Thrashing - The art of getting it right
If you've ever undertaken a project that has a deadline, you will understand this concept. I'll give you an example:
Your homework is to write an essay on the famous French philosopher Voltaire. So, you read a few websites, make some mental notes, maybe even jot down some ideas and make a start. You feel like you're doing pretty well. Before you hand it in you think it’s a good idea to run it past someone else to see how it reads. Your dad’s a knowledgeable chap and your older sister is good at English so once you've completed your essay, you share it with them.
Oh dear!
They want to change it. Your sister thinks the order needs re-working and that's before she’ll comment on your grammar. Your dad thinks it's good but could be better and gives you a list of things to consider. Great! This has to be handed in tomorrow.
Panic!
You work late while your family continue to give their input. Tensions grow, negativity descends and you remember you hate your sister.
You run out of time and have to make do. The result, although better than the first draft, is not great and nowhere near ready to hand in.
This is thrashing.
And it is how 99% of projects are handled. You start slowly, carefully and cautiously, with little planning, debate or discussion, and when it comes to deadline day, you are thrashing.
Now, imagine if you did all your thrashing at the start. How would that feel? If we look again at our homework example how would it look with a thrashy start?
You get given your homework. You sit down with your clever dad and sister and the three of you discuss a plan for the essay. You thrash now. Without the pressure of a looming deadline, this process has a positive energy to it and can even be fun. With a detailed plan formulated, you can confidently make a start on the actual writing. Subsequent team meetings can be scheduled to review and tweak if necessary. Incidentally, the best essays are 80% thinking and 20% writing.
In most circumstances, thrashy endings to homework essay projects are a big stress and can result in some lost sleep but you aren't going to lose any money.
When it comes to a building project, if you thrash at the wrong time, it can have huge financial ramifications. A poorly timed thrash can leave you broke and with a project that never quite lived up to your expectations.
We have witnessed this again and again. Clients who start tentatively, don’t plan the project with gusto at the start, and leave many design choices until the last minute end up disillusioned and angry.
It may seem that the building process is set up to encourage late thrashing but with a little bit of forethought and planning, we believe that projects can be run more smoothly, quickly and cheaply. In fact, the Guernsey Planning Services believe this to be the case too. They are actively requiring more information up front, meaning many design decisions need to be made early on in the project.
We encourage our clients to spend the first few months of their building project thinking about how they want their build to look and feel. We help them pick the doors, taps, tiles, sanitaryware, bathrooms, kitchen - we even get them to think about where the beds and the TV are going to go.
We assist with 3-D visuals and walk-throughs and once we've specified everything, clients can gain an almost exact price from contractors. This certainty over costs is great for your stress levels and essential when borrowing money.
Once the build starts, if every detail has already been specified and designed, then the contractor knows exactly what they are doing and when they need to do it. In turn, this leaves you free to relax and plan the housewarming.
So, next time you undertake a project, think about thrashing at the start. If after your thrash you discover the project is a non-starter you’ve wasted minimal time; if the project is a goer, then you’re all set up and in an excellent position to continue, plus you’ll be less stressed too!