Cutting Corners

It all started with dog beds at the end of a freezer aisle in Costco. Like many things in Costco, the price pulled me in.

Knowing that our Great Dane, Faith, needed a new bed, I called my sister to see if she wanted me to buy it. Her question— how big was it compared to Faith’s current bed?

A quick hunt for the dimensions and I replied that it was almost as big. I told her it was only five inches shorter—and that it wouldn’t matter.

Fast forward a week later and I’ve had to listen to the soundtrack as I work.

Dog owners, you know what it sounds like. It’s the sound of your dog scratching, pawing, turning, and turning, and turning trying to find the perfect spot.

But for poor Faith, the perfect spot has been hard to find, because her new bed is five inches too short for her. Bless her heart, she’s trying to make it work, but it’s perfectly clear that me cutting corners by saving a few inches cost her in comfort.

Cutting corners is so simple to do. It’s easy to think that one little difference won’t matter.

But it always does.

In business, cutting corners keeps us from giving the value and delight to our customers that they deserve.

In ministry, cutting corners prevents us from providing the services and support that those under our care need.

And when you are a pet owner, cutting corners makes your poor dog sleep with limbs hanging over the edge.

So this week, my challenge is to look out for those corners.

We face them every day, so it’s time to put the scissors away and say, “I’m going to do this 100% instead of 95% because that 5% will always matter.”