I Think I Can

“Wishful thinking only serves to take your mind off the actual problem. It is a kind of a temporary virtual reality. Real problem solving type of thinking is useful when you are developing a strategy and an action plan to solve that particular challenge and when you establish a feasible time frame for its implementation.”

This kind of verbiage is in the opening paragraph of every company’s motivational meetings ever held in the last 50 years. Why? It is true. Words without actions are as hollow as a giant soap bubble at a 4th of July picnic. And they last about as long. My advice, do something.

After very careful completely non–scientific analysis carried out by yours truly, I have discovered that 90% of folks who turn wood do it for the fun of it! A full 95% of turners earn less than $500 each year, most of that is accidental. The vast majority of turners never sells any of their work, but choose to give it away for the love of creating something beautiful on a lathe. Turning wood on a lathe is about as “pure clean fun” as it gets. It is a hobby which can be shared with friends, neighbors and family members. It can be very quick, simple and nearly cost–free, or it can be made to be complex, expensive and time consuming. A turner has the great luxury of participating to both extremes and everything in between. The variety is endless.

If you didn’t get as much time in front of the lathe this week as you wanted to, it could have been because you didn’t schedule the time. I know things come up that take priority, but it shouldn’t be the TV, Facebook, or Twitter. I would encourage you to make specific appointment times with yourself and set aside an hour or two with the lathe, or preparing turning stock, or just time in the shop. Think about getting up early before work or beginning your usual daily schedule. Turn your phone off ; you do it for your Doctor and your Pastor, do it for yourself. You know this is good advice and although this is a woodturning newsletter, it can be applied to anything if importance, exercise, prayer time, or alone time with your spouse for example. Because wherever you go, there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this week’s message:

James 2:17 NIV

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Prov 14:23 MSG

Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.