Tag: Just BE Better

Force the Future #2

People continually tell us to learn from the past. I agree with this but to a point. So often, I see people spend so much time learning from the past that they forget to focus on the future, much less the present. Sometimes, you must put aside learning from the past to force the future. 

In working with an individual who was unhappy with last quarter’s results, we mapped out strategies to help him reach his goals in the next term. At the end of the meeting, he told me how much the previous results had affected him. I informed him this was an excellent opportunity to learn from the past and develop the skills and strategies to succeed moving forward. However, we were not going to dwell on the past and address what had happened in the previous quarter until we saw the results of the following two terms. You could see the relief on his face, knowing he could put the past behind him and focus on forcing the future.

When you have negative results, learn from them, but not at the expense of forcing the future.

#Just Be Better

# Stay Strong, Stay Healthy

PSA: Snow Does Not Belong on your Car

We had our first significant snowfall last week. I was disappointed to see the number of drivers on the road with their cars coated in inches of snow. We need to take more time to educate the general populace, as this is a rampant problem. Over and over again, I would see chunks of snow from these cars fly off toward the vehicles behind them. It is a hazardous situation. Snow does not belong on your car.

Several industry leaders have made it a point to spread the message. According to Continental Tires’ website, “Driving with snow on your car is dangerous and potentially a violation of the law.” Car and Driver cites several examples where drivers have gotten injured or died because snow from a car in front of them went hurtling toward their vehicle. Snow does not belong on your car.

Snow does not belong on your car. Don’t wait for the air resistance to force the snow onto an unsuspecting driver behind you. Be proactive and get the job done. Owning a broom or an ice scraper to clear snow should be as essential as affording a car, gas, and insurance. Of course, this is meaningless if you do not use the broom you own to remove the snow. 

If you get behind a car with snow, give the car more room than you usually would. You must have time to react to any snow that is sent hurtling toward you and your vehicle. When stuck behind a car or truck with unremoved snow, you want to pay more attention to your three mirrors to know where to get out of the hurtling snow’s path. If you get a chance, record the license plate and send in a complaint in the hopes someone can take the action needed to make the roads safer before it is too late.

Just Be Better (and get rid of the snow on your car)

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy.

Resources

Continental Tires. 

Car & Driver 

Sorry

The other day, our HVAC technician did not show up within the 4-hour window I had scheduled with his company. No company member called to let us know they would be late. This is odd because the technician works for an outstanding company and does excellent work. After the window had elapsed, I called the company and enquired about the missed appointment. The agent told me there was an accident, and they were backed up for the day. I asked why they did not call to let us know there was an issue and either change or reschedule the appointment. That’s when I got the overused and underdelivered “Sorry.”

I loathe this word. The word sorry is a gesture; it is not an action. It does not solve the problem. Everyone rushes to use the term when things are not perfect. I wish everyone rushed to fix the issues first. The overuse of the word has got to stop. If you own up to your mistake, thank you for owning it, but I want to know how you will solve it. Finally, most of the time, people tell me they are sorry but will do nothing to ensure it does not happen again.

After being told sorry by the agent, she said that the technician would be at my house in 20 minutes. It wasn’t until 45 minutes later that the technician told me he was 40 minutes away and would be by shortly. This timeline did not coincide with what the ever-sorrowful agent told me. (The agent’s fault, not the technician’s, who did great work and got everything in order.)

I do not like it when people do not follow up their words with their actions. Only make a promise or a statement if you will back it up. And most definitely, do not tell me you are sorry unless you genuinely take those steps to ensure it never happens again.

Just Be Better

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy.