When I got out of college I did a lot of interior painting. I was able to get pretty good in the course of about six months because I knew a guy who owned a big apartment complex, so as people would move out I would go in and repaint the units.
It was cool because, since they were pretty dingy apartments, it didn’t matter if I made mistakes. At first I made lots of mistakes (including spilling 5 gallons of paint on a kitchen floor), then I made less, and by the end of the summer my mistakes were few and far between. And I was fast.
So it was time to venture out of the apartment world and begin bidding and painting jobs on my own.
I painted homes for people in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Belle Meade…anyone who would hire a painter who wore skinny jeans.
I would go in, do a GREAT job painting, but you know what I got the most fanfare for?
When I put the light switch plates and outlet covers back on, I always lined the screws up vertically. Perfectly vertically.
THEY WOULD COMMENT ON THE FREAKING SCREWS!
I just got done doing a magnificent job, a job that took months to learn, painting their walls and trim and doors…and it was the screws.
I was paid to paint, but remembered for the screws.
Paid for 99% of the job, remembered for 1%.
You’ve spent months or years making your great record, you’ve rehearsed a gajillion hours for the tour. There’s your 99%.
What’s your 1%? Cause it’s all great. The whole thing is great, now we just need something to remember it by.
What’s your vertical screws?
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com