Introduction to this Blog

Creating this blog is something that I've wanted to do for a long time. Every day, each of us go through dozens of little frustrations. I see there being two core problems that create these annoyances, and one is really a product of the other.

The first is that people do not take initiative in improving their work or processes around them.
The second is that people as a collective are so unwilling to step out of the crowd, to call into question, to criticize, that the most obvious problems will continue through to final delivery despite multiple opportunities to intercede and ensure the greater success.

The following statement may offend quite a lot of people. If it offends you, then perhaps I have hit a nerve, and if so, I encourage you to engage in some reflection on whether you are a contributor to the problem or solution.

"The vast majority of people have a relatively complacent attitude toward accomplishment of their daily activities. The tasks that they set out to or are called upon to do are executed with either minimal forethought if unique, or no ongoing evaluation of result if by rote. When presented with an opportunity to take action to correct an error in their own work or another's, or a product, process or procedure, a percentage of people in the high 90's will overlook, ignore, disregard, or downplay significance and as a result Annoyances continue and multiply."

What are some examples of the Annoyances I refer to? They are the manufactured goods that we purchase, use and are annoyed by for the duration of ownership. They are the store clerk who rings up a purchase of 2 bags of tenpenny nails and a screwdriver that totals to $75 then stares blankly when you query if that doesn't seem like something might be wrong with the price. They are the government form you struggle to read as you fill it out, because it is the result of the 30th generation of photocopying, when 10 minutes at the word processor, which is housed on every single desk in the office, could produce on demand an immediately available flawless copy for time eternal.

Why am I writing this? I care about these things. I take the time - nay, crusade for - betterment of these Annoyances. I will spend an hour trying to correct an Annoyance, to the utter perplexity of the instigators, in the hopes that they may in some small way either join my call to arms, learn some measure of diagnostic capability, or at least be irritated enough to correct an individual situation that will Annoy the dozens, hundreds, or thousands who follow in my path of Annoyance.

Be warned. There will be ranting. I can be emotional about these things. I am utterly frustrated by the lack of initiative of the common man, and I cower not behind niceties of conversation in expressing my view. But I offer solutions as well. Often as not this amounts to stating the obvious. Other times, you will see that a solution has required more thought.

I invite you to comment - share your own frustrations, Annoyances, and the solutions. Share how you experience these things, and how you helped to make them better. Join me. We must prevail, if only for our own sanity.