OOPS

Mistakes are inevitable. Plan for them and build in extra time and material; you will probably need it. When I built custom furniture pieces on commission, I quoted one price for everything. When calculating my hard costs, I always added 10 to 15% extra to my materials cost. I knew I probably forgot something, cut something too short, or my material had a defect I just couldn’t work around. This saved my fanny on more than one occasion.

When you begin a turning project know that the finished item will always end up smaller than you thought it would. If the mission is critical, don’t rely on only one piece of lumber. You could get a catastrophic catch, it could crack, or you could go through the side or the bottom. If you have a fast–approaching deadline, I can almost guarantee you will rush through the process and miss something.

If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

If you think something will take 2 hours, it will probably take 3 hours or more. If you think you need 4, you probably need 5 or 6. If you plan ahead, your OOPS can be taken in stride and you will be successful regardless. If you need to be somewhere at 5 pm and the travel time is 20 minutes, leave 30 to 40 minutes early instead. If you do arrive early, you’ll have time to catch your breath and gather your thoughts. You will also have time to ask for forgiveness for all the names you called the idiots along the way and calm down. My reference is Atlanta traffic, yours may be different.

If you have a deadline for a project, finish it early. That removes all the anxiety and you can relax when delivery day comes. When I had a commission to build an expensive piece of furniture for a client, I would quote a finish date beyond the time I actually thought it would take. Again, this saved me from embarrassment more than once.

This is September 2024, the holidays are coming so don’t wait to begin working on your Christmas gifts. Start now and remove the pressure of working under the gun. OOPS won’t bother you if you plan ahead. Remember that wherever you go there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this week’s message:

(Prov 21:5 [MSG]) Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

(Luke 14:28 [MSG]) "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it?

(Matt 6:34 [NASB]) “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.