Carpenters’ tools

Two carpenters were fixing some stairs. The older one liked to work. The younger one liked to question.

The older one grabbed a measuring tape from the toolbox and started measuring. The younger one said, “What would be the perfect tool?”

The older one grabbed a saw and started cutting. The younger one said, “It would probably be a thick heavy level with a blade, ruler, chisel and saw, all built-in.”

The older one grabbed a chisel and started fixing the edge. The younger one said, “Like a giant Swiss Army knife for professionals, to help us be really productive.”

The older one grabbed a sanding block and finished the sanding. The younger one said, “That’d be so efficient, it’d be the only tool I’d ever need.”

The job was finished, so the older one put away his tools and closed the toolbox to go. The younger one said, “Unless it would be smarter to just master the chisel, like a sculptor, right?” He kept talking as they left.

…

Some people want one perfect solution that solves every problem. They need everything to fit — consistent and congruent. The rest of us use whatever tool helps us do what we need to do. When someone refuses to use a tool because it’s not perfect, they’re probably not actually doing the work.