#33- The Fishing Line on the Prop
Years ago my wife and I were invited by friends to take a boat ride on the Tennessee River. We met them to help hook up the boat, when the husband noticed something wrapped around the prop. It turned out to be just thin fishing line but he wanted to remove it before we left.
His wife was impatient and asked with exasperation why he had to do it at that moment.
He snapped back “I ain’t got much but I try to take care of what I got.”
That story happened 40 years ago, but it made an impression on me. This guy did take care of his truck, his boat, and anything else he owned. It was a great example and I wish he were still around to read this column.
Men, maybe the best way to tell if a guy is a boy or a man is how he reacts to responsibility.
Does he embrace it or run away from it?
Taking care of your stuff means you learn to get yourself up on time, so you can make it to your job on time, so you’ll be able to pay your bills on time and then maybe a good woman will give you the time of day.
Before you say it, yes this can suck. There’s nothing fun about monitoring your cash so you don’t go broke, washing dishes, scrubbing a toilet or cleaning up after yourself.
One thing is true about all of those tasks and more is this: they won’t get done by themselves.
Here’s a first step to get your started; do an inventory of the areas listed below to see how you’re doing. Then use my suggestions as needed.
Take Care of Your Body
Most men, me included, hate anything to do with the medical profession. But it’s important to get checked out so you can address small issues before they get out of control.
But that’s not all, a man needs sleep, food, and exercise to handle his responsibility. So:
Schedule that doctor's appointment you’ve been avoiding
Get enough sleep.
Move every day, even if it is only a thirty-minute walk.
Stop eating like you’re a teenager
This matters because your health affects your work, and your ability to show up when others need you.
Take Care of Your Money
You can’t provide for your people if you’re broke. You don’t have to be rich, but there has to be something in your bank account.
Here’s how you take care of your money, always know:
what comes in
what goes out
what you owe
what you have
Sit down this week and list every bill, debt, subscription, and financial obligation. Then cancel that monthly service you never use anymore. Another good step is to set automatic payments for essential bills. And for sure follow Dave Ramsey’s plan and build an emergency fund, beginning with whatever amount you can consistently save.
A man does not need to be wealthy to need to take care of his money. But every man should know where his money is going so he can make wise choices that protect his future.
Take Care of Your Spaces
Keep these spaces clean and organized:
Room
Apartment
Vehicle
Work area.
This means you need to do the laundry, wash the dishes, and replace the smoke-detector batteries. Fix the leak, the broken latch, or the warning light before it becomes an expensive emergency.
These tasks may seem small, but small neglected problems compound into big problems. More importantly, a clean, organized and functional home shows respect for yourself and everyone who shares it with you.
Take Care of Your Relationships
Your relationships include wife, girlfriend, best friend, business associates, or family.
There are few simple ways to show the people in your life that you value their relationship
Return call and texts.
Use a three-step apology when you’re wrong: I’m sorry, It’s my fault, what can I do to make it right.
Don’t use anger, silence, jokes, or work as a way to avoid hard conversations.
Know what is happening in the lives of the people who depend on you.
Ask, listen, and follow through.
Take Care of Your Reputation
This is the one thing you cannot afford to lose because it’s almost impossible to get back. Here’s how:
Stop making promises casually.
Before you agree to something, consider whether you can actually do it or not.
If circumstances change, communicate early.
Be the man whose “yes” means “yes”, whose “no” is honest, and whose mistakes are met with correction rather than excuses.
Taking care of your stuff is not glamorous. It can be repetitive, uncomfortable, and unnoticed. You will rarely be praised for it. But it builds freedom, trust, and self-respect. Start with one neglected task today. Finish it. Then do the next one. That is how responsibility becomes your character.
Proverbs for the Modern Man
Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house. Proverbs 24:27
Man Law
The Fundamentals of Taking Care of your Stuff
• If you take it out, put it back.
• If you make a mess, clean it up.
• If you open it, close it.
• If you take it off, hang it up.
• If you don’t have the cash, don’t buy it.