Big Red Car here on a cold, sunny day in the ATX. Brrrr, 58F.

So, I’m in conversation with a trio of CEOs who have in common that they tried to fix something and didn’t quite get it fixed correctly the first time.

They came back with a longer rope and a bigger hammer and fixed it.

They were distraught that they hadn’t gotten it right on the first try.

To which your Big Red Car asked, “Did you do the best you could?”

The discussion went on for a long time — two lattes, two bathroom visits, a cancelled meeting or two.

In the end, the conversation settled on this question — “Did you do the best you could with what you had at the time?”

It did not end with “Did you solve the problem perfectly?”

We also decided — meaning the CEOs decided — that sometimes you are going to have to use duck tape to fix something knowing you will have to come back with the welders for the final fix.

Duck coming in hot to land — gear extended, full flaps, head on a swivel. Nice technique.

[If you do use duck tape, make damn sure you use the kind in which no ducks are killed making it. Ducks have feelings too.]

So, dear reader, there you have it.

DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

AT THE TIME YOU DO IT

The world can expect nothing more. You owe nothing less.

But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car.