(A Lesson in Failing Fast)

My daughter had a Squishmallows-themed birthday party, and she wanted a photo booth.

My two daughters began by building a wall of Squishmallows on the concrete ledge against the wooden fence. They got to the third layer before it toppled…

Dad to the rescue! We had less than two hours to deliver.

My first suggestion was to squish them tightly together, thinking friction would hold them in place.

Failure!

But I learned that I needed a tool. I chose fishing line to hold them against the fence.

Bigger failure! It made things worse!

But I learned that I had misunderstood the problem, and this wasn’t a quick fix. It was time to slow down and think. What do I know about stacking these fluffy abominations that have invaded my home? They stack well if you build with a lean against the wall. The real problem turned out to be that we needed a wider base to create a stable Squishmallow retaining wall.

Quickly, I thought about what other tools I had on hand:

• Scaffold
• Unused closet door
• Rejected kitchen cabinet doors

Victory! This was the final result.

This is what I learned.

-> Try something, if it’s wrong, abandon it. And quickly.

-> Build from experience.

-> Correct tools make the difference.