The IKEA Test (And Three Generations of Not Being Handy)
Why version 0.2 beats waiting for 2.0—lessons from a month of imperfect action
"Action isn't about doing more; it's about choosing the next right move."
August is wrapping up, and I'm sitting here thinking about everything this month threw at me. The month of Action lived up to its name—sometimes in ways I didn't expect.
On August 3rd, I visited my dad at Bourne National Cemetery. It marked the fourth anniversary of his passing—he would have been 88. The two trips before, I found his resting spot by memory. Not this time. It's a beautiful place, quite large, and I circled for a while before finally pulling over to look up his marker on the map.
I'm directionally challenged. Whether it's reading maps or assembling IKEA furniture, I struggle to follow instructions. It's not from lack of effort—my brain just doesn't process instruction manuals the way it's supposed to. I've botched furniture assignments before and felt terrible about it. I follow the directions step by step... and still manage to misread one tiny detail.
To be fair, those directions are terrible.
The Things We Can't Control
There's no regret about wishing I were handier. Sure, I wish my brain could visualize those half-assed instruction "drawings" well enough to put together a desk or chair, but I can't help how I was born. My dad wasn't handy either—never learned by watching him change oil, tune up a lawnmower, or assemble furniture. His father was out of his life before he was a teenager, so there wasn't much chance for him to learn either.
It just is, you know? One of those things that's out of my control.
Later in August, I visited Campbell in Richmond. We caught up, shared wonderful dinners, and I restocked his bare pantry. The month kept rolling, and before we knew it, Coleen and I were unpacking Erin's stuff at her apartment in Westport, Connecticut. In a few days, she'll start her teaching career at Greens Farms Academy. She has two roommates, and while there are moments of uncertainty and anxiety about living away from home, she's doing great. Adjusting with caution and nervous energy. By next week, she'll be in full teacher mode.
And yes, I struggled to put together an IKEA desk and chair for Erin's room. But you'll be happy to know they both function properly. I also installed an air conditioner and bed frame. All in all, it worked out.
Last night we celebrated Sean's 20th birthday at Glen Pharmer in Franklin—great distillery and restaurant. Another perfect hang with my youngest, who heads back to Bates next week for his second year. The weekends are already booked with his golf tournaments. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on his success.
Action on the Financial Front
August was busy in other ways too. I finally analyzed our phone, cable, and streaming costs and found ways to reduce them. The total was sobering, but I'm excited to start saving. Part of the savings means saying goodbye to my longtime cell phone carrier—I've been with them since the beginning.
I'm nervous about changing, but it's the logical move. The new company's quality is equal or better. Feels like a monster decision, but is it really? How many times do we let sentimental values impact our decisions? A lot. But I'm ready for change, ready to save money, ready to move forward.
The Quality of Outreach
One of my August goals was reaching out to friends, customers, and family more often. I haven't counted the exact number of outreaches—that's not what matters. What matters is the quality. I sent books, emails, and texts to people across my circles. Most didn't reciprocate, but that wasn't expected or necessary.
It may feel "cheap" communicating by text or email instead of phone calls, but it's not. Would calling be more personal and rewarding? Absolutely. But taking action isn't always about taking perfect action.
I tell my coaching clients: don't edit your first draft as you go. Sure, it feels good to have a cleaner draft, but the cons outweigh the pros. When you edit while writing, you kill creativity and momentum. The goal of a first draft is getting ideas and thoughts on paper—all of them. When you chase perfection as you go, you slow the entire process. Many people get frustrated with their slow progress. Some stop writing altogether.
Don't self-edit as you go. Finish the first draft first. Then edit.
The Next Right Move
Action isn't about doing more; it's about choosing the next right move. Sometimes that's a visible start—ten minutes on the draft (without self-editing), one outreach, one rep of the new habit. Sometimes it's invisible prep—laying out your tools before tackling that IKEA monstrosity or writing tomorrow's "very next step" before closing your laptop.
Progress loves small, repeatable wins. Version 0.2, not 2.0.
Sometimes the most powerful action is what you don't do. Say no to misaligned requests. Uninstall one attention thief. One less app, news channel, or show. Hold steady on a habit that's working instead of chasing shinier tactics. Take a short walk, breathe, review what to Start/Stop/Continue.
Strategic inaction protects momentum, energy, and focus—so when you do move, you move on purpose.
Integrity in Motion
Because Action, at its best, is integrity in motion: aligning what you value with what you repeatedly choose.
My fall is about to get busier—weekend golf tournaments, visits to Connecticut, and a day at The Ryder Cup! I'm excited about what I started this month, the actions I took that I'd been putting off.
But we're not stopping the action next month just because August is over.
Right?
The IKEA desk may start to wobble slightly, one day. But for now, Erin's using it every day, and that's what matters. Sometimes good enough is perfect.
What action did you take this month that you'd been putting off? And more importantly—what's your next right move for September? Hit reply and let me know.