Every afternoon on the way home, I see a sign or two along the way that reads: "I buy, sell, trade, and repair lawn mowers." And right beside the sign will be a couple of push or self-propelled lawn mowers and occasionally a riding mower. A few years ago, I didn't see any such signs. Now, I see them everywhere. I guess they are "signs of the time."
Of course, the largest category of stuff we all own is: hybrid. They do more than one thing. Clothing (stationary) includes a zipper (mechanical). A food processor (mechanical) requires power (electrical).An African impala can jump to a height of more than 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. It's a remarkable feat to observe--so effortless and graceful, a real defense mechanism necessary for survival on the predator-filled savannas.So fixing hybrid things is simply a matter of understanding what it does and figuring out whether the problem is stationary, mechanical, or electrical. That quickly narrows down the repair job. For example, troubleshooting a lawnmower means looking at the handles and case as stationary; the wheels, engine, blade, and controls as mechanical; and the starter and ignition system as electrical. If the engine runs, but the mower won't move, check the controls or the wheels. You can break down any household thing to its systems, then components, to figure out what's wrong with it and how to fix it.One of the best compliments I can give when writing a reference letter is that the person takes initiative.There are four kinds of things in your home: stuff that is supposed to move (mechanical), stuff that isn't supposed to move (stationary), electrical stuff, and, finally, stuff that does more than one thing (such as electro-mechanical). For example, a windup alarm clock is a mechanical thing -- it's supposed to move gears and hands. If components don't move, it's broken. What all of these mechanical things have in common is that they technically are "machines." That is, they convert one form of energy into another. A hand tool, for example, converts your energy into strength to turn a bolt or cut a board. Knowing what it is supposed to do is the first step in fixing it. A mechanical clock stores your energy in a spring and slowly releases it to turn the clock hands.Lubricants decrease friction between moving parts, and are a vital part of fixing things. Many lubricants are petroleum based. Thin lubricants are called oils and thicker lubricants are greases. Here are the most popular household lubricants and what they work best on:Do you know who is making most of Sears' OPE equipment for the 2010 model year? It's not Husqvarna, which has had most of Sears' business for many years. It's now MTD. Even though Sears uses many different suppliers for various portions of its OPE business, think about the effects of this change on your own parts and service business now that MTD is making a great majority of Sears' riders, push and self-propelled mowers.Don't worry if you weren't born knowing how to take initiative--it can be learned. In fact, a lot of us learn it the hard way, getting stuck in a rut and trying to dig our way out. At some point, frustration sets in and we decide to take charge of the situation. That's when good things happen.Contact the Anonymous Distributor at anonymous.distributor@gmail.com or read his blog at www.anonymousdistributor.blogspot.com.Troubleshooting mechanical things is a little more difficult than troubleshooting stationary things because you may have to take something apart. However, if you know what your broken item is supposed to do, you probably can figure out what needs fixing. For example, a windup alarm clock may run very slowly, not keeping the correct time--and making you late for work. Rather than toss it and get another one, carefully open it up and see if there's anything (a loose screw, dust) keeping a mechanism from turning as designed. Or the item just may need a small amount of lubricant to reduce resistance between moving parts.* Silicone is an organic compound that is highly resistant to wear, heat, and water; it makes a great lubricant.Many humans share these characteristics. They thrive in familiar territory, doing what they know is safe and comfortable, but they won't take any risks for fear of failure. They would rather watch opportunities pass them by than jump over the wall.Do you take risks in your business, or do you stick with what you know is safe and comfortable? Do you try to understand what the consequences might be before you act? Remember the old adage: "Measure twice and cut once." We know that really does reduce risk.
Contact the Anonymous Distributor at anonymous.distributor@gmail.com or read his blog at www.anonymousdistributor.blogspot.com.
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