The Mighty TEN

I have to begin this post by saying. "this is not my idea" I read this someplace sometime ago and tried it and it worked. Actually it worked great. I was just too lazy to keep doing it. But yesterday I remembered and re-discovered this great idea.

Every time, (every every time) you walk into your shop put away 10 things. This is important to me because I am the sort of guy that finishes a project and then walks away for a breath of fresh air, leaving tools and chaos behind me.

Further I make the excuse that I work at my other job from home and so am often interrupted by the phone or fax during my work shop time. Each interruption means down tools and time spent at my desk. Down tools is not put away tools, just down.

So....it means that often times I come to the wood shop and have to begin by ending the previous job.

When I follow the Rule Of Ten the problem is lessened considerably. Each time I wonder past or though the shop, to let the cat in/out, or water plants your just look up something I put away ten things. I count these things, a drill bit is one thing. The router and table is one thing, etc. Very quickly there are not ten things to put away and.....when I go down stairs after breakfast and emails the shop is ready to work.

I wish I could remember where I read the idea. It is great for the part time working in the basement and trying to juggle all the balls that life seems to throw my way.

cheers,