On 3/8/10 12:36 PM, Keith wrote:
Do you routinely attempt projects out of your comfort
zone?
While I think it is the right thing to do intellectually to expand my
knowledge, I often think that I waste a lot of time trying to do fairly
simple tasks in areas where I have limited knowledge or experience.
I think challenges can be rewarding, and I enjoy them. "Anything worth
doing is hard." I think is the phrase.
"Anything worth doing is worth doing wrong."
I struck a match to a propane burner Friday that I built from a bunch
of plumbing parts. While it's pretty close to a well-proven design and
I regularly play with that kind of fire, I've never built my own. If
anything, lifelong association with cutting & welding torches made this
project even more scary. Lighting it the first time literally made my
sphincter cramp. It worked, and my garage still has its roof. :)
To me, "wasting time" is a very subjective phrase. I could have gone
to the local potter's supply and bought a commercial version of this for
~$100, and I have probably 20 hours of research, parts shopping, and
fiddling in the one I built. In a purely monetary sense, I lost out
big-time making my own. However, every time I light the thing I'll get
a little "I DID THAT!" thrill, and a little chuckle at how nervous I was
about testing my own work.
See Also: HOBBY(n) - that which one does for entertainment, usually
at great cost.
Doc