Are you thinking of rolling up your sleeves so you can complete a large DIY project? I’m talking about one that may require hundreds, or thousands, of hours of labor. Before you do, I urge you to think about the size of the elephant you’re trying to eat. Yes, you can eat an elephant, but it’s best to do it one bite at a time, and the meal may last a few years if you’re not prepared.
I’ve done what you’re thinking about doing. I can assure you it requires extraordinary amounts of diligence, discipline, and determination to complete a long-term DIY project. The rewards are almost hard to measure. You can look at your completed job and feel enormous pride. This only happens if you finish the job, and the last 20 percent of the work can often consume 80 percent of the overall time you spend. Your mental exhaustion often precedes your physical limitations.
