Band-aids or surgery!?
What do Scotch Tape, Post-it Notes, and paper clips have in common? Each apparently has a different function, is made of a different material, and serves its own purpose.
Oh sure, you can say they’re all office supplies (and you’d be right) but we can look a little deeper for their common purpose.
Paper clips hold two or more things together for a few hours or days, and are then returned to the desk drawer.
Scotch Tape pieces are placed along the edges and on the ends of gift wrapping packages for a short period of time.
Post-It Notes are stuck to documents and computer screens suggesting that a signature is needed or some action be taken. Once the action is complete, the note is discarded.
Figured it out yet?
They are all just a temporary fix, a momentary solution to a temporary need. They are used in “reaction” to a short-term need.
Temporary fixes are also used similarly in our daily personal lives.
When our children misbehaved, we reacted with a 15-minute “time-out.” But we might have avoided that temporary fix by listening to their concerns and teaching appropriate behavior before the fact.
Then there are all the excuses we make, that we use like Band-Aids, to temporarily cover flaws in our own behavior. Wouldn’t a more permanent solution like
- performing to expectations,
- learning from past experience,
- or practicing excellence be more appropriate?
Yes, we do live in a very fast world. Quick solutions are the order of the day. Yet we eventually realize that we continually seem to need a fresh supply of Band-Aids, Scotch Tape, or paper clips.
What can we do?
By taking more time to look ahead, it is possible to eliminate many of the situations that require those one-minute Band-Aids or other “temporary” fixes.
We can avoid using a Band-Aid excuse for being late to meeting our friend by leaving the house 5 minutes earlier.
We can avoid using a Band-Aid excuse for a poorly done project by earlier having set up a timeline, broken the project into smaller steps and doing them on time (or early) so no apology or excuse will be needed.
We can avoid “boo-boos” and
- search for,
- learn, and
- practice a more permanent and proactive life!
Think of something that YOU can do to avoid unnecessary, temporary fixing!