I recently stumbled across a list of quotes from America's favorite folksy philosopher, Yogi Berra. Yogi was a pretty good ball player, to be sure, but is equally famous for his twisted tidbits of wisdom. In reading through these, I found them simply profound and profoundly simple, pertinent to all walks of life, including construction. In the article that follows, I'll sprinkle in a number of his sayings as they apply to the subject at hand. They'll be identified by the preceding notation (RY), denoting Relevant Yogi-ism.
 
I have a friend. He's a very capable fellow, with a curious mind, advanced degrees, and a can-do attitude. When he set out to build a new home for his family, he decided to be his own contractor. He relished the challenge, and wanted to save money on the home by eliminating the contractor's fee. He finished the home, it's beautiful, and he's justifiably proud. He confided, however, that he had no idea how hard it would be, and has a new appreciation for general contractors. In fact, he said he'll hire a contractor next time, convinced they're worth every penny. (RY) "If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else."...