Think it through

Window shopping – it’s inexpensive and fun until …

We’d been admiring an artist’s print for a couple of years, delighted by the style, colors, and whimsy, wishing we had it on our wall.  Then the “fun until” happened … the 50% off sign appeared.  “Let’s get it!” hustled us to the cash register.

We pilgrimaged to Micheal’s frame shop and remained buoyant even as the clerk punched way too many keys on her calculator.

Too late to turn back. What’s the point in leaving it rolled up?

We applied for a Michael’s credit card. Even with the new customer discount, it cost us 10 times what we paid for the print. I kid you not. My impulsive “Let’s get it!” accomplice tells our friends it was 5x the price of the print. I used to correct her. Now I just shrug in agreement.

But wait. There’s another “fun until.”  Where to hang the 3’x4’ thing?

We cleared the only wall big enough for it. It looks good.

Did we think it through? No.

Did we research framing? No.

Are we OK with the expense? Yes. We’re lucky. The impulse itch we scratched didn’t break our bank or our relationship.

If you are leading others, designing systems and strategies, don’t count on luck. If you don’t think it through together, raising concerns, asking “what if”, addressing risks, aligning on a shared future, you may break the bank and the relationship.