Time to Read – Five seconds for the first line, another five, and so on…
My wife Rosalind knew her outcome – to install a sprinkler system for our hanging plants.
She knew where she was when she started – her husband is useless at DIY, hates DIY and is probably the worst choice of person to do DIY.
What to do?
This is what happened:
She said to me “Darling, would you be good enough to drill a hole in the outside wall for me – I know you don’t like DIY, but I really need this done, please”
I thought ok, what’s one hole, even I can do that. After all, she did the measuring, she told me where to drill, nothing could go wrong – and if it did, it would be her fault, not mine.
So, I drilled a hole.
Then she said “while you are here, could you push this rawlplug in please?
I did, each time receiving specific praise…
…Until, an hour later, we had a complete sprinkler system.
I kind of knew what she was up to – but the idea of “David – could you install a new sprinkler system” would have scared the hell out of me, and had me suddenly having a very sore back.
By breaking the project down to clear, simple, understandable specific actions, Rosalind made it easier for a simple chap like me, removed my excuses. And, by the way, made it a lot of fun.
Don’t eat an elephant; break it down into manageable, digestible chunks.
And when visitors come to our home, and notice our sprinklers coming on, I say “I did that.”
Except on days when it goes wrong, in which case, of course, it was Rosalind.
With my love
And best wishes
David
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