Smarter not harder 

By Jim Darling
Submitted to Corner Post

There’s merit in being considered a hard worker sometimes. But we’ve all heard the adage that states “Work smarter, not harder.” Those juxtaposed thoughts clashed when I watched a skid steer operator with three attachments complete several tasks in less than three hours. I had tackled a similar project, but on a smaller scale, using a pickup truck, trailer, chainsaw, axe, shovel and various other tools. It took me three months to get the job done. I might have finished a little quicker, but nursing scrapes, cuts and bruises, and fixing damaged tools delayed completion. 

I was as mesmerized as a kid to see the little machine pluck small to medium-size trees as easily as you or I might yank up a weed that has a long taproot. With a few shakes to shed dirt from the root ball, the scrappy trees were piled out of the way. A quick switch to a bucket attachment with a grapple, and the pile of trees was removed, mounds were lowered, and holes were filled. Another attachment change, and the three areas were leveled and smoothed. Too soon, the show was over, and he was gone.  

When talking about the work done around our property over the years, I admit I’ve taken pride in the fact that most of the cutting, digging, hauling, and such was accomplished by the hard work of family, friends and me. Now I wonder if, rather than being impressed, people would not now shake their heads and say, “You poor fool. Work smarter, not harder.” So, here I sit with a feeling of jealousy, wishing I had the equipment and skills that skid steer operator has!