Taking Things Apart

Countless times in my life I’ve had to work on things. It could be that it required normal maintenance, like the car, or it just wasn’t working correctly. Sometimes it was s just plain busted, like a kid’s toy or even my laptop. No matter what it was I would grab the tools and start taking the contraption apart. Sometimes I had some experience, like with the washing machine, and knew exactly what to do and the whole process went well. Then there are those time when I thought I knew what I was doing and things didn’t go so well. And then there are the instances where I’m totally clueless but push ahead into the unknown with confidence only to meet face to face with my limited knowledge and more than a few extra parts. If I’m expecting good results the process should follow some simple rules:

1. If I’ve never done it before it will be best to do some research FIRST and maybe even ask for advice or assistance from an expert.


2. If I’m going to take it apart, I better be careful to watch what I’m doing during the disassembly and follow the reverse to put it all back together again.


3. If I’m going to put it back together I need to follow my memory or better yet written instructions or drawings made during the deconstruction phase.


4. If I expect it to work well when I’m done, I better use good technique and good repair parts to make sure it’s as good or better than new.


5. While things were apart I should check for any other signs of needed repair. Could it use some lubrication? Maybe some cleaning? Are there any other items that look worn out that should be replaced? A keen eye and careful observation can catch things and eliminate repeated failure even after a successful repair.


6. Be patient.

Now, surprisingly, I don’t always follow the rules. There are many times during the reassembly process the stuff just doesn’t seem to fit right. I’ll apply more pressure, tighten things a bit more or whatever it takes only to find the covers don’t fit or the screws don’t line up. Maybe I’m all done and I notice a screw is left without a home or some other part is still lying on the table. Something just isn’t right. It’s at this point I need to face the facts - If I want to succeed I’ll have to take it all apart again and start over and figure out where it all went wrong and then concentrate on doing it right the second time.

Sometimes in life or in business we come to a point where performance is poor, things just are not fitting right or maybe something is totally broken. Usually, we’ve never been in the situation before and don’t have a maintenance manual or instruction book to guide us through a set of rules or processes. Poor performance can take you by surprise. Day-to-day you just didn’t notice that motivation was decreased, people were not happy and the work output isn’t of the same quality. In business, you may have built it yourself and success has been on your side but you suddenly find that things just are not where you had hoped and it’s beginning to look bad. It isn’t rare to have past success plateu or even turn south on you. What is important at these stages is stepping back and evaluating the facts.

Have there been signs along the way that maintenance was needed and neglected? Did you miss the little rattles or squeaks? It’s possible that you’ve been operating the machinery for so long that those little noises were not noticed. What once could have been corrected with minor adjustments or a few replacement parts now requires a major overhaul. The acknowledgment and realization of past error will serve you well when making a decision to tune up or rebuild.

So the big question is: Are you willing to take it apart in order to figure out why the fit just isn’t right? Are there some missing pieces? Have you used the best tools, techniques and components all along or do you need to refocus on building the quality back in? If you are ready, some rules still apply:

1. If you’ve never done it before – Do some honest research to assess the condition and be willing to ask for advice and outside assistance. Part of your first step should be a reevaluation of exactly who you are - As a business and as a person. You may need to reinvent yourself or your business plan to get things back on track.
2. Know what continues to work well and multiply the good. Figure out what needs to be added to complete the picture and what needs to be fixed or replaced. If you’re taking it apart you need to make sure only the good goes back together and together the right way.
3. If reconstruction will be a change from the original you need to reset the compass for everyone so they understand the new direction and destination. What is expected of the result? How will it be different? What will the NEW and IMPROVED version look like? Leaders call it VISION!
4. You want the best right? Then invest in the best and most importantly, understand what the best is. To what will your new product or service be compared? How is it measured and how will you know it when you see it? Observe what is going on around you and take careful note. Gather insights and recommendations from those outside your normal sphere of contacts. The things you may set out to fix might only be the tip of a larger problem. Avoid fixing symptoms and get to the root of all issues.
5. Be patient. Not complacent or slow to act but patient at the taking apart and the putting back together part. Everything must align and fit. You want it to be better than new!

If you are in a position of ownership and leadership and you feel things just are not the same or maybe your organization is struggling to get to the next level, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and do some maintenance. Just don’t forget to follow some rules and have a plan. The results are worth it.