Doing home improvement projects provides a perfect window for observing the service-based economy that is today’s USA. We are on our second fixer and someone I know recently completed a major home renovation. She and I have home improvement experiences that would curl your hair. After an 18 month project she concluded that as consumers we want the services we purchase to be fast, cheap and good.
The reality is you can usually only get two of those qualities. You can have:
- fast and cheap but the quality isn’t there
- fast and good but it’s expensive
- cheap and good but it takes awhile
Rarely can you get all three; often only one is possible.
And that’s OK because if the three together are readily available, the best service providers aren’t being rewarded for their superb skill and mastery. Financial success for people in the community grows the local economy and the national economy. Many products and services can be outsourced but certain ones, like fixing the gas leak under the house, must be done locally. And I wanted that done good and fast.
Career tip: be really good or good and fast at something and you’ll be richly rewarded.