Which way to go?

Jan. 1, 2020
In the grand scheme of things, dissention among the ranks is inevitable.

In the grand scheme of things, dissention among the ranks is inevitable. If you have a moderate number of people with a lot of different types of experience, ethnicity, age, sex, and principles, at some point you will reach an impasse where individuals will come to logical viewpoints of their own accord. But which one do you choose?

By choosing one will you alienate the other person(s) involved? It could be something as simple as where to put a product display or something involving company policy which can be a far more complex decision-making process.

Many of us have experience with GPS systems. What if we had access to a GPS system in which we could simply enter the question or direction we wish our business to go, and after some calculations, it spits out a business plan or plan of action to follow. Scientific. Precise. Simple.

I often have day dreamed about such a device, and how much money I could make if I could get the bugs worked out. Then I took a trip with my brother, whom had just purchased a new GPS system for his car. I was using a GPS system of my own in my vehicle. What follows is loosely based on truth, but the end result is factual.

My GPS system, like many others, has a very pleasant-speaking female voice. She notifys of turns to make in a curt manner and systematically recalculates wrong turns and reminds you that you are going the wrong way. However, she doesn't know everything. If I want to go in a certain direction, or take a short cut that is not in the GPS data, I swear to you, it seems like her voice takes on a irritable tone as she keeps reminding me to make a legal U-turn.

My brother's GPS system also has a female voice, but she has a British accent. While riding in his car, I am sometimes unsure if I am listening to driving instructions or a Shakespeare play. Seriously, instead of just saying 'make a legal U-turn', his GPS says oh-so Britishly, "I say old boy, turn around and go the way we have previouly agreed upon." Intimidatingly courteous.

As we travel, we also make use of FM two-way radios to keep abreast of the numerous pit-stop requests. This is where it begins to get weird. Little did we know that the GPS systems were also listening to each others' driving instructions. I got a hint of this when during one radio request for yet another detour when I could swear my GPS system blurted out 'Are you kiddin' me?' I accused my wife of being incondsiderate of someone's over-active bladder, but upon glancing at her asleep in the passenger's seat, I shrugged it off as unconsious babble.

After travelling for several hours, my brother announced that his GPS has calculated a route that was 45 minutes faster than my GPS had calculated. Since we are both 'all about' the expediency of travel, we made an executive decision to follow the route laid out by Lady Tom-Tom. As we began travelling our new route, my GPS immediately began the insistent reminding that a legal U-turn was needed. I left my GPS on to see how long it would take her to recalculate the same route. Ten miles flew by, and she was still telling me we were going the wrong way. I mumbled to myself something about my GPS being stupid.

Then I heard, "Who is she?" The cabin of our Tahoe filled with fog, and the radio turned off. Then, "She's wrong, make a legal U-turn." I fumbled for my radio and quickly broadcast "Um....Brother, is your GPS acting weird?' I got back, 'Yep, mine started playing Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang, and I swear the car actually left the road as I came out of that last turn'." Sweat began forming on my brow as my GPS queried "How long has she been your trusted guide? Make a legal U-turn," at which point my radio began playing the theme to the Twilight Zone.

Suddenly, I had to slam on the brakes as we fell behind a huge line of traffic. Then to a complete stop. Fifteen miles into the shortcut and my GPS still had not recalculated.

We saw the flashing lights ahead and realized the road was blocked. We had to go back. As we turned around, my GPS said "Continue along the current route. Told you so." I thought to myself, that there was no way that my GPS knew there was a road-block! To my futher delusional amazement I heard, "I'm psychic also." I then tried to awaken my sleeping wife to bear witness to what I can only describe as an entirely make-believe psychotic episode as my brother radioed me to tell me that his GPS just died and he would be relying on a Magic 8 Ball as his guide for the rest of the trip.

I know what you are thinking. Is there some sort of illusive business principle somewhere within this farce of a ramble. Yes, develop a plan, stick to it, and if it fails simply modify the plan. Just like the old saying, "Nobody plans to fail, but many fail to plan." Whether you use some fancy electronic device, tried and trusted methods of business, advice from your staff, or a psychic hot-line, develop the plan and work it. Will your plan be a great success the first time you implement it? According to my brother's new device, "Ask again later."

Sponsored Recommendations

Best Body Shop and the 360-Degree-Concept

Spanesi ‘360-Degree-Concept’ Enables Kansas Body Shop to Complete High-Quality Repairs

How Fender Bender Operator of the Year, Morrow Collision Center, Achieves Their Spot-On Measurements

Learn how Fender Bender Operator of the Year, Morrison Collision Center, equipped their new collision facility with “sleek and modern” equipment and tools from Spanesi Americas...

ADAS Applications: What They Are & What They Do

Learn how ADAS utilizes sensors such as radar, sonar, lidar and cameras to perceive the world around the vehicle, and either provide critical information to the driver or take...

Coach Works implements the Spanesi Touch system

Coach Works Uses Spanesi Equipment to Ensure a Safe and Proper Repair for Customers