My wife fixed our toilet handle with a paper clip. It broke again the next morning, so I lifted the tank lid and pulled the chain. Then I went to the gym. It was fixed again when I returned. There’s something disappointing about a wife that fixes toilets. She loves mowing grass, too.
A man needs a purpose greater than eating, sleeping, and doing his personal business in the bathroom. I redeemed myself in the afternoon. I went to the hardware store and chose a new toilet handle. (There were so many to choose from.)
It was a tough afternoon. I thought about taking a nap. But then I realized she might install the new handle without me. I forced myself to press forward in spite of my fatigue.
The dang bar on the new toilet handle was too long. The instructions said, “Cut it with a hacksaw.” I made the arduous trip to the garage, but the blade was dull. I grew more fatigued. Fortunately, the bar was brass. Brass is brittle. I broke the bar to the proper length and installed it. Then I took a nap.
Leadership lesson from fixing a toilet handle with a paper clip:
- Humility. Do menial jobs.
- Initiative. Don’t wait for others to do menial jobs.
- Creativity. Find a way to fix it.
- Persistence. Fix it again.
- Attention to detail. Keep looking in the toilet tank until you figure out why it won’t flush.
My leadership lesson:
Marry someone who can fix toilets and mow grass.
What lessons can you derive from fixing a toilet with a paper clip?
Need more help:
Toilet Repair 101: How to Fix the 5 Most Common Toilet Problems