- Story by Tess van Straaten Photography by Lia Crowe

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Whether it91裸聊视频檚 waiting for the steel to heat up when he91裸聊视频檚 blacksmithing, waiting for the hay to dry on his Central Saanich farm or waiting for the right business opportunity, construction guru Dan Schuetze has learned to have patience.

91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 say I always have patience, but I91裸聊视频檝e learned throughout my life that things always work out in the end,91裸聊视频� the 43-year-old owner of Villamar says. 91裸聊视频淚t can sometimes be short-sighted to think it has to happen now and we have to have the answer now. There are times you really have to work hard and you really have to make something happen. But there are other times you have to sit back and be at peace. You do just have to hurry up and wait sometimes.91裸聊视频�

That inner calm, coupled with a strong work ethic, is definitely working for Dan. Since starting Villamar in 2006, he91裸聊视频檚 built a name for himself as one of the top high-end custom homebuilders in Greater Victoria in addition to running successful renovation, commercial construction, design and telecommunication technology arms of the business.

91裸聊视频淚 like the creativity of it and turning a concept into reality,91裸聊视频� Dan says. 91裸聊视频淓very project has a bit of a different challenge. The whole idea of being able to think outside the box and having great people around you seems to be the best way to meet any challenge.91裸聊视频�

Dan91裸聊视频檚 start in construction came early. His dad was a builder and he began working with him right out of high school. His parents were missionaries and the family moved to the Saanich Peninsula when Dan was 16 years old, after living in Northern Spain and Mexico during his childhood.

91裸聊视频淲e flew down to Mexico on a small plane and that91裸聊视频檚 where we lived for nine years,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 think the experience that I was able to grow up with was incredible 91裸聊视频� seeing how other people lived, different cultures and different countries.91裸聊视频�

Dan says it taught him to be resourceful and helped cement a strong work ethic instilled in him by his parents.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of the people around us were so poor 91裸聊视频� they had nothing and we didn91裸聊视频檛 really have much either,91裸聊视频� he explains. 91裸聊视频淵ou looked around and saw how resourceful people had to be and how hard they had to work to get ahead. That91裸聊视频檚 something we don91裸聊视频檛 really see or experience here as kids.91裸聊视频�

It91裸聊视频檚 a different kind of childhood to what own his two daughters, aged 11 and 14, are growing up with on the pastoral Peninsula, enjoying the tranquility and freedom of their farm.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just such a peaceful place to live and it gives our kids a ton of freedom to run around,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 get to drive a tractor and bale hay in the summer. There91裸聊视频檚 something about being on a noisy tractor on a hot day, with no distractions, watching birds fly around.91裸聊视频�

For Dan, who got into blacksmithing about a year ago, there91裸聊视频檚 also something about forging metal with his own hands and creating something out of nothing.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 rewarding to make something you can actually use,91裸聊视频� says Dan, who is planning to make a set of kitchen knives for his house. 91裸聊视频淚 like the pace of it. You have to wait until the steel is hot enough, and then you have to act fast or you miss your window of opportunity. It91裸聊视频檚 like a lot of things in life 91裸聊视频� timing is everything.91裸聊视频�

Dan91裸聊视频檚 other passion is cars 91裸聊视频� he91裸聊视频檚 owned hundreds over the years and he bought his first vehicle before he could even drive.

91裸聊视频淭he first car I bought was a 1978 Toyota Corolla 91裸聊视频� so definitely not a glamorous car by any means or a collectable or fun car 91裸聊视频� but it was the one I could afford at the time!91裸聊视频� laughs Dan.

It was the first car he owned after he got his license, a 1972 BMW 2002, which really ignited his passion. He now has a small collection and says early Porsches are his favourite.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 something so timeless about them,91裸聊视频� he explains. 91裸聊视频淢y favourite is my 1968 Porsche 912. I love the lines, the way they drive. There91裸聊视频檚 just something really authentic about them. An older car reminds you that you91裸聊视频檙e driving, where a new car kind of makes you forget you91裸聊视频檙e driving.91裸聊视频�

As Dan continues to drive Villamar forward into bigger and better things, one piece of advice really sticks out.

91裸聊视频淭he biggest shift for me has been from thinking what can I get from someone to what can I give?91裸聊视频� he explains. 91裸聊视频淚f you do something that only gives you something back, it91裸聊视频檚 a one-sided relationship and it won91裸聊视频檛 work. Being able to add value to others is the key.91裸聊视频�