What is your best "trick" to make your efforts more efficient?

[Tobra]

How would sitting in the shower be more efficient? I am never in there long enough to sit

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Actually reading the instructions.

Exactly. And so many people don't.

At high school our teacher played a trick/life lesson on us. He said "Right, this exam you have sixty minutes. Spend five minutes reading the entire document, then start." Most of us kids in our infinite wisdom ripped into answering the questions, confident that we had an extra five minutes that the other fools lost by reading it first. After we finished question 20 and reached the end we read "Choose and answer six questions."

Haha, it has set me up well for life. Thanks teacher.

[oldE]

When "creating " something, I will draw the project in three stages: perspective, overall to scale and details. This allows me to see potential problems and design them out before I cut material.
Also I have learned , like others here, to Stop and think things over before I (hopefully) screw things up too badly.
Even with a lot of planning I often find the finished product does not resemble the initial rendering.

Best
Les

[Baz]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Actually reading the instructions.

Where's the fun in that?

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by Amail

And brush your teeth, shave, and pee in the shower. Let's not Higgins it up though.

I do 2 out of 3 of these daily................

[herr_oberst]

Always be knolling

[Captain Ahab Jr]

When 'designing' stuff on fast cars my trick is to think of every imaginable way I can 'f**k it up' or how 'it can f**k up' and then I try to avoid falling into the traps I thought of

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Exactly. And so many people don't.

At high school our teacher played a trick/life lesson on us. He said "Right, this exam you have sixty minutes. Spend five minutes reading the entire document, then start." Most of us kids in our infinite wisdom ripped into answering the questions, confident that we had an extra five minutes that the other fools lost by reading it first. After we finished question 20 and reached the end we read "Choose and answer six questions."

Haha, it has set me up well for life. Thanks teacher.

We had something similar in a class high school. I think the last line was, do not answer any of the questions above.

I was screwed when I got to the last line. Now I read top to bottom.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Amail

And brush your teeth, shave, and pee in the shower. Let's not Higgins it up though.

The biggest time-saver in existence and you rule it out?

Do it first, by the time you’re done brushing, shaving and peeing, it’s dissolved itself like a miracle.

Amateur.

[Robert Coats]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Actually reading the instructions.

On behalf of Technical Writers everywhere, we thank you.

I was on a radio quiz show..."So what do you do Robert?"
"I am a Technical Writer."
"Like how to assemble stuff?"
"Yes"
"Oooh, so you're the guy who keeps Dads up all night on Christmas Eve!"

[URY914]

I don't let my wife help me do anything.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Robert Coats

On behalf of Technical Writers everywhere, we thank you.

I was on a radio quiz show..."So what do you do Robert?"
"I am a Technical Writer."
"Like how to assemble stuff?"
"Yes"
"Oooh, so you're the guy who keeps Dads up all night on Christmas Eve!"

Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!?

[Robert Coats]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!?

I was actually moonlighting as a joke writer for the (Greaseman) radio show, and he invited me to "Play the Quiz! Let's spin the prize wheel, (tock-tock-tock) Oh WOW! Today's prize is a Suitcase Full of Diamonds!! Okay, now tell me, what is the difference between senile and infantile?'

(.01 microseconds later) BZZZZT!

"Oh too late! Okay, what is the difference between senile and infantile?
The size of the diaper!"

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by captain ahab jr

when 'designing' stuff on fast cars my trick is to think of every imaginable way i can 'f**k it up' or how 'it can f**k up' and then i try to avoid falling into the traps i thought of :d

+1!

[Seahawk]

Find the right talent, then fill in the blanks...

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by rcooled

When driving in wood screws, first scrape the screw across a bar of soap to get some into the threads. This'll make the screw go in much easier. It's especially helpful with hardwoods, or when driving screws by hand.

I've heard the use of soap actually will increase the likelihood of rust forming. Soap absorbs moisture. Instead - I've got a plastic yogurt cup that I filled up with a toilet bowl wax ring (beeswax). I just dip the screw into the wax and then install.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Originally Posted by Tobra

How would sitting in the shower be more efficient? I am never in there long enough to sit

1# Shave mirror on shower door
2# Other shower stuff in easy reach
3# Stone my pretty feet smooth
4# Now room for wifey
5# Sometimes shaves her legs

[Tobra]

So it is more efficient for your wife.

[GH85Carrera]

My biggest "trick" is to take a LOT of pictures of things as a take them apart. My iPhone has an amazing camera, and it really helps to see small things or know for sure how something goes back together.





I was trying to see if the relay for the footwell blowers was opening and closing as designed. It took some cleaning of some connections and suddenly, the relay was indeed opening and closing. With my bifocals I simply could not get my head close enough to see.



I was trying to read the size of this Allen wrench, and again, it was just too small. Whip out my cell phone, and ah ha, it is 0.50.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Find the right talent, then fill in the blanks...

Translated...."A man's gotta know his limitations!"

And I agree.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My biggest "trick" is to take a LOT of pictures of things as a take them apart. --snip--

Yes and also VIDEO --- when you are working by yourself and need to see where the leak is on the passenger side of the truck when you push on the brake pedal..for example....