2018 RETA Breeze May- June

SERvIcE

The Shade Tree Mechanic, Volume XXXVI DON’T LIE

I have made so many mistakes in my career, I couldn’t count them all if I had too. I ordered the wrong motor for condenser #2. I put the wrong belt on the 446 and couldn’t gure out why I couldn’t take the slack out. I showed up for the wrong shi once. I le my lunch in the sun one day. I rebuilt an A4A and didn’t get the pilot hole lined up. I was taking a burr o of a sha and accidently ground a groove in it. I married the wrong woman once and I bought a 1971 Ford Maverick. I’ve made more than my share of mistakes. But I’ve never lied about it. Nothin’ gets me red up as much as being lied too. When I go out to a maintenance call and I ask simple questions like “did you check to see if it’s grounded out?” And I get “yes” instead of “I forgot to check” I get pi**ed. Tell the truth. Mr. Bradshaw says people make mistakes 15% of the time. at means we are right 85% of the time. Don’t try to pretend you’re perfect. I’m telling ya, I’ve made as many mistakes as anybody. I’ve caught stu on re that you would swear wouldn’t burn. I get that mistakes happen. But don’t lie. 99.999% of the time, if you tell me the truth we’ll get things xed and back on line a lot faster.

I don’t write up my maintenance guys for making mistakes. I know a lot of companies do, but I don’t. I’ll re someone for lying to me. Let’s think about how mistakes happen. If one of my boys makes a mistake it’s because I put them in a situation beyond their training, or

I didn’t give them enough time, or I didn’t put them in a situation where they couldn’t do it wrong. Mistakes happen. Just tell me. We’ll x it.

Don’t lie to me and make the project harder. Tell me the truth and lets get this sucker done. Iz gotta get

things back on line and get back to my shade tree. My beer’s getting warm.

28 RETA.com