Hello and welcome! My name is Paul Pentikainen and I'm an urban planner with over 15 years of experience, focusing on land use, transportation planning, affordable housing, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). I hold a master's degree in urban planning and have received numerous awards and recognition for my innovative approach to problem-solving and policy development.

Throughout my career, I've been featured in media interviews, spoken at conferences and events across North America, and was named one of the top 10 municipal innovators in Canada by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in 2018. My work has also been covered by national and international news sources such as the Toronto Star, CTV, CBC, Bloomberg, TVO, Maclean's, BBC, and The Guardian.

Inspired by Apple's "Think Different" campaign and their commercial that has inspired me throughout my career, I founded Think Different Planning with a mission to having a greater impact on improving lives and strengthening our communities.

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, just outside the Greater Toronto Area, I've always loved sports and the outdoors. My DIY mindset was sparked by my dad, who DIYs just about everything as cost-effectively as possible. This influence led me to undertake two ADU projects with a DIY approach, which now generate $40,000 in annual rental income and have totaled over $130,000 in revenue.

Seeing the benefits of ADUs firsthand, not only for my wife and I, but also for our tenants, has fueled my passion for improving lives. That's why the first project of Think Different Planning is to create the ADU Mastery for DIYers online course.

By providing you with a comprehensive guide that empowers you to take on your ADU project, my goal is to help you improve your life and the lives of those who will live in the space you create. This is how we can make a positive impact on our community, one project at a time.

Join me on this exciting journey, and let's build the ADU of your dreams together!

If you haven't already, please watch the introductory video to the ADU Mastery for DIYers course and be inspired to take on your project today!