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Always Use right tools for the task
Kishore (December 2002)
In my opinion using right tool for the task on hand is very important in doing it in the best manner possible. Only by using the right tools we will be able to do a professional job. Even then some of us have difficulty in adapting to new tools and investing time and money in the same. We become so comfortable with our way of doing things that we don't want to change and learn a new way of doing things and we also resist the change if it is being imposed on us.
I am obsessed to improve at every opportunity. I am willing to learn and invest in new tools. I am constantly amazed at the way some of the hard tasks have been made simple by new tools that come up in the market.
A few examples:
I wanted to ensure all the junk mail containing my mail address to be torn apart properly. I was not comfortable with manual way of tearing the papers to pieces and I didn't rest till I got a shredder at home to the job in a easier and better manner.
I always insist on using a letter opener to cut open a mail I receive instead of opening it hastily with any tool at my hand. My obsession with this goes to the extent that I was not happy till I bought a replacement when I lost my first letter opener.
I shared this sometime back. I wanted a perfect way to manage my expenses and after some research I found that MS Money software meets my needs and didn't hesitate to invest and buy the software.
As you have seen I have published a presentation on MS Project last month. I feel using Project is at least helpful in organization project related information and it is better use the tool (even if there are limitations) than not using any tool at all. I have tried to impress on my team members to use this in all future projects and I use it myself.
My Daily planner is the right tool which helps me to list my to-do lists, goals and track information the right way.
After coming to US I was taking my lunch box is ordinary cover and I was not happy with it and soon bought the right tool - a lunch bag.
And so on.. the list can go on.
What is it I am trying to convey?
Well, there are many ways to do things. Whenever we have a problem, if we research we will find that someone has already found a way of overcoming this problem and has started selling this solution so that others can benefit. Either through our ignorance or through our resistance to change, we continue to live with problem. Once you start keeping an open mind and willingness to change and adapt to new ways of doing things, we will soon find that we doing the things in a smart way instead of the hard way.
It is not humanly possible to do research for all problems, so rely on experts who can give good suggestions. When you have problem ask around. Someone might have found a better way to do things. If it is not prohibitively costly invest in the new method and derive benefit. Doing it with right tools we reduce stress and help you become good at it. By resisting change we are resolving to live with the stress.
I also find there are innovative and creative people out there trying to find solutions to problems. We have already learned lot of tools and learning new tools should not be difficult. Learning about new things will make life more interesting. Experiment and be willing to improve constantly.
There is always scope for improvement.
Summary
What are the problems you are having? Who else might be having similar problem? May be they already found a way to overcome the problem? Did you ask around? Have you been living with a problem for more than a few months? Then you are resisting change. Try this for a change and you will feel the difference.