Your Tools

There is new and fantastic software, both free and paid, out on the market today. It is much better than what we had a year ago. And probably, it’s nowhere near as good as the new software that’ll be out six months from now. Thus the rush, to have the latest and the best. We do this because we believe having the newest and the best will put us at the forefront and make what we offer and sell both the most original and the best.

Unfortunately, the idea of buying the best makes us the best is a fallacy. In our minds, we know this. And yet, the shininess of the new tool that does everything for you and the slick sales pitch always plays with the mind.

Imagine two competitors for a carpentry job. The first competitor is just out of school and has the newest all-in-one power tool that will do absolutely anything. And yet, the young man has not really built very much by hand.

The second competitor. Is an older gentleman with a dusty toolbox containing a handsaw, a hand drill, a T-square, and a worn hammer. All these tools were given to him by his father. The older man has built cabinets, tables, chairs and other projects every week since he was 13.

You need new cabinets built for your kitchen. Knowing what you know about these two carpenters, who do you give the job to?

You do not need to have the newest of everything. What you need is the working knowledge of and expertise in your craft and trade.

Please comment on this and let me know what you think. And have a good day. We will talk to you again tomorrow.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof