I bought a new iPod the other day. 160GB. A real bad boy.
I have about one fifth of my music collection on my old iPod, and it was signaling “No Mas” when I tried to coax it into more action.
I’m on a decluttering/organization/simplify kick. Want to get rid of the CD clutter and have all my music and lectures in the palm of my hand. A simple plan.
But the execution of this plan proved to be more challenging.
Like my old iPod, my MacBook laptop was waving me off, telling me the hard disk was full. I could not understand how this was the case, but the logic of my computer was unyielding to my protests. So, before I could use my iPod, I’d need to solve the hard disk problem.
I have some strange perversion in wanting to do things for myself. I’m sure that it serves me in some positive ways, but it feels like I usually end up taking on projects that are beyond the scope of my skills/knowledge/interest.
I am reluctant to ask for help. And I suppose that I am sometimes reluctant to pay for help. Why pay when I can do it? (This especially ironic because my living is based on people investing in me to help them in some way.)
Back to my issue…
So my first approach reflected my self-reliant programming.
I went on various websites looking for answers. I spent at least two hours hunting around and found myself entering lines of DOS-like code into my Mac (into a Mac, mind you!) with little idea of what the hell I was doing. Hitting my wall, I called Apple.
They wanted 50 bucks for support. At first I was miffed, coming up with some cockamamie protest that I’d just bought a $250 iPod and could not use it. The rep remained polite but firm. The issue was with the computer and I was out of warranty. He told me he believed he could help me.
When I heard those words — I can help you — I believed him. And that’s what I really wanted.
Help. Relief. Ease.
I wanted to be free of this problem. I wanted to get on with the organizing of my life. In that moment I could see how silly I was being in my resistance to invest in help.
I reached for my credit card, and for the next two hours on a Saturday morning, Daniel solved all my problems and then some. In time and energy, the investment was worth many times what I paid.
Getting help — good help — is not an expense. Doesn’t matter if we’re talking about someone cleaning your house, creating your website, or coaching you through a problem.
They are investments.
Wealthy people invest in getting their problems solved.
I agree, but sometimes it’s just fun to solve the problem. The key seems to be in knowing when to call for help.
knowing when to say when is crucial. I am as guilty as the author. However, the willingness to tackle the unknown is what has carried civilization since the dawn of man. And has greatly broadened my self proclaimed “expertise” in many fields!
There’s no question that it can be fun to learn new things. And I take a sense of accomplishment in doing something that I did not think I could…
However (and I am making this distinction for myself here), there are many things that I take on (out of conditioning/habit) that — when I *really think about it* I have little interest in taking on (like computers).
Looking deeper, the reason I initially do so is usually tied to a belief about what I will “save” by doing it myself.
And in the end, that always ends up costing me a lot more.
I agree that it can be fun to learn new stuff and very valuable in the long run because you save money and after the learning curve…you are the master of the problem….you know the ins and out for next time.
BUT…you also have to consider the energy that you are embodying while you are trying to solve the problem.
If solving the problem causes me many hours of frustration and irritation….I would much rather pay someone to do it. My time is valuable to me and the way I feel during that time is priceless.
Rock on Drew!
leah
Ah, I think I have a distinction for myself…
I like investing in learning new CREATIVE endeavors… things that stimulate me and that are fun puzzles to play with..
I can leave the rest to others…
Drew, if you open a real time help line with a 50 buck charge, I’m in!!
I love this post, because the lesson is so surprising. I guess we all have to identify what our issue is, and do the opposite!! I tend to pay experts to solve problems for me, but could probably use having more of your initial curiosity/thrift-wise approach.
But I have to say, I learned your exact lesson the hard way. I initially got a bid to reno my kitchen from a high end contractor, and it was, yes, what I thought to be high. I decided that I could become the contractor, hire my own suppliers, source out stuff myself. It ended up costing way beyond that first bid!! And a lot more headaches than if i had let him supervise everyone, his own terrific sources, with his expertise/experience. So, there you go.