Dr-Fix-It! Notebook Archive:
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Flying Under the Radar . . .
"What is going on today?, John ?" Sean, the Mechanic asked as John passed through the Motor Pool on his way to grab a drink of cold water. ( For reasons nobody can understand - along the lines of how, in childhood, the water drawn from the bathroom sink always tasted better than the water from the kitchen sink - the faucet over the Motor Pool mop sink had the coldest, best tasting water on the property.) "Nothing much, Sean, I'm just trying to stay out of trouble", John replied as he filled his water jug. "Oh, 'flying under the radar', huh?" "I am just trying not to be noticed today. I'm content just to do my job. And, when it's quitting time, I will be content to go home. Nothing special for me today. All I want is just a day today. I will fight battles tomorrow, not today." As if on cue, Shorty, the Lead Motor Pool Mechanic, looked out from underneath the truck he was working on, "Hi John, how's it going today?" "A lot better than yesterday. They had me coming and going. It was 'John, do this! John, do that! Hurry! Do it now!. There wasn't any time to even think." Shorty rolled himself out from under the truck. He sat up on the creeper and lit a cigarette, "That's because you let them. If you do it once, it's your job forever. That's what I always say. You need a clipboard!" "What do you mean?" John asked. Shorty explained, "Get yourself a clipboard. Put a pencil behind your ear. Walk around looking at the sky, the trees, the ground. Occasionally pull the pencil from behind your ear and use it as a pointer to point at something. Then scribble something on the clipboard. It doesn't matter what you write on the clipboard. Just write something and then put the pencil behind your ear and continue walking. Take your clipboard everywhere. Never miss a chance to been seen observing something and writing it on your notepad. Be sure to do it when you're crossing in front of the General Manager's office window." John laughed. Shorty flicked a long cigarette ash toward the floor drain, "I'm serious. Try this. It really works. You'll know you are winning when people start coming up to you to ask you silly questions - things they could have figured out themselves or already knew .... Obviously silly questions. They will be trying to see what you are writing on a notepad. Watch their eyes. They will be trying to ask you a question - the silly question, but they will be trying to read what you have written on your notepad. When that starts to happen then you know you have been noticed. People are taking you seriously and people have noticed your note-taking. But be careful! Never, EVER let anyone see what you have written on your notepad. Then, they would be on to you." John shook his head, "I don't follow..." Shorty continued, "Well, if you had a clipboard, and people started telling you to 'do this' and 'do that' - like yesterday - then, you could simply refer back a few pages, give a thoughtful nod and say something along the lines of ' I will be able to get to that just as soon as I finish this project. I'll be right with you. It shouldn't be too much longer.' " John protested, "Shorty, I look around this shop and count six trucks up on racks. It looks to me like they are running you ragged!" Shorty grinned, "Yes, it looks that way, doesn't it? Trucks with their hoods open, Trucks with the wheels removed, Trucks with chargers plugged into them. Darn! That one has wires hanging out of it. Yessiree, it looks like we're mighty busy in the old motor pool!" John scratched his head, "You're not busy?" Shorty took a final puff and crushed the cigarette under his boot, "Oh, we've got enough to do and we'll get it done. But, if you came in here and wanted me to 'do you a favor' and pop four new tires on your truck while you waited, I would smile and say, "Can't you see how busy I am? I will get to that just as soon as I finish these projects." And, you would leave your truck for a day or two. And, I would change your tires. But, I would do it on MY schedule - not yours." "I see", John said, "I think I am going to find a clipboard." Shorty reclined on his creeper and started to push himself back under the truck, "Good! Now get out of here. Can't you see how busy I am?" 2008.05.18 |
