Tools that decide and work on things
Multi-tool
With only what's on hand, you can sort out most problems on the spot.
A multi-tool holds a blade, scissors, a bottle opener and more. None of them is quite as good as the dedicated tool, but when you're out and something goes wrong, this one thing is enough. When an unexpected problem comes up, you often fix it right then and there.
Rather than reading the manual, you try it out and learn how it works with your hands. If the shop is closed, you pick another one on the spot; if a tool is missing, you rig up something from whatever's around. You'd rather get your hands moving than wait for someone else to decide.
Because you can do so much, you can take on too many things and leave them all half done. A multi-tool doesn't work with every blade out at once, either. Some days, it's fine to choose the one blade you need most and fold the rest away.
Strengths
- You can deal with unexpected trouble right away using whatever's on hand
- You pick up how to use unfamiliar tools and systems in very little time
- You can find common ground with people from very different fields
Where you may stumble
- You do more than you were asked and end up changing how the other person does things
- Thinking it's faster to do it yourself, you don't hand things off
- You've so often managed without preparing that you skip preparation even when it matters
Sounds familiar, Multi-tool?
- Your bag has something in it for just about any minor emergency
- You've finished putting it together before reading the instructions
- When someone asks how many hobbies you have, you start counting on your fingers
Where you shine
Trouble on a trip, situations where a few people have to cover many roles, building a prototype or a first draft.
Tips for “Multi-tool”
- Keep a list of what you've started and, once a month, choose something to stop
- For the moments that really matter, set aside time to prepare first
- Even when you could do it yourself, try asking someone else
Matches
See every match in the Tool Quiz compatibility chart →
Microscope — The Microscope checks one thing in fine detail. It finds the rough spots in what you made quickly, before it goes out.
Kaleidoscope — The Kaleidoscope comes up with one new idea after another. You can turn those ideas into something to try right away with whatever's at hand.
Umbrella — The Umbrella wants to be prepared ahead of time. A Multi-tool that moves before preparing tends to look risky from where the Umbrella stands.
Close neighbors
These differ from this one on just 1 of the 4 axes. If one of your axes was near the middle, you may have their side too.
Which one are you? 24 everyday situations, about 4 minutes.
Start the quiz