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DAY 73

UPDATE: Saturday, 07-May-2005 11:47 PM

Today was a fantastic day and I got a lot of things done, and 'til 4:30 PM none of it was at the computer. Several 'to do' items have nagged me for a while, and I just had to do them today. Then some dinner and at work for 4 hours.

In the end a completely full day. Much of it while doing things in the garden and fixup things -but as I have said, they are essential to a good life, and give an opportunity to practice excellence.

Yes, even doing the dishes after dinner will give you that opportunity.

My arguement is that IF (when) you can do one thing to near perfection, you can do nearly anything to near perfection.

Saturday had a lot of activity like that.

I had a lot of time to think...

After that this conversation drifted to SUNDAY, but that is OK.... Sunday, 08-May-2005 10:32 PM

Overall, nothing more, as I have focused exclusively on the maxsimo.com needs. And I have also had to make sure that the comminication between me and the programmers was 'better than' normal. When deadlines are looming, stress levels peak and things start to take a life of their own.

Sometimes, not in a good direction.

However, in this case, I applied some bonuses and said that with timely and quality work, we will take care of you. Just help me get the job done, and help me help you.

That was the message. And it resonated. Now we are focused and moving.

The idea came after I visited a family friends in the country side over the weekend. Their new house, which looked like it could belong on a San Francisco, California street -it was tall and slim, was a masterpiece of quality and detail.

There was a kitchen cabinet that I opened and closed about a half dozen times. It was a corner cabinet that had two doors, and a turn table inside. When the doors were closed about 70% or 80% of the way, the 'doors did the rest' and closed automatically. Cool stuff.

I spent a minute or two swinging a door and noticed how it was hung -perfectly as it traveled accross the floor.

Anyway, the reason that I look around things like this is becasue I like good, quality, detailed items, proucts, homes, etc. built by craftsmen.

A lot of that has gone missing in the USA. But a lot of it is alive and well here in the Netherlands. Houses here are built to last centureies --not a few decades.

On Saturday I had a chance to take it all in and see how nice that can be.

Just around the corner from our home, I watched brick layers for about 10 mintues a few weeks back. Last week I had a chance to walk over their work, and that too was done with fantastic perfection.

I was in envy. Not often am I like that.

Certainly, not over the material things in life that many people seem to stive for these days, but in this case the work of the brick layers -perfect.

I wish I could work like that -with that focus, with that precision. I wish.

Well, I hope to. That is what this exercise is all about. And it's working. Bit by bit.

Since I have started this blog all of my work has risen to a new level and I am very happy with it. What I am most happy about is that this is JUST DAY 73 and I feel and talk about it.

How will I feel on DAY 173 or 473 or even 773? I hope to find out and talk about it.

What more...I've got to go and test, but back soon. Sam out.

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