Alright, let’s talk about this name, Pedro dela Cruz. It kinda stuck in my head for a while now. Not even sure where I picked it up first, maybe read it somewhere, maybe heard someone mention it in passing. Doesn’t matter much, really. What matters is what it came to mean for me, in my own little projects and daily grind.
See, I used to be terrible at finishing things. Really bad. I’d get excited, start something new – maybe fixing up an old piece of furniture, trying out a new recipe system, even just organizing my toolbox. I’d start strong, you know? Full of energy. Then, inevitably, something else would catch my eye, or I’d hit a small snag, and poof! The project would sit there, half-done, collecting dust. Drove me nuts.
Getting Down to Brass Tacks
So, one day, I was looking at this wobbly bookshelf I’d meant to fix for ages. Just needed a few screws tightened, maybe a new bracket. Simple stuff. But I kept putting it off. Then this name, Pedro dela Cruz, popped into my head again. And I kinda associated it with this idea of just… doing the work. No fanfare, no overthinking, just step-by-step doing.
I decided to try it. Okay, “Pedro dela Cruz” style, I thought. What’s the absolute first step?
- Find the screwdriver. Okay, went to the garage, dug it out. Took maybe two minutes.
- Get the screws. Found the box of assorted screws. Picked out a few likely candidates. Another couple of minutes.
- Empty the bookshelf. This was the annoying part, but I just did it. Put the books on the floor.
- Tighten what’s loose. Started tightening the existing screws. Found one that was stripped. Okay, small problem.
- Figure out the stripped screw. Remembered I had slightly larger screws. Found one. Carefully screwed it in. It held.
- Check for stability. Pushed the bookshelf. Still a bit wobbly. Realized it needed that bracket I thought about earlier.
- Find a bracket. Back to the garage, rummaged through the hardware box. Found a small L-bracket.
- Install the bracket. Measured, drilled pilot holes (okay, had to find the drill too), screwed it in.
- Test again. Pushed the shelf. Solid. Much better.
- Put books back. Done.
What Happened
It wasn’t magic. It took maybe 45 minutes in total, including finding the tools. But the point is, I finished it. I didn’t wander off. I didn’t get distracted by the mess in the garage. I just focused on the very next small action needed for the bookshelf. Every time I felt like stopping, I just thought, “What’s the next tiny step?” Like this imaginary Pedro was just nodding, saying “Yep, just do that next bit.”
It felt good. Simple, but good. Finishing something, even small, feels way better than having ten things half-started.
So, yeah. Pedro dela Cruz. For me, it’s not about some famous person or complex theory. It’s just a mental hook I use now. A reminder to break things down, focus on the immediate next step, and just get it done without making a big fuss. It’s been surprisingly helpful, actually. Helped me push through and finish more things than I used to. Simple, practical stuff. That’s usually what works best, I find.
