Does It Really Matter If I Do It Right?
A Contractor’s Confession.
Lord knows I’m usually on my best behavior, but this time it just didn’t seem all that important.
When I got a call about an electrical outlet update, I was more than happy to help out with an electrical concern. I was already going to be at the property and this was just a quick gesture of my appreciation. I think my attitude must have changed once I got there.
I was only going to switch out the old outlets and cover to new ones, so I turned off the power to the box and went at it. Things went smoothly but the outlet box was a bit crooked. I hadn’t noticed it before I started but I tried to shift it to straighten it out. I got it pretty close so I put the cover on, but it wasn’t quite right. I tried a few more time to get it straight but it never really got right.
So I justified why it was okay to leave it the way it was:
- I wasn’t being paid for this work
- It wasn’t that crooked
- The outlet was going to be behind the copier, no one will see it
- It was like that before I got here
- And on and on….
Later that day the Regional Manager sent me a text with this photo showing me what he saw. It had gotten worse; it wasn’t that crooked. He wasn’t upset, he thought it was funny. At that point I was embarrassed for what I had done.
The owners were coming and I wanted to make this right before anyone else could see this shoddy work. I did make it right and took a photo for that Regional Manager to see. I put a small level on the outlet cover to show that it is now corrected.
He and I had a good laugh.
I learned that if I am willing to do a job, be willing to do it right!
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