INSIGHTS•4 MIN READ
I Don't Have Time To Wait
kaliinozarks
Published on June 15, 2013
Published on Wealthy Affiliate — a platform for building real online businesses with modern training and AI.
I am currently listening to Robin Sharma's audio about Success. This guy is inspirational and he talked about how successful people do, more then they talk. If you haven't heard it – you should take the time to do so. Follow this link.
http://www.robinsharma.com/rsss/tactics-for-ultra-success?utm_source=RSSS&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=June+15+2013&utm_campaign=Free+Teleseminar
This reminded me of a situation at the tool company. One of my departments was the traffic department. For those people who don't know what a traffic manager does, its pretty simple. My job was to find the best suppliers of shipping services and negotiate the best prices. Then I would communicate to the shipping clerks and let them know which companies we should use.
Because we seldom used FedEx, we didn't have the paperwork on hand, but the customer service representative said it wouldn't be a problem because their drivers always carried extra waybills. They dispatched a pick-up driver to our location and he arrived in a short time.
Serious Problems At Hand
A moment after his arrival, my clerk called me and asked me to come to the shipping dock because we apparently were having a problem with our important rush shipment. Of course, I headed to the warehouse to resolve the problem.
I met with the clerk who was having a heated discussion with the FedEx driver. As luck would have it, I knew Don, that angry driver. We worked together at a different company a few years earlier. This familiarity helped us resolve this apparently insurmountable problem.
Too Busy To Wait On A Customer
The issue, the driver said he expected us to have the paperwork filled out prior to his arrival. He emphasized how busy he was and how many other stops he had that afternoon. He said he just couldn't wait.
If you've ever filled out an air express bill, it takes about 3 minutes. Don had already spent 20 minutes arguing the fact that he couldn't wait 3 minutes. After some reasonable discussion between he and I, he went to his truck and retrieved a blank form. We filled it out and three minutes later – he was on his way to his next assignment.
I have utmost respect for FedEx and as a company, they usually go the extra mile. That's why they are successful and changed the world, against all odds. If you don't know the story, Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx was told by his college business professor at Yale that his business plan was not practical and would never work. It's a great story about how you shouldn't let your teachers steal your dreams.
They Lost A Potential Customer
We didn't switch our air service to FedEx at that company because of my experience with that one single driver. We had good results from UPS Next Day Air, and when they looked good, I looked good.
Later I pondered this interesting exchange and remembered that at the previous job, Don, that FedEx driver, always complained about his workload and blamed everyone else for his own shortcomings.
I think a lot of people follow the excuse mind-set, and they would rather make excuses than solve problems. I don't understand why there are so many negative people in this world, but I try to surround myself with positive people; just like most WAites (I love that term).
Kali
AFTERTHOUGHT – I am at my lake office, concentrating on my work and apparently have just ignored Ashley and Mitch, some of my favorite Park Ranger buddies who were calling my name repeatedly. Ashley, the more attractive of the two (hey, I'm single), told me I hurt their feelings. Now I feel bad. Damn you WA projects!
I remember Kyle told us in training to focus on what you're doing, but I think I need to be more aware of my surroundings. People are still #1.
http://www.robinsharma.com/rsss/tactics-for-ultra-success?utm_source=RSSS&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=June+15+2013&utm_campaign=Free+Teleseminar
This reminded me of a situation at the tool company. One of my departments was the traffic department. For those people who don't know what a traffic manager does, its pretty simple. My job was to find the best suppliers of shipping services and negotiate the best prices. Then I would communicate to the shipping clerks and let them know which companies we should use.
I Spent $5 Million a Year
Our shipping budget was about $5 Million a year so I was a very popular buyer with the freight companies. As a customer, I demand excellence and as a supplier I know my customers demand the same. It's not an unreasonable expectation. 
Because we seldom used FedEx, we didn't have the paperwork on hand, but the customer service representative said it wouldn't be a problem because their drivers always carried extra waybills. They dispatched a pick-up driver to our location and he arrived in a short time.
Serious Problems At Hand
A moment after his arrival, my clerk called me and asked me to come to the shipping dock because we apparently were having a problem with our important rush shipment. Of course, I headed to the warehouse to resolve the problem.
I met with the clerk who was having a heated discussion with the FedEx driver. As luck would have it, I knew Don, that angry driver. We worked together at a different company a few years earlier. This familiarity helped us resolve this apparently insurmountable problem.
Too Busy To Wait On A Customer
The issue, the driver said he expected us to have the paperwork filled out prior to his arrival. He emphasized how busy he was and how many other stops he had that afternoon. He said he just couldn't wait.
If you've ever filled out an air express bill, it takes about 3 minutes. Don had already spent 20 minutes arguing the fact that he couldn't wait 3 minutes. After some reasonable discussion between he and I, he went to his truck and retrieved a blank form. We filled it out and three minutes later – he was on his way to his next assignment.
I have utmost respect for FedEx and as a company, they usually go the extra mile. That's why they are successful and changed the world, against all odds. If you don't know the story, Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx was told by his college business professor at Yale that his business plan was not practical and would never work. It's a great story about how you shouldn't let your teachers steal your dreams.
They Lost A Potential Customer
We didn't switch our air service to FedEx at that company because of my experience with that one single driver. We had good results from UPS Next Day Air, and when they looked good, I looked good.
Later I pondered this interesting exchange and remembered that at the previous job, Don, that FedEx driver, always complained about his workload and blamed everyone else for his own shortcomings.
I think a lot of people follow the excuse mind-set, and they would rather make excuses than solve problems. I don't understand why there are so many negative people in this world, but I try to surround myself with positive people; just like most WAites (I love that term).
Kali
AFTERTHOUGHT – I am at my lake office, concentrating on my work and apparently have just ignored Ashley and Mitch, some of my favorite Park Ranger buddies who were calling my name repeatedly. Ashley, the more attractive of the two (hey, I'm single), told me I hurt their feelings. Now I feel bad. Damn you WA projects!
I remember Kyle told us in training to focus on what you're doing, but I think I need to be more aware of my surroundings. People are still #1.
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