The consultant

I've had this cartoon up at my work forever.

There's an internet persona I encounter as a part of my job.  Basically, whenever someone has a question with a particular piece of software I work with*, he seems to weigh in.  Usually his comments decry that the original questioner is not a trained specialist, is asking ignorant questions, and he sharply criticizes management for not hiring professionals.  Obviously, this person has a financial interest in these comments - as he is a consultant who makes a living by advising in this field.  He's paid to be an expert, and to criticize the organization and its projects (right or wrong).

This type of arrogant attitude has always gotten under my skin.  In high school, a person was a "poser" without certain punk qualifications.  In college, it had to do with whether or not I had read certain authors or watched certain movies.  At my first job, it was whether or not my degree was in computer science.  For the record, at least that criticism had some basis in reality; a degree in computer science meant a higher salary and less job security.  If that company could keep hiring people without computer science degrees for a lot less money, they would fire the pricier computer science majors.

One sees this in former mormon circles a lot.  People have to trot out their mormon qualifications for speaking up about mormonism.  Born in the church, pioneer/polygamous ancestry (people don't usually mention the polygamy), mission, temple marriage, served in various callings are some of what's discussed.  Then, when they don't have that history, they're criticized for not have enough experience.  When they do, they're criticized for breaking sacred oaths and not enduring to the end.

So there's a vested interest in claiming people don't know what they're talking about.  Personally, I believe it's a balance. 

Of course people have to have a certain amount of knowledge and experience.  I wouldn't want an untrained doctor operating on me or my family. And some experiences cannot be learned.  I don't know what it's like to grow up as a male of color or in southeast Asia.

But it's ridiculous to always claim a person always needs certain education or experience that cannot be learned.  Humanity didn't get this far by assuming a person cannot learn, that they can only learn in certain ways, with certain official qualifications. 

Humans innovate.  They try to make things better.  Sometimes it's worth giving people the benefit of the doubt.

And if a person has read your diatribe against management hiring inexperienced people enough times that one can recognize your name and statements, maybe it's time to revisit your strategy.  I certainly wouldn't hire someone so obnoxious.  I would be concerned that my company or system would be dismissed - that the consultant wouldn't be working towards a solution. 

*For full disclosure, I found most of these questions by googling questions that *I* have had - so I wouldn't say the original questions were completely out of line. 

Doing it right the first time

People are different. I've found, even for people in the same socio-economic class, same basic background - still may not be able to complete the same tasks in the same way or time frame.

When I discovered this, I was a bit shocked. I think I was under the mistaken impression that everyone could do things like boil water, balance a checkbook or check out a book from the library. While most people can do these things, not everyone can. Or can do them with the same general amount of education or instruction.

In my life, there was always a lot to do. Even before I had children. And recently I've been learning to take care of myself, to speak up for myself. Instead of what other people want me to do OR what will make other people happy.

I am not one of those people who will be sure to fully complete a task, so that it is done the right way the first time. I'm just not that way. I try to finish projects on time - sometimes in a half *ssed way. I'll admit it. Growing up in the home that I did, there was always a ton to do - there was often a void that needed to be filled. It made sense to do as much as possible - whether or not it was perfect.

The point where this becomes problematic is when you wait to do it perfectly, and so avoid ever getting anything done. (there is a great dilbert cartoon about this - which I have up in my cube).

To wait until the walls are washed before inviting people over. If that were the case, for me, I would never invite anyone over. Not only that, if I did have people over to my home, I would spend the entire time on pins and needles - exhausting myself ahead of time.

We all have different standards of cleanliness. And it makes sense to try and live in an uncluttered, low dust home. There's nothing wrong with washing your walls - if that's what you need to do. I am speaking for myself here.

But sometimes, it seems to me, we just have to take a leap of faith. We do the best we can at the moment, with the knowledge that we may make a mistake. That we may have to do it over. Because something needed to be done - to be completed.

And so much in our lives does not have to be perfect. We have to accept that we are human and that others are human. And that everyone has different standards.

It is a difference I have from many of my friends - again, just a personality difference. Other people are better planners, better executors. They can get things done right, on time. For me, I recognize that I push myself hard enough as it is. I'm not going to push myself to do things perfectly the first time.