YES,…BUT…………………

August 1, 2024

I strive to ask questions that can only be answered “yes” or “no.” To my amazement, more often than not, I get rambling answers to these questions. I rarely get concise answers.

I will ask a simple question such as “Is it raining outside?” and then patiently listen to lots of babbling.  After the person is finished with their response, I look at the provider of gross amounts of non-relevant information and ask this pointed follow up question: “So was that a yes or no?”

On a similar subject, you can probably relate to this experience dealing with service providers.  You rearrange your schedule to meet someone else’s schedule and then they fail to show up timely or even at all.  When they do show up, too often you get a weak justification for their tardiness.  I cannot help but wonder why they are not even courteous enough to call to let you know of their situation.  But you can always count on these same people to fully expect payment in full for their services immediately — regardless of any poor workmanship.

For absences, I wonder what excuse people are now using to replace the former effective and reliable “I have covid” excuse!

Having had to work since I was about ten years old, I am shocked at the number of people that have failed to show up for scheduled job interviews with me recently!  If I needed or wanted a job, I would show up on time, if not early.  When people do show up for a job interview, I ask them if they looked at our company website.  Normally I will get a concise and prompt “yes.” Then I will ask them to share what made an impression on them and what they know about the company.  This is when I get an honest form of “Yes, but………..”

For me, I feel like I am a dinosaur with expectations that are no longer sustainable.  It would be easy to throw in the towel, but just maybe I can make a difference with those that I encounter who want to learn.   At King Aerospace, people are our product and a “Yes, but …” answer is not a good answer.  Maybe I’ll write about “No, but….?”

Written by KING AEROSPACE Founder, Jerry Allan King-Echevarria.