Some of you are probably thinking, “We already knew that, tell us something we didn’t know.” Thanks, but I’m already feeling badly enough. Why add insult to injury? So what did I do wrong?
If you were to ask the General, she’d probably say, “Same ole, same ole…”. Except, this time she didn’t say anything. When I discovered the error of my ways, I expected a lecture. I could have scripted it for her. I’ve heard it before. This time, she didn’t say anything. She just shook her head in an acknowledgment closely akin to, “So what’s new?” Ouch! That really hurt.
Actually, the term “Same Ole, Same Ole” comes from a miscommunication from the work world. “Same Ole, Same Ole” really refers to “Same Old, Same Hold” related to compensation an employer withholds from a workers paycheck. Who knew? I didn’t
So where did I go wrong? I honestly don’t know. It began with a simple request two months ago. The General told me that Craig and Becky had asked if we could keep the kids the weekend of November 6-8. In fact, it was permissible for us to pick them up and bring them home with us. I’m always in favor of that. Nothing thrills me more than time with grandchildren. A month ago, Treva asked again to ensure I had Friday, November 6 on my calendar for vacation. I assured her that I did.
How stupid did she think I was? I had affirmed to her that the date was secured. In fact, I pledged to go to school and listen to Jake, the six-year-old participate in a reading contest. Honestly, the kid can read anything. He simply sounds out the words. He is also very animated. I could hardly wait.
Well, as it turns out, I will wait. How did I mess this up? I really don’t know, but I take full responsibility. Several weeks ago I reached out to a couple of board members to ask for their assistance. I had posted a high profile job with one of our agencies and determined that a panel interview was preferably to my simply making a decision.
The truth of the matter, initially I only had three applicants who had the credentials I was looking for as an applicant pool. As luck would have it, I was a long-term friend with all three applicants. At my age, I live with the notion that the day will eventually come that I’ll need at least six friends. In case you’re wondering what that means, I’ll let you figure it out. At any rate, since I have been a long term friend with all three applicants, the possibility existed that in the process of determining the best candidate for the open position, I potentially could jeopardize my “good friend” standing with at least two of the applicants. That is definitely not a win/win.
So what was the solution? Easy decision – “Why not solicit participation of a couple of board members to assist in making the selection. The strength of that was their objectivity. They didn’t know any of the candidates, so their decision would easily be determined by the answers the applicants provided during the interview process. Sometimes I am amazed at how smart I am. Don’t you think so, too? “Well, maybe not so much”. Sad isn’t it! Where did I go wrong.
The wheels actually came off the wagon when both board members subsequently were not available for the interviews on Thursday, November 5. A couple of weeks ago, one board member needed to cancel out. I quickly, replaced him with another board member. A couple of days ago, I learned that the other board member I had initially invited also had a last minute conflict and he couldn’t be available.
You guessed it! The logical question was, “Can we move the interviews to Friday?” I didn’t know, I opted to check with the applicants. Miracle of miracle, all three applicants were available on Friday, November 6. Problem solved!
Well, not so much. I know that I know that I put November 6 on my calendar for a day of vacation. It obviously did not register with me until the General heard me talking to one of the applicants late yesterday. “So did you not put November 6 on your calendar as a vacation day? It could have been the beginning of World War III, but it wasn’t. She didn’t say anything else.
I could see it in her eyes. It was simply one more time where worked trumped family time. Who knows, she might even volunteer to be one of the six friends I’ll need to eventually carry me out of the church. At least, when that day comes, I will have lost my potential to be disappointing.
Okay, I’m a jerk! I admit it. Is it a calendar issue or simply an issue associated with riding for the brand and letting nothing stand in the way with work. Who knows? I didn’t purposefully make this error. However, the long and short of it is ultimately I lose out.
I am in a heap of trouble, but it is mostly with myself. Ouch! The General will rise to the occasion and attend to every need of the grandchildren in my absence. I’m the one who loses out in that process.
All My Best (well maybe not so much!)
Don