One day I decided to clean our water cooler inside-out from those thick dusts and dirt that have accumulated since I bought it about 2 years ago. So I took out the air-filter first and then the water strainer made of nylon net but then came a tricky part. There are 8 screws fixed into 8 2-inch deep screw studs. My small screwdriver could hardly reach the pan head to turn the screw counter-clockwise in loosening it. After some more minutes, a basin of sweat and a couple of sighs, I then remember something. I went straight to my tool cabinet, opened a plastic case and whoolah! Therein lies my 16.8V battery operated drill with a long screw tip coupling that fit perfectly into the screw stud holes. Now, with relative ease, all I needed was to push the screw tip in and pull the switch. It was done in less than a minute.From this experience I was reminded of two important life-lessons.
1. Pause and Plan
Most technical problems in
The same holds true for our life-decisions that were hastily based on emotions. How many marriages are sputtering and collapsing because one or even both sides have neglected to give deliberate thoughts and preparations prior to that lifetime commitment? How many employees remained unemployed after hurriedly jumping off from their jobs that they perceived to be under-appreciating their values? How many business persons are trying to recuperate from heavy financial losses after mindlessly investing in business that is nowhere near their forte? How many students have flunked their exams because they see themselves as intellectually gifted to fail the test and simply browsed their reviewer. If only we took the time out to discern well and practice foresight, a lot of problems would have been avoided or at the very least, solve at the earliest stage.
Sadly, the saying that “haste makes waste” is true and for some of us, realizations do come late and the damage is already done.
2. There is a right tool for each particular need.
In one of our manufacturer, there was a worker assigned to fix and clamp the cables into an insulated connector. But since his supervisor did not provide him any electrical or pneumatic clamping tool, he tried to do it with a hand plier. “He is resourceful”, you might say but the end-result was that a large percentage of his work output is defective because the wires can be easily detached which will cause safety problem in the product. Rework inevitably has to be done.
Indeed, no matter how we try to do something entirely by ourselves, we are likely to fail if that thing needed to be done requires the right tool to be accomplished. Have you ever tried hammering a nail into a wood by your bare hand and come out successful? Even McGyver uses the tools he sees lying around to awe us with his vast and deep knowledge about materials and their usage.
For single person that are planning to get married, it is for their best interest that they devote time to mature spiritually, financially, emotionally, physically because these will be the tools he will need to keep that marriage intact. For workers that are disenchanted at their present working condition, it is best that they equipped themselves with increased knowledge and training about their dream employment. Business, no matter how unpredictable they may be, is best attended by persons who invested their time and learned talent to a particular product or service. And a student’s best chance to pass the examination will never be about his stock knowledge but his timely and dedicated review of the examination scopes.
So the hammer will always be for the nail. OK, so there may be other “similar tools” that can somehow drive the nail down but it will never be your bare hand.
Simply put, right tool means right (and best) results.
My two handy dandy tips.
God bless.
