I was running late.
Had just a couple of minutes before I had to head back to class, figured I had just enough time to get the part.
Walked in the door of our local auto parts store. Two guys behind the counter and three people in line.
I felt a tight knot in my stomach.
I had tried to squeeze too many things in. Had not yet learned the importance of building margin into my schedule.
Then I saw it…. a sign on the wall, about the size of a piece of typing paper.
It put everything into perspective.
I left the store without the part that day.
I first encountered that sign 45 years ago, and to this day I still refer to it in my personal dealings with people…..
Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part
++++++++++++++++++++++
Agreed to help another carpenter with a large project this past fall. The project meant a couple of months of steady work/ great pay… At the last minute, the financing fell through. I had scheduled my fall work around that job, and suddenly found myself scrambling to stay busy….
It happens.
Same project was rescheduled to start this Spring. I was told, it would be ready for us, late May/ early June… then got bumped back to first week of July…then 3 weeks ago, we got an e-mail that they wouldn’t be ready for us until early August.
Right about that time, Paul approached me about finishing off their basement, and since I wasn’t going to be needed until early August, it fit perfectly into my schedule. Lined up an electrician, a plumber and a drywall finisher.
Start date July 1st.
Got a phone call on Monday…the large project will be ready mid July. (Not early August).
It took me a little bit to sort this one through. Keeping my word is important to me, and I had given my word to the other carpenter that he could count on me with the large project.
Then I remembered that sign from the auto parts store.
Bet you’ll never guess where I’ll be working mid July. 🙂
Well, I have time to spray the orchard this morning. No wind. Perfect conditions. Currently shaping up to be the best apple crop we’ve ever had….
Take care. DM
I like that quote Doug. I can honestly say that I’ve been on both sides in my life and not enjoyed either very much. Being pulled in two different directions is no fun, but I know you to be a considerate person who clearly wants to do their best. Sometimes it’s good for others, but sometimes it has to be good for you…
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Thanks Deb. Yep, I do try to apply the golden rule as best I can (do unto others as I would have them do unto me) and in this case, if I were to move the goal post 3 or 4 times for someones schedule I would totally get it, if they told me on # 4 I was the one who would now be hanging. We shall see..as Scott mentioned in another comment..wouldn’t surprise me if things got moved back to September, although I doubt it. 🙂
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Another version of “Don’t make their problems your problems.”
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Never heard that one 🙂 your’s sounds a little like. “not my circus/ not my monkeys ” too 🙂
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Good quote Doug. You can’t be in two places at one time, and if one of those places is on velcro, well, it takes both sides to join or split.
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that’s for sure! Take care Di. DM
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🙂
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I learned a long while ago that when someone lets you down, they take third place to what you have planned with others who never have.
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Hey, I like that one 🙂
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Dang, I would have been a little annoyed before I settled down and came to the obvious conclusion…bet you handled it like a cool cucumber!
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Ha. not this time 🙂 It took me 15 minutes to cool down this time. Even said a couple of choice words on the phone. One thing about me, I tend not to stuff things emotionally…I may occasionally trip a breaker but who doesn’t…
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Eh, don’t sweat it… You’ll get another call next week it’s pushed to Sept. Lol! Take care. If you can squeeze in a fiber cement siding job east – southeast of you by several hours, the job’s yours…
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would love to 🙂 If my memory is correct, that job you mentioned, has pretty high gable endwalls… ..better get some pump jacks. I have done a hand full of cement siding jobs…that darn stuff can be heavy 🙂
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I’ll look for those. (not familiar!) Yeah, I’m not looking forward to the high stuff, but by then I’ll at least be good at the procedure.
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I’ve seen that sign, and laughed. It’s always a rueful laugh, too, since it reminds me that I really do need to (1) find all the ducks, (2) get them in a row, and then (3) repeat, ad nauseum.
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I think of you as a great keeper of your ducks in a row 🙂
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I can relate to this ~ I’m a planner by nature and prefer to work far in advance. So I stay organized and caught up and I do this because around me are Dumpster Fires who loft projects at me/us 10 mins before they’re due ~ it’s stressful but my preparedness is (usually) what saves my bacon. Doesn’t mean they don’t annoy me, though.. I’m just used to it now … and even when I can complete their last minute projects on time, I don’t always give in and do so. Just because! Hang in there ~ you gotta feast while the eating is easy, right?
Cheers! MJ
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