Today I was installing subway tile in my daughter’s bathroom. I’m a confident DIY kinda guy and I’ve tackled a variety of home improvement projects such as basement finishing, re-routing plumbing lines, installing electric outlets and basic construction projects. When it comes to home improvement and renovation projects, I have a very standard modus operandi or particular way of doing things.
Assess: Can I pull this off? Is it a project that I can learn and then do to an adequate level? I’m pretty good when it comes to making a decision on whether or not I can do something. If a task requires specialized tools or highly specified knowledge and/or experience, I’ll defer to an expert.
Learn: I YouTube the specific task and watch a variety of videos. Sometimes the comments (and replies) will offer additional tips and tricks. For additional backup, I’ll read a handful of traditional articles or written instructions. But for the most part, I learn by seeing.
Mentally Rehearse. Before I go to sleep, I practice the task inside my head over and over. I visualize me doing it from multiple angles. One of things I’ve learned to develop is to foresee possible challenges and then come up with ways to solve them. I’ll predict potential problems and spend time coming up with solutions. I’ve learned over the years that there’s ALWAYS a hitch or a snag or something that turns a seemingly easy task into more of a challenge. Sometimes, if I come up with a challenge that I can’t solve that night, my mind will continue to work on it the following day. It may involve searching online or just letting my imagination take over to come up with a solution.
Just Do It: Doing it is actually just doing what I had already done in my head multiple times. Obviously there are times where I’ll encounter a challenge I didn’t foresee and additional learning is necessary to complete the task.
I’ve used this strategy many times throughout my life. Almost exclusively it’s focused on tangible outcomes – installing a new bathtub; installing hardwood floors, etc. I’ve thought of using this strategy when it comes to business but I find it difficult to translate. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.
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