Lean Reality - Understand the current condition before you take action

Lean reality? Understand the current condition before you take
action.

Hi there. I'm on holiday at the moment with my family.

It's very early in the morning as I pen this article.

As my brain is more focused on relaxation rather than perspiration,I thought I would tell you a quick story
in the importance of really understanding the "Current Condition". 

I'm in the front room of my father in laws' home, discussing what he would like for his birthday.

Being a very practical man he was not bothered about new clothes, or anything too fancy.

All he wanted was a set of heavy duty hinges for his garage doors!

My in-laws live in a small rural coastal town in the North of Scotland.

Where was I to get these hinges?

In rural communities there is often the equivalent of an Agricultural version of B and Q or Home Depot set
 in a field in the countryside.

We headed for such a place.

When we got there, there were sheds and sheds full of all things imaginable.

Barbour jackets, animal food stuffs, gates, rat poison, fencing posts.....

You name it, they had it.

We eventually came to the heavy duty gate hinge section .Yes there was such a section!

We picked up the 20" zinc coated version that I knew would be just the job, for the birthday boy.

(For those of you who think this story is already quite sad, we obviously did get him other more normal
birthday presents as well)

Anyway as I went to pay for the hinges' I noticed a small display of "Henry" hoovers.

For those of you who have not come across the "Henry" hoover range they are a brand of hoovers, with
a smiley face on the front.

In a previous life I had used them as part of our 5S activities to maintain equipment and knew that they
were very robust and worked really well.

Plenty suction.

The thing that caught my attention was that the Henry hoovers on display in this Agricultural warehouse
were different.

They were far smaller than the ones I had personal experience of.

In fact they were about half the normal size. Very small. I was quite excited.

My mind was racing as to the potential benefits of purchasing one of these little beauties.

The high level of suction for the size would be brilliant for so many tasks. We recently had a new roof
put on our house. It would be great for getting rid of the dust in the attic. Cleaning the PC keyboard
would be a breeze. Cleaning the inside of the car would be a joy.

In the past like many of you I have had to live with the disappointment of owning a small rechargeable
vacuum cleaner that doesn't work. This new wee Henry was about to change my life.

I had never seen a Henry hoover so small and my anticipation of the immediate benefits meant that it
would be added to my shopping cart there and then.

I checked with the person behind the desk to find out how much it was going to cost me for my proud new
ownership. Twenty pounds. It would pay for itself within the month!

The lady cleaned the dust of the top of the box and handed me my purchase.

As we were returning home from holiday, in a couple of days, "Henry" was left in the boot of the car
ready for his first outing on my return to Glasgow.

The next day we had my father in laws' birthday celebration. He was delighted with his presents, including
the zinc gate hinges. I told them about the place we bought them and what a fantastic Aladdin's cave it
was,  for all things rural and agricultural and I also mentioned my new Henry hoover.

My mother-in-law asked if she could see it. She too felt it may be a welcome piece of artillery in her quest
 to win the war in the domestic battlefield of household chores.

I duly went out to the car to get the Henry hoover.

As I took it out of the box it was exactly the same as the Henry hoovers I'd had such a good experience
with in the past. Just a lot, lot smaller.

I took of the hoover lid and there in front of me was an impressive set of accessories and tools.

"Plug it in then" she said.

As I looked for the power chord all I could find was a small length of plastic pipe that looked like a piece
of liquorice with a rubber sucker on the end of it.

Yes ladies and gentlemen this particular Henry was a bl**** toy!

I was disillusioned, disappointed and disgusted.

I think my father-in-law had actually broken down in tears.

My new purchase had pushed him over the edge.

Not a bad reaction from a man who wants gate hinges for his birthday.

My wife and children took Henry back. I was now too emotionally scarred to face the ridicule of the warehouse
assistant.

Anyway what is the point of my tale?

It is very simple.

Always, always truly understand the current condition before you take action !

Hope this helps,

Graham Ross

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