I was reminded today about one of the ‘rules’ that I have noticed over the years. I was doing a little DIY project at home, and thought I had everything ready to go. Then I was caught by what I call “Rick’s DIY Law”:

Every project requires at least three trips to the hardware store.

That ever happened to you? Yep, just about every time.

You plan a project, thinking about all the things you need. You think about the process involved, and go over the steps in your mind. Maybe there’s something you need to buy as part of the project. So you make a trip to the store and get that ‘one thing’.

And you start the project. And discover that there wasn’t just ‘one thing’ needed. You need ‘another thing to use with the one thing’. Which you thought you had, but didn’t.

So, another trip to the store to get that ‘one-more-thing’. And probably another trip to get the ‘thing-needed-to-finish’.

Happens to me just about every time.

And there is a corollary to the law.

The tool you need is not in the tools that you brought with you.

For a home improvement type project, it’s probably in your garage. Not in the toolbox or tools that you brought with you to the spot that you are working on.

And there is even a corollary to that corollary.

The tool you need cannot be found in the places where you keep your tools.

Been there, done that.

How about you? Leave your thoughts in the comments.