Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:51 pm
Learning From our Errors
The idea for this post came from a recent Chat conversation. We're quick to point out our triumphs and conquests. Seldom do we hear of the goof-ups or mistakes of our peers. A lot can be gained from the sharing of the stuff that makes us human (and keeps us humble).
I had an incident about 20 years ago, that sticks so strongly in my memory, that it has influenced the way I troubleshoot a problem today.
I was locksmithing for a school district. At the end of a particularly difficult day, as I was going to my truck to return home, I was dispatched to one of my intermediate schools. One of the main doors wouldn't latch, and they couldn't chain it ovenight, so it was called in as an emergency.
Frustrated, I got back into my work truck and fought traffic to "rush" to the school. I found the door in question and began to test it to see why it wouldn't latch. I tried adjusting the strike for the panic bar in and out, and even drilled new holes to reposition it. No go.
I began to look at the door closer, thinking the arm assembly was contacting itself to prevent a thorough closing. No adjusting of the closer would help.
After about 20 minutes of tweaking and adjusting, I was out of ideas. I stood in the door frame, wondering what the problem could be, when my eyes fell on a small stone in the threshold. Picked up the stone and the door clacked to a close.
I was none too happy at the time; but this totally changed my troubleshooting process. Three guesses as to what's the FIRST thing I look for, now, when a door won't close (and the first two don't count!).
I had an incident about 20 years ago, that sticks so strongly in my memory, that it has influenced the way I troubleshoot a problem today.
I was locksmithing for a school district. At the end of a particularly difficult day, as I was going to my truck to return home, I was dispatched to one of my intermediate schools. One of the main doors wouldn't latch, and they couldn't chain it ovenight, so it was called in as an emergency.
Frustrated, I got back into my work truck and fought traffic to "rush" to the school. I found the door in question and began to test it to see why it wouldn't latch. I tried adjusting the strike for the panic bar in and out, and even drilled new holes to reposition it. No go.
I began to look at the door closer, thinking the arm assembly was contacting itself to prevent a thorough closing. No adjusting of the closer would help.
After about 20 minutes of tweaking and adjusting, I was out of ideas. I stood in the door frame, wondering what the problem could be, when my eyes fell on a small stone in the threshold. Picked up the stone and the door clacked to a close.
I was none too happy at the time; but this totally changed my troubleshooting process. Three guesses as to what's the FIRST thing I look for, now, when a door won't close (and the first two don't count!).
Nemo Malus Felix
