Other life

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Dueck says his parents were a strong influence on his hobby: “Growing up, my parents made wood crafts that they would sell at local markets and craft sales on the weekends”

8

Years Dueck has been an active woodworker

50

Approximate number of pieces he's made so far

1

Typical number of hours he spends on each project

LITTLE MASTERPIECES

Broker Paul Dueck devotes the same attention to detail to his woodworking projects as he does to putting together successful mortgage deals

PAUL DUECK takes pride in his stellar industry record and connections, which he credits to the valuable skills he’s learned from woodworking, a hobby he’s been dabbling in since childhood and fully embraced during his grad-school years. Chief among these are patience and planning, which Dueck says are critical to a successful woodworking project.

“Learning to incorporate both of those in my hobby has translated to my mortgage business,” explains Dueck, a Winnipeg-based mortgage specialist with Castle Mortgage Group. “When I first started making things like end tables or even garden boxes, I would have an idea in my mind and then just start cutting. Saving time upfront often meant more work later, and I quickly realized that taking time to draw detailed plans and prepare the materials in advance would reduce the complications later in the project.”

The same holds true for the mortgage process, he says. “Spending the time upfront with the clients and detailing the next steps makes the process much more enjoyable for both the clients and myself, and reduces the stress when the clients have an accepted offer.”

Crafting wooden objects is a source of joy for Dueck, and when the pandemic took hold last year, he decided to spread some of that joy to others.

“I started making them for friends and family and would drop them off on their doorsteps with a little card,” he says. “It was something thoughtful I could do for others and was a nice break from staring at the computer screen. The part I enjoy the most is seeing other people enjoy the things I have made for them.”