… is that most people are too lazy to commit to it.  I know I am at times.  Case in point:

Every year for Christmas, my dad gets me and each of my brothers a bag full of the following:

- toothpaste               – deodorant
- razors                      - shaving cream
- multi-vitamins           - etc.

Pretty exciting stuff, I know (I thought the same thing the first year we got our goodies).

But as I used the personal products throughout the year, I realized just how great a gift the grab bag really was.  I don’t exactly get excited about going to the store to buy new shampoo and conditioner.  And unlike some guys, I don’t want or need razors with 12 blades or require a charging station.

I’m sure some of you are thinking, “Matt, are you really that incapable of keeping yourself clean?”  (No, I take showers daily and have a new goal to start flossing more regularly – thank you very much.)

This is just my dad’s little way of saying, “Take care of yourself” and “If you look good, you’ll feel good.  And if you feel good, you’ll be more successful.”

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

One of the items in our personal kits this year was a bottle of windshield de-icer.  Great product, has saved me a lot of time and frustration on cold Ohio winter mornings.

Most de-icers I have used in the past required you to go outside the morning after a good snow, brush the powdery white stuff off your windshield, spray on the liquid, go back inside, and wait for the thin under-layer of ice to melt.

But not this one.  This bottle was a little different than any de-icer I had seen in the past; this de-icer was “preventative.“ This de-icer assumes that I know the weather forecast at all times and requires me to spray it on my car before I head inside for the night.

In theory, this is a great plan.  Do a little work a ahead of time and save yourself the headache down the road.

But there are a couple of issues with this logic.  First, I have no idea what the weather is going to be like at any given time (heck, I never even watch the local news).

Secondly, the reward of a “clean” windshield in the morning just isn’t worth the time or effort of me standing outside every night.  I’d rather spend a few extra minutes outside once a month than extra minute every single night.

What helps you draw the risk/reward line on a preventative task?