There’s a running joke among contractors that their own houses are always in terrible repair. This seems to be a common occurrence: whatever thing you help others with the most can end up being a thing you don’t do for yourself as much as you should.
It makes sense. It’s easier to be objective and see the tactical elements when you remove emotional proximity. That’s what friends (and professionals) are for; to help you make the decisions when you’re too close to them.
The biggest lesson to take away is just to have a general sense of how “big” any decision is. Above a certain threshold, you should default to running it through a few cooler heads, even if you feel confident. The decisions you feel most sure of are often the ones with the biggest blind spots.
I know this, but I’m still – like everyone – struggling with it. I stormed through life on my stubbornly independent path. My unique approach was my strength, but it means that more than once I find myself re-inventing the wheel. Doing things the hard way just because the hard way is also the independent way. I’d rather invent than research.
I’m working on it.
Old habits die hard.
The Opportunity Machine 