The Concept Of Adding Accumulated Work

Kathy asked me to buy and install a programmable thermostat yesterday, something we were long overdue for. I managed to install it successfully, very carefully going over the instructions more than once to make sure I was doing everything right. I have a somewhat disconcerting ability to assemble and install things and still have parts left over. In this case, I had no extra parts and everything was working properly.

But there's just one thing.

Due to the length of the available wiring and the method of attaching the wiring to the thermostat, the new thermostat sits lower on the wall than the one it replaced. And since we have painted that wall with a different color than the original white, I now have a highly visible white spot showing on the wall.

And since I no longer have that can of paint any longer, I have two options. Dig a small chunk out and try to get the color matched or paint that entire wall.

But since that wall is the same color as the other walls in the room, I may have to paint the entire room. So from replacing a thermostat I've gone to painting a room.

I call this the Theory of Compound Work. Compound work is the concept of adding accumulated work back to the original work, so that work is earned on work from that moment on. The effect of compounding depends on the frequency with which work is compounded and the periodic work rate which is applied. Therefore, in order to define accurately the amount of work to be done, the frequency of compounding (yearly, half-yearly, quarterly, monthly, daily, etc.) and the work rate must be specified.

This explains why the "honey do" list never grows short. Knock two items off and get four more added on because work you completed created new work to be completed.

I choose a half-yearly frequency of compounding so I reckon I'll be painting in May.