“One thing I learned as a warrior in battle, your own forward momentum will always create opportunities that you will never know if you just sit still” – Barry Loudermilk
To overcome inertia on a project gone cold takes serious intentionality. Once inertia sets in, it seems like concrete, but many times it just needs some forward motion. This has been the case with the restoration of our historic home.
However, as I write today, we are having fences rearranged to accommodate 30 square of New York red slate shingles. It is being quarried as I write as well. My husband is working on the inside of one of our rental houses. Things are moving. So how did we get some forward motion?
Overcome Inertia – Gain Momentum
When it comes to renovation of any kind, things can stall or outright derail. With regards to our historic property, thoughts frequently came to me over the years:
- You have lost it
- You are hopelessly stuck,
- The window of opportunity has passed,
- You are getting too old
Just move on.
Then I remembered the “Why” and counted the cost of abandoning our mission. I recalled the promise and knew the regret I would live with if we let go. So we pressed on.
Dreams And Vision To Overcome Inertia
I continued to plan, dream, and prepare. We watched programs of others, especially in the United Kingdom, who restored centuries-old structures. We saw the drama, the surprises (usually not fun ones), the battles with the authorities, and finally the victory. My thought, if they can do it, so can we, and I took courage.
So, a year ago, I took a step and met with the State Historic Office for insight into how to move this project forward. They knew our home from previous work we had done, the work we wanted to pick back up. I got the key I needed to move forward.
Then, last fall, another hailstorm hit, bringing the usual barrage of people who wanted to replace our roof. Shooing most of them away, as they had no idea how to deal with a historic slate roof, one company caught our ear.
Overcome Inertia With The Right Team
This company deals with slate and tile roofs only. We did our research and due diligence, researching the structures they had worked on. Many historic buildings, and one I had seen personally: the Wise County courthouse in Decatur, Texas. In the 25 years I commuted to Texas for work, I saw the state of this building then slowly saw it come to life each time I passed by.
Then came the visit when Andy, the company representative, flew a drone over our house for a close-up look. You see, you don’t just slap a ladder against a 40-foot wall and climb up on a slate roof. It damages the brick AND the slate. So, over the years, all we could see was what we could see from the ground. Yes, a few shingles had come loose, but the roof was not leaking, so it must be OK. The drone pictures were a reality check. We had serious hail damage. It was time to act.
Overcome Inertia And Double Up!
So we began our journey of restart with Precision Construction and Roofing. My husband and Andy have worked estimates, insurance, and timing. In the meantime, I’ve been searching for the right historic preservation consultant to help structure the rest of the restoration:
- Masonry
- Windows
- Infrastructure systems
- Foundation repair
- Porches
- Then the fun stuff: Interior and landscaping (I can hardly wait!)
This is the key person the State Historic Office suggested. Not as easy to find as one would hope. In fact, I am still working on this.
So how does one overcome inertia? Here are some key steps:
- First – remember your “why?”
- Second – Keep dreaming, planning, and preparing.
- Third – Encourage yourself.
- Fourth – take a step, any step, as a seed. Even the smallest seed can break up hard surfaces.
- Fifth – Keep your eye on the vision.
Yes, it is still going to get messy, but momentum feeds energy to keep moving.
Do you have a dream lying dormant? What is the “why” behind that dream?