Growing up at my dad’s work sites, I learned plenty. I was a sponge for everything. I loved so much about remodeling , the tradespeople, my dad’s carpenters, the craftsmen who understood how to build things and made his designs come to life. Being part of the transformation is like a ride you want to go on again and again. That people trusted my dad to tear apart their homes and put them back together was always amazing to me.
As kids, we learned about order and organization. Going with Dad to clean the office on weekends was a dreaded task, but we grew to understand the importance and comfort that cleanliness and order provided. Not everyone had that benefit growing up. Employees don’t come to me with these abilities; they don’t feel the same discomfort. After pondering why, I found myself flashing back to my formative years.
Dad
Dad & The Push Broom
He would show up in his suit, take one look at the messy site, and let his feelings be known. Then, sport coat off with some fanfare, he’d grab the push broom. “This is how you use it. You push it forward and as an added feature, you can pull it too.” Broom 101 was a rite of passage. It took a bit to master, but we all did. The lesson was clear: the most menial task is worth learning and doing well. Concentration and care were the attention you paid to every task. The parallels in life were not lost on me.
Funny, although I helped a lot and did plenty of carpentry work, I never envisioned myself mastering the craft. But I fell in love with tools and gained a pride in doing good work as part of a team.
My take aways include:
- Bask in the light of your accomplishments.
- Mastering problem solving is a never ending persuit .
- Being a good leader is more important than anything.
- Keeping things orginized, more is not always better.
- Figuring out how to not “Lose your ass” is a noble endevor.
Order & Clenliness Go Together
As the years pass swiftly, I realize I have a propensity to hold onto things I might need someday. I also have a deeper understanding that order and cleanliness go hand in hand. Taking and allotting the time to declutter and clean up after each project is essential. Cleaning occasionally is a thrill, but disorganization is a killer of enthusiasm. Working on processes is a valuable endeavor that pays dividends. Fix it once and continuously improve upon it.
Having just lived through a remodel at my own home, I found myself out of sorts as the project was done during downtime,which is always sparse and sporadic. Now that order has been restored, I have a palpable sense of calm. That calm gives me energy to toss unnecessary things and be more creative. Reflecting is a powerful tool, and having the time to do it makes me feel rich. Reminiscing about the good old days gives me a sense of accomplishment that comes from a life well lived. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Downsizing My Empire
Selling my building and property meant consolidating and relocating everything. Three storage areas and a full garage had me paralyzed all over again. My home was bulging with office furniture, important documents, and well, stuff. Holy cow, we had accumulated a lot, and that was after we’d already given plenty of it away. Which percipitates the conversation that starts with … How come all my stuff is shit and all your shit is stuff?
My kids came to the rescue in a sweet twist of fate. As it turns out, both of them inherited the neat-and-tidy gene. They pitched in and helped enormously. We’re not at the finish line yet, but when you look back, the progress is undeniable.
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