Taking The Needed Time

              When I was young an uncle had just retired after 34&1/2 years in the army. He served from WWII through Viet Nam. He was Airborne, and had made the 5 major jumps of WWII. To say the man was regimented would be an understatement. But to deny his guidance and influence on my life would be disgraceful.  That man would come home after working to have his wife tell him what crazy thing I had done that day. He’d take me for a walk through the woods or the countryside and ask me questions so I could figure why what I had done wasn’t acceptable. However, that is not to say that some of his lesson didn’t come quickly.

I do not remember what I did, but I did a poor job of doing it. I remember him asking me why I did it like that. I didn’t say I didn’t like doing it. I didn’t say I was in a hurry. I said I didn’t have the time to do it right. He simply said, “That’s amazing, because now you have the time to do it over” as he sifted back into drill sergeant mode to oversee my accomplishment of the task.

That simple act took away all those lame excuses of not trying your best.

When I work on my projects, I take the time to prepare. I take the time to do those little things. Many times, it is those little things that identify you as a craftsman. I study and restudy how to do the task I’m doing. There is more than one way to accomplish many tasks, and there are different tools I could use to accomplish my task. I could cut my rabbit joints with the table saw or router. Both do an excellent job but which I use often depends on the project I’m on.

There is a since of accomplishment once a task is placed behind you that you have performed your best at. Many times, those who have hired you will not openly acknowledge the little things you’ve done in your presence, although I have come to realize they’ll tell others of those little details. I have received good contracts because of the little things I do. Also, in time someone thinks on those tasks and come up with a new or improved tool or method to accomplish the task.  Whenever I try a new method it takes practice, or a practice run. This practice run will let you discover the order the task should be accomplished in or at least the order not to do it in.

Many times, the little details you’ve preformed will not be discovered during your lifetime if left alone. Often however, new homeowners’ or the same homeowner wish to adapt their homes to make them their home. When you have to cut into the old to build something new is a time when the marks of the craftsman are on full display.

I am not a production worker. I did not like working in the production housing industry.

I am a craftsman and I take the time do preform the tasks ahead of me the best way I know how. It’s odd, but many times taking the time to do things right end up saving time in the long run. Still when you have to cut into yours, or another work you appreciate the quality or workmanship those little things present. The I can’t see it from my house attitude is a myth. You can see your craftsmanship from your house, I do; but then again, my uncle showed me where to look. Funny how people claim there’s not enough time to do things right but always seem to find time to do them over. Craftsmanship is a mixture of skill, knowledge and mindset. At the end of the day, you’ll be proud of what you’ve learn and accomplished. Sometimes, the little things you’ve done give another person a better life. I was shown this by my Uncle Jim.