Non handy people

[echotrail]

I used to work with a gal who had a masters degree in Mathematics. She could work out a complicated problem in her head without using pencil let alone a calculator. But...one day she was going to call an electrician because her central AC was not working. I asked if she'd first checked the circuit breaker to see if it had tripped. She said "What's a circuit breaker"?

[JohnMickish]

I haven't read all of this thread but thought I'd put my .02 in and maybe it's been said before. Not everybody needs to be able to fix stuff. Some people get more enjoyment out of being able to pay people to do simple things so they have more time to do the stuff they like.

Maybe you can do crown molding like it's nothing and the other guy can't tell wood from wool, maybe the other guy can do heart surgery and you can't tell a human heart from a baboon heart. Aren't skills in any business still skills?

[papabear]

Thanks for saying that MFG. It sounds like having mechanical skills was getting to be the measure of a person. I could care less if someone can change a tire if I want them to do my taxes.

[Wanderer]

Hey everybody, take pride in what you CAN do! Whatever that is.

A lot of people who make money with their minds are actually trained to focus on what they are good at and let someone else handle the other things. This is so they can continue to make progress in their best field.

Its actually one of the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.

I personally get alot of satisfaction out of fixing things but I'll also be pretty happy if I can ever get that Equipment Ammortization Schedule done some day too.

[ishgood]

Whats the definition of highly successful?

[Wanderer]

Being the best at what you're good at. If you want to be.

Success doesn't = money IMO, happiness and fullfillment does.

[JohnMickish]

Whats the definition of highly successful?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That may not be the definition to everyone, but it is to most. I've also found in my life the more money you make the less handy you have to be, and vice versa.

[JohnMickish]

Seriously though, I believe that success is measured by ones peers, as being recognized as being above average in whatever one does.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I've also found in my life the more money you make the less handy you have to be, and vice versa.

Is it just me or do some "successful" people come off as being too dumb to fail? That might just be my problem, I am too smart to succeed!

Seriously I have never been afraid to try to fix anything. From the repair of a leaky shower area (which resulted in a down to the studs complete remodel of the bathroom) to my most recent project, repairing the flash on my point and shoot camera (which I posted here ) I have always been mechanically inclined and naturally curious of how things worked since I was pretty young and I've also always had the "I can do it myself" confidence as well.

Being in the automotive industry for a number of years and I'm sure this applies to a lot of trades, I can easily spot the guys that "have it" and the guys that "don't".

[Macgyver55]

Quote:

Seriously I have never been afraid to try to fix anything. I have always been mechanically inclined and naturally curious of how things worked since I was pretty young and I've also always had the "I can do it myself" confidence as well.

Airjer, it sounds like we are quite alike in that respect.

I usually tackle a new task with this in mind... "I may not know how to do something when I start, but I will when I finish. I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, because it already doesn't work". If I fix it rather than replace it, great! If not, somebody is gonna be spending some money.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I freak my wife out when I get working on something. Like yous guys, I'm not afraid to jump in and fix it. The other day my wind up alarm clock stopped working. Mrs boilerguy said after taking the back off I stared at it for almost a half hour, and was in my own little world. However, I figured out what was wrong and fixed it. (spring fell off)

I don't measure success by how much money a person has or makes. I figure if you are a happy guy, you're successful. I like to keep things simple.

[jwhjr]

I don't measure success by how much money a person has or makes. I figure if you are a happy guy, you're successful. I like to keep things simple.

Well said.

[311Hemi]

Being in the automotive industry for a number of years and I'm sure this applies to a lot of trades, I can easily spot the guys that "have it" and the guys that "don't".

As I look to tear my Dodge 2500 front end apart tomorrow for the first time(new ball joints/hub-bearing assembly/tie rods/u-joint) I hope if you saw me I would be one of the guys that "have it", otherwise I may be in trouble!! LOL

I can tell you for the those of us that like to dig into something they know nothing about......it is definitely a good feeling tackling something new and that sense of accomplishment. From a new paver patio I put in at my house a couple years ago to helping a buddy finish his garage over the past few months(it was pretty much just framing and exterior), there is always something to learn.

One thing is for sure though....it definitely helps having people "in the know" just a phone call away to help guide you though the process to make sure you do things the right way the first time (at least you hope!!).

[papabear]

Successful?

at the end of the day you can look back at what you did and be proud of at least one thing

[BobT]

I don't necessarily think it's an issue of not knowing but more an issue of an unwillingness to try.

When I bought my home in 1991, I had never installed drywall, never put a basement under an existing house, never finished cement, never put in footings, never laid any block, never designed and wired a home, and only had a little knowledge of sweating copper pipe. In the process of remodeling my home I learned how to do all these things. Some of them required a rather significant amount of research like the wiring.

I recently have been learning how to weld well enough to get two pieces of metal to stick together on my farm equipment. Like everything else, it isn't always pretty and I may have to redo some of it or I may take longer but it gets done.

The point is that there is a willingness to try even when I may not know exactly what I'm doing. Many people today just don't seem to have a desire to even give it a try. I see this with service technicians where I work. The electrical controls are changing very fast. Take a kid that has never worked with an older processor and he gets brain dead or put one in a situation where he has to work with different electronics and the same thing happens. It's like we are becoming zombies that can't think outside the box. It's too bad.

Bob

[Pooh]

im in the framing end of building houses, mainly roof systems, but anything from floor to ceiling really. if most people would step back and look at what they are trying to tackle and break it down into smaller peices, and take it one peice at a time it make it way easier.

i can build a house, but dont ask me how to even touch a set of carbs off a motorcycle (tryed it should have taken it to the guy that KNOWS what hes doing, not THINKS he knows)

remember like Red Green says "if the ladies dont find you handsome they should at least find you handy" we hope

[Jeremy airjer W]

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati!

[Roofer]

remember like Red Green says "if the ladies dont find you handsome they should at least find you handy" we hope

Ahhahahahaha

Very funny!