D.I.Y. The Right Stuff

You would think that after the many D.I.Y. projects my husband and I have accomplished, we would always check to ensure we had the right tools, equipment, pieces, etc. ready before we started a task. However, my husband has more of a 'let's wing it' kind of style. So, although I try to plan in advance, when he has an idea in his head, I find that I am along for the ride.

One of our more recent projects has been renovating our bathroom. It was in need of a serious update! We stripped the entire bathroom down and updated everything - from the floor to the ceiling and everything in between! My husband was planning a road-trip and wanted the bathroom 100% finished before leaving...although he did not mention this fact until a couple days before his trip was to start. One of the last things we had yet to finish was hooking up the new sink. So, the last day before his trip he sent me a few photos of the pipes we needed to accomplish this task.

I used his photos to purchase the needed supplies from the store and headed home. We worked together on the plumbing for longer than I'd like to admit, only to find out that the pipes were not the right size. So, I decided to run back to the store to get the right supplies. However, it was after 8 PM and the store was closed! Bummed, I went back home.

The next morning my husband left for his road-trip feeling disappointed he didn't accomplish the goal he set. So, I was determined to get 'er done. On my lunch break I purchased the needed supplies with eagerness and determination for success. Once home, I assembled the plumbing in less than 10 minutes. Super excited to have NO LEAKS! SUCCESS!

It's amazing how quick and easy some tasks can be if you have the right stuff on hand!

This is the same in the business world as well. If you have the right resources - people, tools, etc. - the job is so much easier and success is much more likely! So, I have been taking this as a reminder to:

• Plan up front as much as possible
• Ensure I have the right resources in advance...it's better to wait and have the right resources than to start, get stuck and have to start over
• Celebrate the wins and show gratitude towards others!