Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: HIB-System
Why It’s a Gem: DIY homebuilding comes of age with a LEGO-like solution that’s as simple as it is environmental

Most every kid who has played with LEGOs has dreamed of living in a house of her own construction. Now that dream has come closer to reality, with the innovative design from Germany’s HIB-System, a company that produces wooden tongue-in-groove building blocks that most anyone can assemble into the house of their dreams, minus the bumpy green lawn and plastic pine tree.

After building more than 100 homes in Germany using this system, HIB has now come to the United States, where it hopes to make a splash in the eco-competition being held in Greensburg, Kans., a town devastated by a tornado in 2007 and now looking to rebuild its community with affordable, sustainable housing. While the HIB system still requires some help from construction professionals such as plumbers and electricians, the overall frame of the home can be done in just a few days by one person, and with the building blocks weighing no more than 55 pounds each, you can even forego the traditional heavy machinery. Welcome to the new age of DIY.
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Ruby Tuesday Pick of the Week: UsedCardboardBoxes.com
Why It’s a Gem: If at first you don’t succeed, try a leaner, greener business model.

When Marty Metro’s first business model to sell used cardboard boxes failed, it didn’t get him down. His passion for his idea kept him retinkering until he got it right. Today, UsedCardboardBoxes.com is a financial – and environmental – success story. (more…)

You’ve worked hard and uncovered the rubies in your orchard. Business is booming. How great! But now all your free time is being siphoned away by clients, and you’re not sure how to help your business take the next step in growing up. In this week’s Ask Lynda, a prospering entrepreneur gets some next-step tips on graduating her fledgling company by working smarter.

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