called the number and told the salesman, “I’ll meet you there tomorrow.”

After a two-and-a-half-hour drive, I arrived. The moment I walked through that property, I fell in love with it. I’ve always loved the woods — the quiet, the smell of pine, the feeling of being away from the world.

On the drive home, I called the salesman and said, “I’ll take it.”

No fear. No procrastination. Just living the dream.

We all have dreams, but too often we bury them under “what ifs.”

What if I fail?
What if I can’t do it?
What if it costs too much?

Before long, procrastination steals the dream completely.

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Part Three — Life Is Short

Well, I’m 65 now, and when I look back at everything I’ve done, I can honestly say I have no regrets.

When you get older, you begin to understand just how short life really is. You realize you have to go after the things you truly want while you still can.

The hardest part of getting older is looking back and saying:

“I wish I would have…”

Let’s stop right there.

You’ve always dreamed of that cabin. That’s probably why you’re here reading this now. Maybe you already own that piece of land tucked back in the woods. Maybe you’ve imagined the sound of rain on the metal roof or sitting beside a wood stove on a cold winter night. You've watched all the YouTube videos over and over again.

The only thing standing between you and that dream may be fear and procrastination.

But here’s the truth:

You do not need to know everything to begin.

Every carpenter starts somewhere. Every cabin starts with one board, one nail, one decision to move forward.

Don’t let fear rob you of something you may think about for the rest of your life.

Start planning. Start learning. Start building. I'm here to help.

Your rustic cabin getaway may become one of the best decisions you ever make.

— Frank Martin
Carpenter & Founder of Adirondack Cabin Plans

Were here to help.