How was your day?

[Magnet]

Hello Pete,

I must say I feel for your colleague and his, and his son's problems. Generally we are not privy to the day to day burdens that friends and colleagues have to endure, and the tendency is to be a little critical of behavioural problems, when we are not walking in their shoes as the saying goes. The 'cannot get on with him' opinion is probably understandable, but perhaps this is an engineered attitude on his part to avoid anyone getting too close to him. I have found that being nice to people who are not nice to you, can sometimes break down barriers and very often the story behind the behaviour comes to light. Support, without intrusion can mean a lot to such people who are in difficulties - if only a tap on the shoulder and some words along the line of ' I don't suppose I can help, and it's difficult for me to understand your problems, but I would like you to know I'm here for you if you think I can help'. More often you can't, but it's the reassurance that you care is the all important bit. 

I recall reading Bob Monkhouse's autobiography where he relates that he blamed himself for not trying to sort out Dennis Goidwin ( I think it was) problems that led to his suicide - to a point where the shrink put him right and said ' don't think you are that good to have prevented that' . Good point I guess but...

To end on a more upbeat note, Monkhouse also relates the night he spent at Dianna Dor's house tied to the bed. Nothing happened except he was left tied to the bed all night. In the morning he was told not to be so presumptuous! 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[PeteB]

I understand your views and comments about just offering help can make people feel a little more at ease but unfortunately, in his instance, the offers of help were continually rebuffed.

He came to us from one of our dealers and I had been asked to remind him by his employers that he was employed solely to sell machinery and not go off on a tangent with papers on where they were going wrong with their hire fleet, their business models, their transport issues etc. When he joined us, he was given my patch and I offered to take him around the clients, talk through the database and other usual 'handover' stuff and this was totally rebuffed in a haughty manner on three critical occasions. He has that demeanour that he doesn't need advice, nobody else's opinions matter and he is always right. He has had sales/work things go so wrong many times that he picked up the moniker 'Captain Fantastic, the Master of the Disaster, The Minister of SNAFU, The Deliverer of FUBAR'. We all make mistakes but not to the same frequency magnitude or consequence. I have got so sick and tired of trying to help keep him on the sales route to success that I gave up and distanced myself from his activities for my own sanity! I've supported him when he has screwed up and hurt my own reputation to keep him from harm, but I gave up.

Today he had to load a 1500kg towed unit onto a trailer along with 1000kg of tracked device to take out, due to a demo day in Kent tomorrow. I unloaded the trailer and left it where he wanted, asking if he needed help. Not required - 'I've done this hundreds of times' type of thing. I then informed him where the cables etc are for the electric winch and left him to it. Another colleague asked if I should be helping him, I agreed as I always felt that he was short on that skill set but that the offer was turned down. Ten minutes later, he is in the office asking where the Directors are as it fell over the side of the trailer and is wrecked! He absolutely needs this model for his diary and nothing else will do. I suggested that as that is our only demo unit, that he either takes a different model or blags a new one off production for static use only. No good as it needs to be worked, I point out that the tracked variant would be too heavy for that trailer but he is such a state by then that that doesn't matter! At this point I make myself scarce. I can do without dealing with his trauma, it is nothing new...I later found out that he had loaded the wrong machine, he had loaded a new machine that was destined for the Czech republic by lorry this week, he hadn't bothered to check serial numbers and had ignored that demo kit has a 'service' tag fitted to show when it was last checked over!

Back to my day....

After a show, there is usually a load of menial stuff to do, kit to be cleaned and put away, machines to washed of the mud and correct keys re-issued etc and all the marketing bumpf and kitchen stuff to be done so I rock up in working clothes. I then get told that apart from unloading one trailer, jobs have been allocated! Hallelujah! I got a stack of paperwork, emails, phone calls etc to be done so head out after the little upset mentioned above! I got to go via Wellingborough as my son has his ageing Subaru Legacy with a dodgy twin scroll turbo engine in to be remapped as the original mapping from 215k miles ago is wrong and it is down on power and not suited to UK fuel. Funny how you do things when you are young - he thinks it is well worth the investment in doing this and I think it is a shed! Yet I did put wide wheels and arches on a 6v Beetle and think it was the Muts danglies! This Subaru is running at less than half the PSI it should so needs a de-choke and new rings before the bother with the remap to see if can get close to factory spec.... Quess what I'll be helping with?

[Magnet]

Well Peter,

 I really don't know what to say, except I sence your frustration. 

Having been in situations in industry where people's working practices are criticised, I found myself asking 'well who employed him then'? (In other words who interviewed him and offered him the job?) Quite often the answer came back, and it was found to be the same one who offered the criticiser their job!

As DylanThomas once once wrote ' We are never wholly good or bad'. 

All of this does not make me yearn to come out of retirement - fortunately. 

I still maintain it is more hassle being sour with folks than it is trying to be nice. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[PeteB]

Ordinarily Gareth, I would agree with you. Someone who smiles is more likely to buy something from me than someone who frowns when asked the question "can I have your order?". I'm for a happy life and an easy life! So I try to laugh at work and get those around me to be happy.

In some cases we interview well and sometimes the position is sold well. In his case, I don't think "we" were aware of the baggage. I also think that I wasn't consulted at the time because the thought was that I would object to loosing the best patch, the wealth generator. In truth, that would have been the case! I had worked that patch for several years and know the effort to involved in developing that area, those relationships, those sales, so to start again is a PITA! But, in terms of career development, change is good if you make it happen. I appreciate that a new manager has his own style but the knowledge generated over countless days, months, years was tossed into the weeds. Another, experienced sales representative, pointed out that the knowledge was free and was still tossed into the weeds.

Soul destroying to still come across people who I developed a friendship with have changed make because "noone came to see me or phone me".

Guess I am the old fashioned company man who bleeds company blood......

[Magnet]

Well Peter,

I must say I couldn't do your job for a fortune.

You obvious do/did enjoy it, and good for you, but I find it extremely difficult to sell anyone anything that they are not eager to sign up to buy. Sales need special people, and obviously you have developed that skill. A few cars have passed through my hands since I had hair, and I have always admitted to potential buyers that the car will have to sell itself, because I cannot sell it to them! . 'Go away and give it a coat of thinking about it if you are not keen to make up your mind now' . 

Being well into retirement, I now find myself thinking back to the working environment when everything was considered to be of major importance, and one's input had to be always 100%. In hindsight? Daft! Particularly in this day and age of loyalty neither given or taken, it should be treated as what it is - a way of making a living. When it gets a hassle - look elsewhere, but most importantly attempt to be contented with the bad bits as well as the good bits. 

Good luck with getting your colleague on your side. 

Kind regards,

Gareth.

p.s. Now I'm thinking - what on earth has this to to do with Audi s. I'm beginning to sound like Aunty Whats it from the agony column! 

 

[PeteB]

Gareth, if you cannot have fun in your job and at least some for success, whatever that may be in your role, get out and do something else. I point out to my kids that I only have had three jobs in my life. One temp job as a postman at Christmas, then following a disastrous education (my fault), carried on the summer job as a labourer doing tree work to end up as the MD and employing 12. When that ended, (thanks to blind procurement and the now ex-wife) I went to work for the company who supplied two of my three woodchippers. Long, hard hours and plenty of driving but it is what I do. In short, two jobs that I enjoyed, was good at and got sufficient remuneration. I count myself lucky in that respect.

I'll be trapped behind a screen for the next few days playing catch-up on the sales meeting notes, show enquiries and putting things in the diary! I got another Scottish trip to do but must remember to collect her and the daughter from Manchester Airport on the 2nd!

[PeteB]

Yesterday was a day of paperwork, phone calls and chasing around with details from show enquiries. My team of dealers up and down the country have to deal with these. I'm not an office sort of person - I'd go stir crazy at a desk job but it has to be done. I managed to do my expenses for the credit card and only had one missing receipt too! My cash ones are few and far between nowadays, I've even got around to using contactless with my phones now! I benefit from working at home and can then stay focused and undisturbed, If I go to the factory, their seems to be an endless amount of disturbances and people needing my time - it is good to go there and talk to folk but I could not be there everyday! I'm not one for politics and cliques either.

I got to populate a list of all the 'used' stuff and now the demo fleet is to be renewed so I got an autumn sale to advertise. The dealers will get a 'round robin' email later, once all the hour meters have been read etc. Some dealers pay attention and others flick it into the weeds and just ring me when the have a deal on the go!

I also got the record/minutes of the sales meeting done and circulated. That is a minor miracle of recall and blather with a healthy dose of cut and paste!

The Ranger went into the local Ford people for a recall, water ingress into an 'electrical distribution pack', they allowed two days for this and it took two hours! Back on the road tomorrow for me! I think next weeks diary is full too with site work and demo stuff....

The only blot from yesterday is my problematic colleague rang. He was contacted by a competitor (who used to be a dealer for us until they swapped brand), there is a strong rumour being circulated that I am leaving and he is to be the sole UK rep! I ain't had THAT email or discussion yet! There is another chap with the same name as me (and lives in the same county) who works for my East Midlands dealer who has been approached by a competitor of his, so maybe the drums are sounding about the wrong chap changing jobs!?!

[PeteB]

Well that is another week just about wrapped up!

Stir crazy from sitting behind the laptop! I know that this stuff needs to be done and researching for foreign machinery dealers that may underwrite second hand units for us was always going to be hard but it does take an inordinate amount of time with speculative emails and an online translator!

We got an Autumn sale flyer sent out to all the UK dealer reps, including the folk in Devon who ain't officially part of the team until November, but I sent to the mob that we finishing with too....

I just had a chat with the man who does most of our finance deals and I got offered a £10k loan over 60 months and it'll cost some £800! I might have to have a bit of that and do the bathroom and garden wall project! That is !Removed! cheap! I'd rather spend the money on a toy car mind. Anyone want to buy the Hot Rod? That needs going and replacing with another sort of retro ride with get up and go!

Taking Tom to pick up his less than healthy Subaru tomorrow and might go on to Santa Pod as it is a 'run what you brung' which is a source of entertainment and ideas! Wished I could get a straight liner just for fits and giggles....But, if it has !Removed! or tyres, it cost loads, be temperamental and break your heart!

[PeteB]

I just noticed the auto edit! It wasn't a swear word, but, I'm glad this forum has that facility.

I've left a few groups and forums because of !Removed!, swearing etc. We all now it exists and where to find it, but we don't need it thrust at us without a thought for who might see it. Some 14 years ago, Tom was looking at a Mustang forum and left the page open. I looked at it briefly after he had gone back to his Mother's and a thread said 'look at this guys!', I pressed the link to get taken to a hardcore !Removed! site. Not good....!Removed! american idiot!

[PeteB]

Santa Pod was good. A right mash up of cars attending the Ford Fest tomorrow, and a variety of other stuff. Something for everyone! The 06 Bentley was a treat to see and no slouch either! A good mix of Audi stuff, proper drag racing stuff and a host of really well engineered cars in good weather made for a good day. I might make a bid on a W8 if I can flog the hot rod just to do a few things like Run What You Brung!

Tom met up with his car mates, I left them chatting to watch from the top of the stand, something made me turn around and look at the queue in the prep lanes. Tom had paid up and signed on! He did a 16.7 second pass at 89mph terminal! The car is at 215k miles, with an old cambelt, sketchy service history and only 70psi compression....thank god it lasted!

Caz reports that Crete is stormy, wet and thunderstorms. He he he!

[PeteB]

Not a good day on the whole! I elected to go to Caz's to walk our Alsatian rather than do 'man' thing like go to watch Tigers play Sale at home or go back to the Pod and watch the Ford Fest. On top of that, there was the endless round of domestic chores washing cleaning etc that needed doing. Anyhow, Tom and I set of in the Q7 so Woody could get some social activity at Clumber PArk or somewhere, got about 20 mins away from home and just got onto the concrete section of the A46 and there was a clunk and the front went all funny and bouncy! Some warning lights came of the dashboard an the front part of the air suspension has collapsed! Got it back home and set of in the Ranger....dog was pleased to see us and he is a really good tempered dog too. He got a long walk around the fields and through the village and we left to get back to Shepshed in time to watch the end of the match.

Now doing some stuff on this forum and other web pages to check to see what has broken and how to fix it? I like to have a go at fixing things so let's hope that it isn't mega money and dealer only type thing! The jobs keep stacking up! Seen a basket case of a W8 which would get down Santa Pod nice....ebay dreaming?

[PeteB]

We recently discovered that an order I took for a machine to go to Lancashire County Council was delivered with the wrong spec. So that has to be collected and then the new one sent up when it is made in a couple of weeks! Poor girl who got the spec wrong on the internal order was fair frightened of the kicking she'll get! I drove down to Alcester to get a trailer and hand in my expenses, do a bit of socialising, ruffle a few feathers and sort out a couple of other issues then back home for more screen work.

One issue that I got to resolve is a foreign chap who brought one of the old Ford Ranger tow tugs that had starship mileage off of us. He sent it to The Namibia so has exported it. He now thinks that as it is out of the country, it should have been zero rated and that we have to refund the VAT element to him. The deal was all a little odd from the start with money being transferred in four lumps from his wife (of a different name) and I delivered it to a shady private address in Coventry. He insisted on keeping all of the V5 but agreed to email me a bill of lading etc. I emailed these to VOSA and they accepted that we no longer were the keepers. He very nicely sent me pictures of the truck in the desert etc in Namibia as proof that it got there. But, the tax man suggests that as we had no control over the 'export', that the payment came from a woman in Coventry and that he is not VAT registered, then he pays....another two hours of my life lost!

I'll be honest, selling two, well used, Ford Rangers was a most trying exercise with several shady people suggesting that I take a cash bung to lower price, or half cash and half through the books or despite the advert stating that the sale was 'plus vat', it wasn't applicable in their case! I once agreed to a viewing based on a price of £7k + vat, I drove the hour to show him the truck and he had a plastic bag with £5k in it and I could write what I liked on the receipt. Hard work.....These Rangers will do four years and I'll have that job again!

After yesterdays bother my Q7, I need some technical help from the forum so best getting typing and begging for answers. I am a bit stumped as to why my S Line doesn't appear to have controllable suspension but it is on air!?! or at least the back does now but the front end is 'slammed'!

[niedzial1983]

Left my car for front bumper respray. already miss it as they gave me fiesta 2016 to drive...😭

[PeteB]

34 minutes ago, niedzial1983 said:

Left my car for front bumper respray. already miss it as they gave me fiesta 2016 to drive...😭

Teach you to be more careful and not bump it!

[WPAWS]

40 minutes ago, niedzial1983 said:

Left my car for front bumper respray. already miss it as they gave me fiesta 2016 to drive...😭

you got luxury m8 i was given a  fiat 500 when mine was in the bodyshop only drove it once and that was to return it 😂

[niedzial1983]

31 minutes ago, Paul A6 said:

you got luxury m8 i was given a  fiat 500 when mine was in the bodyshop only drove it once and that was to return it 😂

I actualy like fiat 500 lol.

[niedzial1983]

39 minutes ago, PeteB said:

Teach you to be more careful and not bump it!

Well. I had my front bumper quite bad anyways so its a win win !

[PeteB]

After sorting a couple of emails that came in overnight, I towed a trailer via Rochdale to Dunnockshaw, collected the machine that was the wrong spec and sorted a couple of other things while I was there. The sales guys were out selling stuff so I then drove back down the M6/M5/M42 to Junction 3 to head to the factory. The roads seemed to be full of muppets with no lane discipline - idiots doing 40 in 50 section ignoring the fact the trucks and people like me are on a time limit, so need to keep up speed! I emptied that out and went and loaded the two machines I need for demonstrations tomorrow. There was a quick panic as my colleague had decided that he needed my loaded trailer despite already having the other, better trailer and would bring it back in tomorrow! To be fair, neither of us is very good at looking at the diary and we both ignored it this week...He kept his and I kept mine so I can get to my demonstrations tomorrow without to much hassle. This is our busy period and we are both very busy with a lot of things on the go.

The one machine that I got to play with tomorrow is mounted on the three point linkage of a tractor and powered by the pto shaft.  A new shaft came with the demo unit so that had to be cut down as they are supplied too long. I hope that I got it the right length or they have a workshop if it is too long.

Tea was left over sausages, eggs and tinned tomatoes on toast - my aging Mum rang a few mouthfuls in and didn't hear me say that I was eating and I didn't have the heart to cut her off! She was in a talkative mood so my tea is now congealed...

Her and her daughter are on the way back from Crete right now so I got to pick them up from Manchester - another 3+ hours of driving on top of the lot done already.

[PeteB]

Tiring day! The flight from Crete was delayed by over two hours - the anticipated collection was post 23:00 and bed at 01:30. This ended up at bedtime at 04:00 and alarm going at 07:00! Quick cup of tea and drag the trailer over to a Fishing Lake, Caravan/Lodge place close to Chapel St Leonards, North of Skegness. Really nice spot, well run and well maintained. Not rammed in static caravans and lovely people there too. Managed to unload the machine, mount it on the tractor and do the demo with a laugh and enjoyed being out and on the tools etc. The only downer was an Ops issue with the compact tractor. These things have a safety device so that if you fall out of the seat the engine is killed. It does mean that there is a process in starting a static piece of kit to ensure that the engine still runs. The Rep and myself couldn't work it out and the owner hadn't a clue. We phoned the manufacturers rep and he said that it was impossible - but we know different! How else could it run a chipper, saw bench, mixer etc! We did they demo with me sat on the seat, thus squishing the micro switch and they brought the chipper. We are on 8-10 weeks build so the local Rep will lend them a hire machine to get on top of their work while theirs is built. Sweet!

The second demo didn't happen as the customer changed his mind on the timing so I left the machine in their depot for them to do the demo on their own. I've every faith in them doing so - they don't need their hand holding....

I wasn't expecting the grief that I had from their workshop mind! Sometimes, our own spare parts people are our worse asset! Wrong parts sent out - queries not answered etc leaving the local people in the dark with an annoyed service customer! This lack of awareness, lack of care or just plane awkwardness is common and gets up my nose!

On that note, I am after a quote for an old wood fence to be removed and replaced with a block wall around two sides of my garden. I selected three local builders and phoned them asking for a quote for this. Not one of them has bothered to ring back. As a salesman, I cannot understand this mentality - it they are too busy, it isn't their type of work or beyond their capabilities, they just need to say so. Then I can ring up another three! I've said to my parts people 'have you phoned them to let them know it is on back order?', I'm quite often met with a bovine expression and complete silence! 

Criticising people for poor effort, poor communication and poor manners hurts me as, quite often, they are good people who I have a laugh with and help out where I can. We all screw up at times, but a good rescue is controlled by how that !Removed! up is managed and communication is key. They often think 'selling' is easy and they have the hard job! I got to 'sell' it to the owners, managers, parts people, service men, reps as well as the chap who is buying it! they just have to pack a parcel.....

[PeteB]

In a Premier Inn, south of Newcastle airport. Decent carvery supper, amazed at how much some people will pile on their plate though! She was up at 03.30 and never slept well afterwards until around 6.00 then lights out! Rook of emails and phone calls followed by a drive north, stopping at a couple of sales calls on the way. On to a trade dealer who wanted advice on one of our old units, another problem overcome. 

I got asked if I can call by Langley Mill on the way back. They sent a package in error, the wrong part needs collecting. We sent a flywheel weighing some 70kg to a customer, only they sent the wrong one! He has 12 units all the same and we sent the wrong one.....

I was supposed to have a dealer meeting first thing with our Tech Services Manager and the dealer Groundcare Manager and their Parts manager. We are transferring our parts business in the North of England to them and we need to discuss terms, online systems, returns and warranty stuff. My colleague calls off as his Ranger has died and Bristol Street are a shower. He cannot get here/anywhere. Then I hear he is off down south in a van with some parts that are needed!!!!

She has just confirmed that she has no objection to me having a drag car of some sort! Bless her! But only once I have mended the Q7, cleared a Focus off the drive, sold Sweet 16, cleared the garage of parts, emptied the patio of scrap Subaru bits, mended and sold the three commercial mowers, saw bench and mended the grey Ferguson! Oh, there was also mention of the new bathroom and garden wall! Well, that's next year sorted!!!🤔

[PeteB]

Didn't get much sleep thanks to inconsiderate guests noisily coming and going so today seemed a long day.

Met my contact at Gateshead council and hung this chipper on a John Deere compact. It turns out that this has a momentary switch for hydraulic flow and we need constant. Solved that with an elastic band holding the switch in with an M10 nut - real redneck repair! Someone drove it across toon in the rain to site. They had cut back some overgrown Blackthorn to chip, awful stuff but it did it. They are after two if the budget can be found! Good laugh and good demo, everyone came away smiling despite the rain and the thorns! Got it back on the trailer and headed south!

I had to stop a couple of times to tie off some emails and phone stuff. Including an angry African demanding that I give his vat back, despite being told that he needs to talk to the Revenue, as they demanded it! Silly idjut tried to strong arm me with threats of Trading Standards etc, I had to explain what 'bring it on, chap!' meant! All this meant that my call to Langley was too late!

Now watching a good rugby arch between Bath and Exeter! Will be in bed straight after as she is up at 3 again!

[PeteB]

Didn't sleep much after she got up at 03:00, eventually got to sleep but never got up until 09:30! A few household chores done then into town to shop and go to the bank to sling some dosh into an ISA and see about swapping my mortgage to them too. I went in the Q7 as the front suspension had risen! The light was still on and the back was slightly down so I went in that. I wished this forum was more active on the tech side - other forums I'm involved with seem to have that 'help' side. I looked at the VWAudi forum, but there isn't much tech stuff there either. Cynically, I think that that is a vehicle for flogging car insurance etc....

Watched Tigers beat Saints at Twickers on the box and will probably get to see another match later. She is fed up with the lousy hours and Airport Security hassles at EMA so is looking for other work up there - the East Midlands Gateway stuff is a real growth area, so competition between employers will start to get worthy! UPS and DHL seem to pay well for checking parcels etc - no dealing with stroppy public who think that they shouldn't be searched, have vile BO, other staff not carrying their weight etc...Good luck to her. She is a grafter.

I got to remember to put the green Poinsettia in the garage every night for the next 10 weeks or so to get a good red top to it for Christmas - damn thing will smell of gas after being in there that long!

[PeteB]

I got a feeling today that the bottle of wine I had in front of the TV has laid me low! Odd, I don't usually suffer from the after effects of booze but today, I feel tired, my head hurts and my belly is complaining!

She went of to work - at least I think so, she was gone this morning! Tom at work today too - he got a load of his Subaru scrap closer to the tip, it's now in boxes by the gate. The Audi is still unwell, the air suspension issues don't fill me with well being, the wiper arm does what they do and fell off the spigot. That'll have to come off and get drilled and tapped to take a big washer to stop it from coming off the arm. I don't appear to have working heated seats and I cannot get the face vents to vent hot air neither. I am beginning to wonder if I brought a lemon. I wished the tech section of this forum had some wise people to tap into for advice....

Rugby is one TV soon again and then I'll be full on chef doing the Sunday roast. Pork, I don't know why I got pork, we have had pork four days on the trot - beef would have been much better.

She told me a couple of mind boggling stories from a work colleague last night. A girl from up the village also does the same job - they asked if the could synchronise shifts so that they can car share, apparently that is difficult - they start (at the moment) 30 mins adrift! Poor girl was telling this story that she lived with her elder sister for  a while in a suburb of Nottingham. The family moved after she woke up one night to find a large black chap stood at the end of the bed in a psychotic state (possibly from drugs) who refused to let her out of her room! How bizarre and very frightening. This poor girl has also been a victim of sexual harassment from another employee at the airport. A bloke in an aligned department who has a very responsible task, watching over people coming in and out of the country, was taking pictures of this lass every time she bent over to check a suitcase etc. A right sorry state that lead to - his phone camera was full of pictures of girls backsides as they went about their duties! He no longer works there and I doubt he will get another job where a CRB check will be done! Just what the heck was going through this chap's mind that made him think that this type of behaviour was acceptable?

Oh well, best do some more research into air suspension issues...

[PeteB]

A trip to a clients yard in Langley Mill first thing, good bunch of people who are good customers buying new machines then wrecking them - so parts business is good!

A trip to the factory was frustrating, a decision made in a sales meeting has left me with egg on my face after I told a firm that they could use us for site service work. No they have decided that that wouldn't be good! Feel a plonker now having promised and now pulling that promise.

Got loads of business on the go and some real brights leads to work on, plus a Scottish trip in the offing, but again, I make promises on info given and in the end, that falls to bits! Frustrating....

She gone home for a few days so I can watch want I want on tv for a change...

[PeteB]

She is on her way back - up at 03:00 for another shift at EMA - finishes at 10:00 tomorrow. 

I had a client with an issue with his machine - I notified the office that this was coming in with specific problems and they needed to look at it - was dismayed to find that the chap who is supposed to organise any changes dived into a meeting when he saw me arrive and ignored the fact that he said he would be straight on it....Office Politics....

Eventually he came out and after I pointed out a few errors that should never have happened, he took charge! Emptied the drawing office and Production Managers to show them the things that he 'had discovered and needed rectifying'. I set about fixing them and I think they were a little surprised that I could hold a spanner and told them what needed to be done and then did it! I do get annoyed when they just look at Sales as a hindrance instead of the wealth makers!, and that the Sales people don't lounge about on an expense account but actually know what they are talking about with machinery even though they aren't qualified engineers.

My next week or two are in turmoil as my colleague has booked out four of our top selling demo units and goes away for another week holiday - leaving them scattered in the wind - I cannot do anything with them.  Two that I have sold to Scotland along with a prototype that I was asked to get out will not be ready - even though they gave me the time frame to work with. Terribly frustrating and demoralising as I get paid on results - not on the time I spend doing it!

I nearly bust a gasket at the parts people today - two people had asked me why they hadn't been contacted - I questioned the parts people and that bovine look appeared, I would love to stick people into my car and take them to my dealers and customers to make them realise that they need to be proactive/reactive! If they miss a call - phone again and again, if they promise an answer - ring back at the end of the day, even if you have nought to add, if you have to step over it on the floor, check to see if action is needed, don't keep stepping over it! If you are unsure about a part, ask an old hand if it is correct or has been superseded! Simples.....

The monthly figures were published - best be better next month as we are on the bonus run to Xmas!