If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.
This adage has always stuck with me from the very first time I heard it. I try to live up to it though I sometimes fall short. Sometimes, “good enough” wins. I suspect that’s true for most of us.
When it comes to the things we buy, “good enough” often turns out to be not very good at all. In short order, the money we thought we were saving ourselves by purchasing the less expensive option turns into no savings at all. It can happen with virtual goods as well as material. We are then left with clutter that takes up more and more space over time.
In the last couple of weeks I have run across two instances of people who go that extra mile in their craft.
The first I found over at The Dieline, a package design showcase. The post was about a box designed by Brad Denboer for his Auditorium Toy Co., which holds the company’s Boattail Racer. The box is a work of art in itself and it’s creation is explained in the post along with shots on his Flickr page. The racer inside is a beautiful handmade wooden toy the likes of which you’ve probably never seen. The toy is made from 13-ply Baltic birch and 77.5 millimeter carnelian-core industrial grade wheels. I don’t know what a carnelian-core is but it looks awesome. It looks to be strong as a tank and fast as a sports car. You’ll pay $350 for that awesomeness. It’s more than what you might usually pay for a toy, but that’s what this post is all about.
The next I saw on CBS Sunday Morning and the segment told the story of Bob Kramer of Kramer Knives. With a 14-month wait list, you’ve got time to save up for Kramer’s amazing knives which sell for $300 an inch and will likely be in use long after you’re gone. I’ll let the video tell the story.
It’s refreshing to see examples of people striving to go above and beyond the norm and produce a lasting product. I’ll be keeping that in mind as I do my own work and when I make that next purchase.

News began buzzing over the weekend about Apple being in talks with Verizon about carrying the iPhone in the 2010-2011 time frame. A
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