…is a lifelong mission for most of us.

 

Think about it… we spend much our time tweaking and perfecting things while thinking; “once I get this thing just the way I want it life/ work/ ‘things’ will be better.”

 

We spend much of our time trying to improve on what we have so that we may enjoy them more.  We work on our careers, our spouses, our homes, our kids, on and on. 

 

In some ways trying to make things work, preparing for challenges (Read:  “Cooking with Another Man’s Wife- originally posted here August 12, 2009 – https://blog.lonkieffer.com/?p=140 ) is what we are all about!

 

Several years ago I had the good fortune to buy a dumpy house on a lazy river back in the woods.  Because someone else spent little to no time “making things work” I was able to buy a “project” well below market value.

 

Today, I think the market value, like the rising and falling tide behind my house, has managed to fall well below my purchase price but that is another story for another day.

 

I have toiled on this house for quite some time; I even moved into it so that I could spend more time working on it.

 

But nature pulled me away; the river, the moon, the setting sun, the hunting Owls and swimming (and chewing) Beaver called me. 

 

I went to them… I quit for a moment trying to “make things work.”

 

That is until I bought a little boat.

 

I spent the rest of the summer trying to make my boat work!  I pled with it, cursed it, coddled it, pushed and pulled on it (and often ended up paddling it) all Summer long.

 

Every time it wouldn’t start, or the bilge wouldn’t pump, or the gas got stale (thank you Ethanol) I would think; “if only I could make this thing work….”

 

So went my Summer…

 

Recently, at a corporate meeting, someone asked how my Summer had been.  I began to describe my trials and tribulations on the river and TRYING to get on the river.  As I heard myself speak I realized just how much fun I had simply TRYING to make things work.  (GOOBERSism #5:  Thou shalt be INSPIRED by what you are TRYING to do!”)

 

Fall has fallen, as has the temperature and leaves… and soon I will be pulling my boat from the water.  Even though the whole thing will take me a matter of moments (that is if it starts) I will agonize over the thought for several days.

I am left with this thought… what will I work on stuck in the woods, but not on the River, all winter long?

 

Hey… I wonder if my chain saw will start?

 

 

*  *  *

 

Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant, Expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com