Built By The Lowest Bidder

74% of people who have one of these in their home say it never gets used—and no, it’s not exercise equipment.

I’ll have your answer coming up.

I’m reading a fascinating book right now—it’ll soon be featured in Dom’s Book Club—about the Challenger space shuttle disaster of 1986.

In it, the author quotes the first American to venture into space, Alan Shepard. When asked by a reporter what he was thinking about while preparing for that historic first launch, Shepard replied:

“The fact that every part of this ship was built by a low bidder.”

Okay, that’s funny.

And because NASA is run by the government, it’s also true.

But guess what? It’s true about so much in your life.

When you drove down a highway this morning, it was constructed by someone who probably bid lower than anyone else.

Crossed a bridge? Low bidder.

When most homes are built, the contractor and/or builder will often opt for the parts they can get the cheapest.

Our lives, which we value so highly, are—on a daily basis—placed into the hands of people who supplied the lowest bid. On one hand, that terrifies me. On the other hand, I have to say I’m impressed more things don’t fall apart.

But let’s be honest: while we might worry about a contractor picking the cheap parts, it’s harder to admit when WE are the low bidder in our own life:

The sleep we skimp on.

The relationships we maintain on the cheapest possible effort—and, like the bridge, just hoping they hold up.

We cut corners every day, but still expect A-1 quality from everyone else.

Maybe it’s time we bid a little higher on our own lives.

74% of people who have what say it never gets used?

A pool table

I gotta believe ping pong tables are about the same. Used mainly for folding laundry.

A 25% slice of something big is better than a 100% slice of nothing.