The right tools.

Over the weekend I had an experience which probably seems quite commonplace or mundane for others, but for me it was really liberating. Over the years, we have done more than our fair share of remodelling, but my husband, Tom, is quite handy and my contributions were more along the line of planning, purchasing, and painting while he did more of the physical labor or building.

For some time he has been scheming and "working on" this ice fishing house with my cousin Jason. I have been largely uninvolved while being deeply fascinated about the organization of a lot of stuff in small spaces for some time. The house has been progressing nicely and with a base of ice forming, they are getting the itch to get it finished.

Yesterday I decided to head up to the shop to lend a hand. Honestly, I had intended on hanging out, watching, snacking and maybe playing "go-fer." And yet, lingering in the background was the draw of power tools. I watched as they repeatedly approached the miter box/chop saw thingy, effortlessly zipped through a piece of wood and off to do something "constructive." I have seen it used before, but had never really needed it. I had made one cut the day before, which was the wrong length, and should have been notched, but it was a good first effort.

I could see the frustration building, trying to get the angle of the cut perfect. They were trying to join three quarter-rounds in the corner. So I jumped in, these are just angles, we can figure this out. My husband removed himself and handed me the moulding to work out the angles. Jason and I cut a number of samples trying to determine the best way to approach it, and got two of the tree, and finally ended up coming together after a little precision sanding for the lack of a coping saw. And I was having fun.

We had discussed just purchasing cabinet doors for the counter that the stove/oven sits in. But then decided we could probably just build them ourselves. That was now my assignment after having mastered the miter saw. I was hesitant, but grabbed some scraps and started in. The whole interior is knotty pine tongue and groove, so I wanted the cabinets to match, and for the seam lines all to match up, so with some calculating, proceeded to cut all of the pieces for the doors. They helped with the assembly, but it was an accomplishment. In the end, I think they looked great. And now I am scheming what else I can do to put my new found tool.

All this work got me thinking about the things I want in 2009, and what are the tools I am going to need to accomplish those goals? How do I acquire the "tools" for to accomplish goals, or what tools might make those tasks easier?

I believe, with the economic downturn, 2009 will be a year of "sharing." Ideas, skills, things, and time, people will begin to be more conscious about sharing. Learning to budget more carefully, learning to cook instead of eating out, learning to fix things instead of buying new, learning to settle down and reconnect with people and sharing time and community with them. In business, maybe the tool is the ability to think more creatively, or being more aggressive about problem solving.

So, as you are making your New Years Resolutions (goals or yearly initiatives), don't forget to look at the tools you will need to make those things happen. Those tools can be time, people, education, consulting, communication mediums, or actual physical tools.

Do you know which tools you need, and how to leverage them for the most "power" going into this coming year? I would love to help you in that process.

Comments

[BP]

Nice article and good way to look at things.