Didn’t Need an App For That
Chief Bob Vásquez
Wisdom Seeker, Igniter, Storyteller, Author, Speaker, Founder at PowerPact Leadership!
As we’re about to tell the sun when to rise and when to set, I’m remembering a simpler time, the day I didn’t rely on time at all.
I was the Commandant of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at March Air Force Base near Riverside California. One of my more important jobs was to attend meetings. Everywhere. The Academy was situated a few miles from the main base, across the interstate, on the other side of the flight light, up a hill.
On this particular day, shortly after arriving at my office, I realized that I’d forgotten my watch. I had back-to-back meetings, as I said, everywhere but at my building. How would I ensure that I got to where I should be on time without a watch? It wouldn’t look professional me asking others what time it was until it was time for me to leave for my next meeting. As I was pondering my dilemma, my secretary, Charlotte Goines, an incredible professional who’d served many more commandants and other senior leaders, entered my office to say good morning and noticed that I was concerned about something. I told her what I was dealing with. She thought a minute then quickly came up with a solution. She suggested that she call the office wherever I was meeting and tell whoever answered to tell me to leave for my next meeting. We didn’t have smartphones then, but we had hard line telephones and she had everyone’s number. That’s exactly what she did. And I didn’t miss any of the several meetings that I was scheduled to attend. It worked exactly as she planned. Fifteen minutes before my next meeting, someone would come into the meeting I was in and remind me to leave for the next one. What a plan! A perfect plan and execution.
Nowadays there’s an app for that. One that provides a solution to almost everything. Back then, I didn’t have an app, but I had a person for that, which was much better. I’ve lost track of Charlotte, but wherever you are, especially if you happen to be reading this, THANK YOU, Charlotte, for being you!
High tech will never replace high touch!
Chief bob vásquez!
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