No Big deal…

Back a few years ago, in my active days in the Jaycees, I was scheduled as the guest speaker at a Jaycee meeting. This meeting was about an hour away from home so I knew I had to arrange my schedule just right for the day. The meeting was at 8:00 that night. I had spoken at many meetings I the past, so I wasn't really nervous, but I still had a twinge of the butterflies since I had such a full and tight schedule. I also had the job of "pumping up" the members, so I was particularly sensitive to my own attitude for the day. For some reason, I developed this knack for talking on my feet, so I really didn't have a prepared talk. I knew I had to think about some things to say during the day.

My first appointment was at 7:30 am. The home owner worked at night and was supposed to meet me after work that morning. I showed up a little early just so I could get a jump-start for the day. 7:30 came and went. 8:00 came and went, still nobody there. At 8:30, I decided I had to leave to get to my next appointment, which was to pick up a check. I figured, "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience. I'll just have to reschedule this missed appointment." On my way over to picking up the check, my cell phone rings. The lady apologizes and asks if I can meet her today, still. I figured I could catch her on the way home. After all, I had to drive by there later in the day. "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience," I say to myself.

When I get to the house where I'm suppose to pick up a check, the homeowner is rushing around, trying to take her little girl to the emergency room. She looks a little annoyed at seeing me. Her daughter fell off a swing and banged her head pretty bad. She asked me if I could come back tomorrow. Even though I was looking forward to putting the check in the bank to help cover a paint bill that was overdue, I figured, "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience."

My next stop was to pick up some supplies that were left on one job, and needed to go to another. We needed these particular supplies to do some significant work at this other job. I had arranged to be at this customer's home at 10:00am. You guessed it; I waited for a half an hour, with still no sign of the customer. There was a real tendency to start thinking, "Boy, I'm having a bad day and it already 10:30! What's going on with these people?" But instead of thinking those thoughts, I DECIDED to say to myself, "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience!"

On the way over to the job where we were suppose to get some significant work completed for the day, I was able to locate the last customer on my cell. She was on her way to her home and I was almost at the other job-site, some 20 minutes away. I stopped in on my guys, who were just doing some minor things that still needed to be done. But they would soon run out of work without the needed supplies and equipment. Instead of sending one of the workers over to get the supplies, I decided it would probably be best if I went back and talked to the customer about some concerns I had on her job. So, here I go, heading back to where I just came from so I could return with the needed supplies. I knew I had a window of approximately 1-hour before the guys would go off to lunch and then have nothing left to do. So, it was important (that day, I would have said "vital") to get back at just the right time. Knowing I had to keep my composure and good attitude, I just again DECIDED to tell myself, "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience."

I was also starting to take notes of what I was doing wrong in my scheduling and how I was handling these fires. I DECIDED that I was going to learn from this day, and not beat my self up over some stupid decisions I made. I still figured it was "No big deal, just some minor inconveniences."

The timing went perfect, and now I had to go install some drywall. Fortunately, one of my guys had delivered the drywall to the job-site. Not really knowing the extent of the damage, we bought an amount according the work order that came from the GC. This was a small emergency insurance job. When I got there I saw that we over bought, and figured, "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience." I'll just stock any "over" material for the next time.

The rest of the day went smoothly except for my time. The drywall took a little longer to install, and then, I had to take the rest of it back to the shop, since there was no room at the people's home, and it was scheduled to rain that night. I figured I would just tie it to the roof of my mini-van. You got it right, "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience!" Well, glory be! I was able to meet the rescheduled customer, but I was running about an hour and a half behind at that time. I thought I could still get the shop, drop off the drywall, get home, take a shower, put on a suit, shine my shoes, grab a quick sandwich and rush down the highway, through the Harbor Tunnel and arrive just as they were saying the pledge of allegiance. It didn't give me the time I like to take in meeting some of the members ahead of time.

As I was driving home (a little faster than normal, I might add), I had to make a sudden stop in the middle of the intersection at rush hour. Off like a greased skillet, came those three sheets of dry wall. They broke the hood ornament on my van and crashed in front of me onto the roadway. My heart sank. I tied up traffic and angry motorists for a good period of time as I rushed around picking up broken drywall, and throwing them into the back of my van. The adrenaline rush while in angry rush hour traffic was one I won't forget. I finally finished picking up the mess, and got into my van. Gripping the wheel with both hands, I just let out a deep sigh and said out loud, "Well, no big deal, just a minor inconvenience," as I thought about the time I had just lost. Well, at least I didn't have to go the shop now! I could just go straight home!

As I walked up the front sidewalk to my house, I searched frantically for the house key on my key ring. It was no where to be found. That's right! I gave it to one of my kids, and I didn't get it back! "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience. I'll check around back." Since we live in a town house, I would have to walk around the block, down the alley and see if the back was left open. Of course, you got it…another challenge for my thinking! I walked back around the house called my wife, who had just left work. Of course she didn't have a cell phone at that time. So I sat on the front steps and had the experience of saying "No big deal, just a minor inconvenience" through clenched teeth and clenched fists! I had to chill out! What a day!

But it wasn't over. My wife finally got home. I wasn't in the mood to talk. I felt like I didn't have time to breathe. I just had to take that shower, and change my clothes. Forget about the shoeshine, they'll get over it! I grabbed a granola bar and jumped in the car, and off I went. Did I mention that I needed to go through the Harbor tunnel? Do you know what happens at rush hour in the Harbor Tunnel? The road shuts down! Grid lock. I had to relax! I'm getting too frantic. Take a deep breath, relax…now, what was I going to talk about tonight?

I thought I would talk about goals and the hurdles you have to get over to reach your goals. I thought it would be a great lesson to talk about what happens when you keep your eyes focused on your goal. Everything that keeps getting in your way just doesn't compare to the final prize. Are our problems mountains, or speed bumps? If we have well defined goals, they are simply speed-bumps. With out goals, they become insurmountable obstacles. The lesson for the day could be on goal setting and handling the obstacles with the attitude of "No big deal, these are just minor inconveniences." I would tell my story of this day. Of my trying to keep my attitude good.

I finally arrived at the meeting. Bewildered because they were looking like they were still in their social hour. Did they wait for me to begin the meeting? I didn't want to be presumptive, so I also socialized. And shook some hands, trying to appear that everything was OK. As the Chapter President got up to start the meeting, he said, "I'm glad you could get here tonight, and that you didn't get here earlier because of Daylight savings time…"

What???!!!

You mean, I went through that entire hassle, all that anxiety, all of that, just because I forgot to set my clocks ahead?! Well, I just roared! By that time, I couldn't help but say to myself, "Well, its no big deal! Just some minor inconveniences for the day!" The message hit home.

All articles appearing on this site are copyrighted by the Painters Chat Room. Permission to reproduce any portion of this site including submitted articles must be obtained by e-mailing us at administration@painterschatroom.com. (c) 2000

Archives of Tricks of the Trade.