Comments on: Removing ice from a driveway is like …. everything

By: Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:29:56 +0000

@Howard,

The first time I went to Atlanta, I got stuck for an extra day by a snow storm that would have been a non-event in Chicago or Minneapolis. It was lots of fun watching cars driven by folks who’d never driven in snow sliding all over the place.

So, based on odds, you’re right, just stay indoors when there is any snow:-).

By: Carmen

Carmen — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:19:53 +0000

Oh my goodness. I’m suddenly very glad I live in Texas. Come summertime, I’m sure that will change, of course.

By: Ron J

Ron J — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:19:04 +0000

I’m not sure exacty how it relates to your analogy, but a doctor friend of mine once said that a high percentage of heart attacks during the winter (where I live in Canada) are caused by out-of-shape middle-agers (like me) tackling a big dump of snow on their driveways. I admit, I’ve used that as an excuse at times to avoid shoveling. It probably also relates to the number of us Canadians who become “snowbirds” to Phoenix and Florida as we approach retirement…

By: Howard

Howard — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:34:45 +0000

That’s why I live in Atlanta….

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:21:38 +0000

Buy salt

By: Rengaraman

Rengaraman — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:51:26 +0000

Another Good one Tom esp the insight you corelated is very nice.

Another important point is never forget the lessons learned in the past. hope you’ll remember this post for the next winter.

By: Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:03:13 +0000

While the lesson you cite (persistence) is important, another lesson, timing, is equally important.

If you start too early, you need to repeat too often. If you start late (as you’ve seen), you end up shoveling deep, heavy, slushy, or frozen snow. BTW, I go for about 3-5 inches, though in Colorado where I live, the snow is often light enough that you can wait a bit longer.

The closest business analog I can think of is tracking receipts for business. You can handle each one as it comes in, handle them is small batches, or wait until the end of the year and handle them as one honking big mess.

Doing them one at a time as they come in is not bad, but you end up interrupting work, firing up an accounting program, etc., just for one receipt. Doing them on a weekly or even monthly basis is more efficient (depending on the size of your business), but waiting out the year is going to leave you chipping ice on April 14th:).

By: Johan Anglemark

Johan Anglemark — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:27:53 +0000

Amateur!

-j (writing from Sweden)

By: Larry Kunz

Larry Kunz — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:17:02 +0000

Or you could just do what I did: move somewhere where it doesn’t snow as often.

Of course, snow or no snow, the truths that you’ve discovered will still apply.

By: Ron Creel

Ron Creel — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:18:01 +0000

Oh, the joys of living with snow.