The guys were building work tables in the pottery studio, using saws and drills and screws and clamps. We talked about how great it is to have the right tool for a job. I’ve heard that if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem is a nail. So I looked it up, and the quote is attributed to Abraham Maslow (thank you , internet), but the metaphor’s been around (thank you, wikipedia). It implies a limited approach to problem-solving. But maybe there’s a flip side.

I’ve said that FileMaker is my hammer, because it can do so much and it’s the tool I know best. But FileMaker software is not just a tool, it’s a vast toolbox. It’s a whole Lowes store of tools, with a network supply chain, and it’s been growing and getting better for over 20 years. I’ve worked continually to use FileMaker more skillfully for over 15 years, studying the masters and innovators, learning new techniques. That’s improved my problem-solving and helps me see the difference between a nail and, well, not a nail.