Tools of the trade
No matter who or where you are you've used tools of some kind. You might be a carpenter, police officer, prostitute, sales person, school teacher, stay-at-home parent...it doesn't matter, you've used tools. It's tools that have helped the human species advance to where we are today and I've read that the first, or some of the earliest, tools were found to be over 3.3 million years old; it started with sticks and stones and now...let's just say we've come a long way.
People often think of hammers and screw drivers and other such things when they think of tools but realistically anything we use is a tool. Your phone, computer, car, note pad, shoes, watch, door handle, the door itself...everything we use to do something is essentially a tool. Into this category I place our bodies and minds and like any tool, we need to look after them.
I was thinking on this recently as I drove around hundreds of kilometres from home on a work trip, driving not flying as usual, and after several meetings. I was thinking about why I was so effective.
I'd pulled some tools out of my personal tool box, that is to say my brain, by way of skills and attributes I've gained throughout life, which helped me turn a situation that could have gone poorly towards a positive, even excellent, result and as I left I felt pretty good about it and thankful that I'd found, honed and stored some valuable tools over many years. I say those three things because they all need to happen in my opinion.
We need to be open to new things, concepts, processes, mindset, skills and so on (find them), and then we need to work to make them better, adapt them to our personal style and situations (hone them), and finally remember them (store them), to use when the time is right. I could add in, practice them, too because most skills a human possesses are perishable meaning they diminish over time if not used.
Would you leave a chainsaw out in the rain and snow to get rusty and fucked up then expect it to work well? I think not, and it's the same with your own personal skills, your mind and body.
I work on mine, I call it sharpening the saw, no matter whether they apply to my professional life or personal and also with the tool box itself, (my body), staying sharp and in good shape physically, mentally and emotionally means better results and that's what I'm always looking for, continual improvement; what about you?
What skills (tools) have you picked up along the way, how have they worked for you, how did (do) you keep them sharp and have you passed any along to others? If you're keen to get involved with a comment feel free to do so. It doesn't matter if you talk about skills (tools) you have used for professional or your personal life, the principles are the same.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
Hi Galen, glad to hear that everything went well and that you are keeping the tools in optimal condition. About my tools I think that over time I have learned not to do what my body asks me to do on any occasion, that is, I have more self control over my reactions, I think body centered meditation has helped me quite a lot. I also believe that I am becoming a better reader of people, I have been sharpening this tool over time.
Best regards
That's a very valuable tool, the ability to command one's body language, and is one I use a lot of the time. Also, reading body language of others, it's such a large part of communication and to be adept at reading it and controlling one's own is of great benefit.
I'm of the same opinion, have a great Friday.
Yeah...tools are essential for everyone's lives. And you said right everything we use in daily life is tools...
Great post...thanks for sharing 😊
Tools are pretty nifty things, and I include one's brain in that category too.
Working on the farm project I realize physical tools are as important as intangible brain ones. I love how we constantly have to squeeze our heads to find imaginative ways to do things with the tools we have. It makes you creative and value way more everything you get done, as it provides a little bit of extra comfort.
The brain and physical tools working together...that's how things get done! ✅
Storage of tools is a good way to go in keeping them safe, if we can't keep our tools in the right place, it might easily get warned out, the journey of tools started a long time and I agree that our brains is the most powerful among tools, it can even be used to create more tools. Yes, I have used a tool, and the tools, i used everyday is my mind, it keeps me positive and safe all the times.
Correct storage of tools is indeed important.
Yes, you right about it, thanks 🥰
Right, we have come a long way and I think there is an unlimited way to go as long as humanity exits on the earth. Perhaps, the last stop might be AI.
AI will degrade human thought, ingenuity, problem-solving, general skills and creativity. Already is.
That's a good reminder. It's too easy to get distracted and forget to work on your thinking. :)
Distraction can be good sometimes, but not when it's at the expense of one's self improvement.
Students learn more when you paint mental picture or what you teach them. Well even adults too. We learn better when our imaginations are engaged. So I learnt to use storytelling art to impart knowledge in the classroom. The result is always an attentive class, with the learning objective achieved.
Everyone learns differently but there's commonalities as well and understanding those helps people to be more effective.
"Quit being a tool."
I'm sure I've said that at least 1000 times in my life. To myself when I notice I'm acting like an idiot, and to others when I feel it's a good time for them to stop acting like an idiot.
Where I come from, being a tool is not a good thing, according to slang.
Of course, I understand what you're saying here. I get it, because I'm not a tool.
Or maybe I am. Coming out of silence retirement just to say this seems kind of odd, but whatever.
Lol, hey mate good to see you.
There's plenty of tools, like that chap amirl who has only just copied my text from this post and posted it himself just now. Tool.
"Not the sharpest tool in the shed."
Another common phrase from around here that seems to fit. Stooping to plagiarism?
Sorry to hear you're still being harassed by that one. I'm not around much so don't know what's going on in this corner of the internet anymore. It's too bad his close friends and family won't step in to help. There's got to be someone out there who cares about the guy and can see he needs a bit of guidance. He's been at it for years now? Close to a couple years? Not healthy.
That's the thing about tools though. Sometimes they break. Or maybe dude is a shovel. Sure likes to dig that hole.
Blah. Back for ten seconds and I'm already annoyed with the place lol
Yep, not the sharpest tool in the shed for sure.
I've reported it to Hive Watchers and commented to the post, but I think with someone that is so tortured in the mind it'll have no impact...that's clear by what he/she is posting I guess and the choice made to quite clearly plagiarise.
I get the annoyance you feel, understand I mean, but there's good people here and so I stay around for them. The good thing about that chap is that as long as he/she is posting and commenting I, and others, are downvoting and eventually the reputation score will diminish below zero and no one will see the comments or posts anymore.
I miss the people. It's quiet in my world. And not much point in sharpening the chainsaw when there are no trees to cut. Learned a long time ago there isn't much point to building anything if there's no one around to share the results with. Some of my tools are lost. Some are still in the box. Not getting much done. Hanging in there though, like the rest of the tools in the shed, I guess.
I hope everyone out there and anyone reading this is doing well. No, I won't be posting. Most likely headed right back to the silence.
And yeah dude. A level is also a good tool. Remain focused on what's good in life.
I really miss some of the older folk who used to be around and think about some of them from time to time, yourself included. You know, today June 13th is the day I started here in 2017 so today is the first day of my eighth year. Bonkers huh?
I hope you're hanging in there mate, I mean we all have times when we're out of sorts and all - I feel overworked at my job currently and it's taking a toll - but we can also take some steps to straighten out a little and knowing when to is the key to it...along with doing what's required.
I appreciate you taking the time to engage a little, I know it's not always something that you want to do so I think it's cool you took the time to drop in on me.
It's hard to start when you don't know where to begin, or why to begin. Keeping the blade sharp is easy. Can even be relaxing. It's all about power tools these days though and damn... Can't find the energy source. Batteries are dead. Got no gas. Can't find the extension cord, but I will live at least one more day, so there's that, at least.
Engaging here, or anywhere; not easy for me. I think I've known you for much of that time you mentioned and you always made it clear I was welcome. Makes it a bit easier I guess.
Coming close to nine years here for me. Time to start calling it a decade. Met thousands of great people. Good company. Invested a lot of hours into my work as well, and didn't get anywhere.
Time I'll never get back and people I'll never get to know. But I guess like any tragedy, it's still a good story lol
One day at a time, one foot in front of the other...that's the way it's done.
Yeah, you and I have been in contact for almost all of that time. You know, I recall a conversation we had, I think it was about No-Man or some other fuckassery, and remember exactly where I was when we had it (in my car waiting for an appointment) and I remember thinking, that guy is fucken bonkers in a good way, like me, and that was an awesome conversation. Good times man.
You're a good sort mate, I think it's clear to any who look. I mean, I recall you trying to talk sense into that amirl character (did not damned good though) and you've done the same with others...it smacks of character man, positive character.
My tools have gotten rusty and working on sharpening and shining them up again. MY physical self will never be what it once was, not even close. However, I can keep it as tuned as possible, more so than I have and working on that more these days. Same with the brain, I have been doing more reading, playing online chess, and watching more educational programming vice junk on the boob tube. Another thing I have done is cutting out negative personalities from my life and seeking out the positive ones again. Not sure if that is what you were looking for, but its 0400 in the morning here and haven't had my first cup of coffee yet.
Glad you had a safe and successful trip.
It's really easy in this world of AI and automation to let the brain relax a little, go idle to some extent, but that's not going to work out so well eventually so keeping it active, like one needs to do with the body as well, is the better way to go. Chess, reading and so on, it doesn't matter really, as long as the old noggin is being put to use.
There's nothing worse then having the wrong tools for the job.
These kind of tools that you used in your post, makes me stress. 😁 My husband collected different types of tools for his hobbies. We have plenty in our house.
I don't understand your comment about stress.
It gives me worries since we have plenty of tools at home then he just answered that the tools that we have are different from the tools that he needs to buy. Another expense. 😁
Ok, well I think you didn't read the post because this post isn't at all about tools, it's about personal development and improvement.
I read it. I'm just focusing on the picture. 😊
How interesting to call skills tools, for example, you are right. One of my best tools is my creativity, which I have improved over the years thanks to another one which is inspiration, I get inspired by many things and it is something that is always active.
But if we talk about physical tools, my computer is my great tool and the programs I use, I must always be perfecting and practicing them, otherwise I forget them a little bit. Like a program that I haven't used for 7 years .... if that I have forgotten, but I have already installed it to refresh and retake the use, bring it to the memory and improve myself.
The program is called Corel Draw, to make drawings with vectorial design.
Creativity is a great tool, something a person uses to pour themselves into artwork, writing, a relationship, their profession, children and so many other things...Alas, AI is destroying human creativity.
I know... that's regrettable, and human beings use this tool so much that they don't develop their own brains, they even use it to create texts! In a short time the brain will atrophy because, like any other muscle, it needs to be exercised.
That's why I don't like photoshop and software like that, too much AI influence. Give me art created by humans any day, AI art bores me.
It's true there are certain tools in the newer programs that use those things.... I haven't had a chance to look at them yet, I use an old photoshop and do everything without those applications. I'm not interested in installing them either... I prefer to use my hands and head.
I remember there was a point when I was younger that I stopped asking for toys for Christmas each year and I started asking for tools. Those were physical tools of course that I still use today, but that memory just sticks in my mind as I read your post. As for skills that could be considered tools, I've picked up so many of those in my years working on and with computers. I am probably one of those people who has forgotten more about computers than most people know!
That's the thing with picking up skills throughout life, we acquire and use them and acquir more which sometimes render those others redundant. I enjoy rediscovering skills and attributes I've not used for a while and applying them again; it's rewarding.
Sorry, I have to downvote this, I can't find your old comments. That was really F* Up!
Guess I should always be careful who I FRIENDS with.
Anyways, I have to take my PTSD, in a few! Tell your friend I'm said, hi! 🤗😉
And oh, keep the tools safe! #HIDE
This mindset is really important in the age of the internet. People think because they read something, they therefore have learnt that thing - as if you can just google how to use a chainsaw then pick it up and already have it mastered, Matrix Style.
But without the practice, the experience, you never think of all the minutia involved like the aforementioned rusting in the rain or the muscle memory of grip, best angles on certain trees at certain heights, how it affects your body and how to compensate for those difficulties, or whatever else that can only come by actually doing it yourself.
My respect for trade jobs has surpassed that of academia some time ago for this reason. Training the brain is cool and all but... eh
Well said and a good take on the subject. Humans like to think they're so cleaver but it's not all that cleaver asking google something. People's skills and abilities are diminishing and AI, the internet and hubris are helping that along.
Thanks for commenting and another perspective.
I am still scratching my head trying to figure out how the common whore made her way into the middle of your descriptions..?😳
One of the few times I saw my father speechless when chatting up the young waitresses we would encounter. He always asked them...
One young lady fired right back at him...
I almost peed myself laughing that morning.
Anyways, I got a "SCREW GUN 🔫" Kinda sounds weird after the prostitute comments I know. But I am gonna wear that fucker out. Sooner or later. I keep trying. But that DeWalt is one tough power tool. So screwing on I will go... 🤪
Power Tool Kitty
I put things into my posts to see who's reading properly and what different people trigger on with their comments; I do it a lot actually and mostly it goes unnoticed or is not commented on, but sometimes people notice and I find it amusing or interesting I guess.
DeWalt huh? Now I want to go get me one!
If I recall correctly. You have posted several times of your adventures in screwing..?
Screw drivers, drills and impact drivers...yep, screwed some screws in my day.
It could not be otherwise with your lifestyle and work, always with "the saw sharpened", i.e. you are active in many spheres most of the time and that allows you to continue to develop and activate your main tool: your brain.
Today I could see that my tool was not so rusty, I have been sent to participate in an event in less than 6 hours without prior preparation, and I doubted my ability to improvise for a second, but inevitably the delay was to start talking 😉
I think it has been the result of years of study, of constant doubts and exchanges with wise people and at the same time I have been able to pass on what I have learnt...and yet I feel I know nothing.
A computer, a screwdriver, a potentiometer, a laminar flow hood are excellent tools, but they will only bring a useful life if you are prepared to use them.
Sometimes a person doesn't know what tools are at their disposal, or how effective they might be until they're actually applied. Going into that situation you mention and being able to deal with it shows that you've got some skills that sit just below the surface and come to the fore when required. Well done.
Hello galenkp!
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