sure about exactly what they mean don’t sweat it, we’ve got your back. There was a time when we didn’t know what they meant or their significance either. We’ve learned our lessons though. 
Consider this an open invitation to visit our 
The 10 Step Program
If you just want to get straight to the real dope read the 10 Steps; gather up your courage and make some sawdust or metal shavings. If you’d like to read a few more of our thoughts on design check out the design home page and cruise around over there.
I Have Principles
The 10 Steps are principles that we follow or traits that we rely on to keep everything straight in our heads. DIY work is about lists of 
things that need to be done. The bigger the list is, the higher the probability that we’ll blow something. We need to manage that. We don’t like making mistakes and we really don’t like making mistakes with money.
The 10 Steps were developed over time – usually after we’d burned ourselves in some way. If we created a problem in a project somebody would say: “okay, from now on we will…”. Whatever word fits into the blank space of that statement was meant to change our procedures so we don’t make the same mistake twice.
I'll Take 10, They're Cheap
In a way, we could say that each step below cost us $1,000 in either hard cash or man hours to learn. That’s $10,000 bucks for the full list and it won’t cost you a penny. Pay attention here and save yourself a couple of bucks:
#1 – We don’t act on our ideas until we’ve given some serious thought to our project
Slow down, what’s your rush? Hot date tonight? Then what’s the big hurry? We take time to evaluate our discussions and bring additional information to the table for further discussion. We recognize that designing our project is a process rather than an event and that better ideas develop over time. The more you talk things through the more confident you will be when you begin to build something.
#2 – Our design and planning exercises are almost never 100% complete before we begin
Isn’t that counterintuitive to step #1? Nope. There are steps that will need to be accomplished no matter how many times we talk it through and we do not let an incomplete plan stop us from moving forward. There may also be questions that cannot be answered until we actually start taking things apart in the build portion of the project. We can talk until we're hoarse but we won’t understand the problem until we get there. We move forward regardless of an incomplete plan. There are other steps that will save the day and keep us out of trouble because our plan is incomplete.
#3 – Immediate gratification is not a part of our process for planning or building something
For us, good design takes time to plan and so does implementation, or the build. We’ll move at a pace that accomplishes the end-vision and we very seldom cut corners. Taking short-cuts almost always ends with a weaker finished product and additional cost when something has to be redone later. Redoing something and spending more money later is an indication that something is wrong in our design or build process. Always shoot for your best effort even if it slows your forward momentum.
#4 – If we can test our ideas we will
Testing tightens up the plan and answers questions that can’t be answered any other way. A portion of a wall might be painted 
with a couple of color selections. A hole may be drilled into a wall to see what’s behind it. Chiseling up a piece of tile to examine what’s underneath may be useful. Testing stain on sample wood can be eye-opening before committing to the final piece. Whatever the cost of testing might be it’s a bargain compared to the alternative. Testing resolves questions and might suggest that we alter our design or the build portion of the plan.
#5 – The design almost always changes
As long as we’re achieving our overall goals we’ll change the design. Changes usually come from discoveries we’ve made while working on the project. We know the design may change and we evaluate the impact of the changes. We alter the design and keep moving forward.
#6 – We know our limitations
If we can’t build it there is a problem with the design. Our imaginations have created the design and those imaginations have to be real-world based. If the project is beyond our technical abilities to create the design we have a problem and have to make changes. If we’re dabbling in something we’ve never done before we spend more time on the plan to catch errors before we start building.
#7 – We have a back-up plan in mind
If we’re just not sure about something in the build portion of the plan we make alternative plans while keeping the design in mind. We identify areas that may give us trouble and develop two or three ways we might choose to deal with those problems.
#8 - We have a good idea of what the project will cost
We accumulate cost information along with the availability of the products we want to purchase. For larger projects we have a separate bank account with its own debit card. We need to track expenses and this is the easiest way to do that. We manage receipts and file them so we can find them. We return items that are unused and send away for rebates. It’s our money and we manage it closely. Cost control errors can kill a project.
#9 – We avoid procrastination and get started
We will make the time to do the work and finish what we have started. We turn the TV off and turn the radio on. The project is a priority and it’s not always last on the list. If we need a day off we take a day. If we’re not sure how to solve a problem we take time to think and talk it through and then we act.
#10 – We minimize complaints
We avoid bitching and negative comments about others who 
are involved in the project, about the project itself, or about physical fatigue. That’s not to say that we don’t get frustrated, we do. Everyone gets tired and makes mistakes. Every project presents problems that we failed to anticipate or somebody does something really dumb that sets us back. This is a risky business you’re into here. It’s far less risky to sit on the couch and do nothing. Think of frustration like a loaded gun; don’t point it anybody.
A continuing under-current of negative energy will sap the life out of your project and everyone involved. It is the quickest way we can think of for your project to become a solo effort. Man-up or women-up, get the job done and don’t be a jerk.