The Big Blue Swing

Driving by, I noticed an old blue swing with a sign on it "Take Me, I'm FREE!"

I slowed the car, rolled down my window, and assessed its'
condition from the drivers seat.

Droppin' my wife off, I went back up to the
house to take a closer look.

I parked, popped the boot/trunk, and walked towards the swing to
check out that bad boy.

I picked the swing up on one side and discovered WHY the swing was put
out on the side of the street.

It was in real bad shape.

The paint was chipping off.

It was loose, wobbly, and unstable.

The screws were rusted and old.

Part of the back support was broken.

Nevertheless, I "KNEW" I could fix it...

I lifted the swing and tried to fit it into the boot
of my car.

It almost went in...

But not quite.

Then, I tried to slide it onto the back seat.

Got it in, but the door wouldn't quite shut - AAAHHHHH!

Oh well... by then, hunger had set in, and I'd had enough.

I left it on the side of the street and hurried back to join my wife for dinner.

I told her I couldn't fit the swing into the boot/trunk
or the back seat.

But my wife really wanted that swing.

She started talking about the swing at dinner.

We came home and still...

she talked about the blue swing.

She was thinking about that old blue swing when we went to bed.

And she was thinking about that bad boy when she woke up
Saturday morning.

And guess what?

She drove all the way back to the house and brought that sucker home.

She then asked me if I could help fix it for her (cheeky mare)

NOOOO...

I didn't want to fix the swing.

I would rather just buy a new one.

I would rather pay someone to fix it up for me.

I said.. "honey.. it's old, it's unstable, it's not safe!

I said it's broken and it can't be fixed."

But she wouldn't take NO for an answer. No, sireee!

So, reluctantly, with tail between my legs...

I started to plan out how to fix that big blue
swing.

First, I made a list.

Then, I went to the Home Depot.

I got a few parts.

Some wood screws.

I got my drill ready.

A paint scraper.

Two cans of brown spray paint.

And I came home to start  work on that old blue swing.

I scraped as much old paint off as I could.

Then took a wire brush and brushed the remaining dust off.

I drilled some holes and inserted some stabilizing screws.

Got my wrench and socket set out, and tightened up the loose
rusty bolts.

I cut a piece of wood and nailed it to support the broken frame.

And, before you know it, that swing was looking SNAPPY!

laying down a big drop cloth on the ground I painted the
blue swing hickory brown in color.

I painted all the way around the swing.

Top to bottom.

Side to side.

Over and under.

And that old blue rusty swing started to transform into a
respectable brown porch swing - any home would be proud to own.

I already had the perfect place to hang it.

I visualized sitting on the swing with my wife and friends.

And when the paint was dry and the swing was hung, I sat there and
reflected how this old swing was a lot like fixin' up an old business.

Transforming the organization from old, tired, and derelict, to a spankin' NEW profit center

All the pieces of the business are there.

They just need some attention and a solid plan to fix up and rejeuvinate.

They needed someone motivated enough to take the time, some smarts, and the right tools - To make it
better, newer and stronger.