Early on a Friday, a brilliant nuclear physicist approached me with urgent news: “You need to cancel the shipment for Monday!” he exclaimed. Curious and concerned, I asked, “Why?” He explained that the large inspection machine had suffered a broken encoder and that this was the last one available. Realizing the shipment required a highly specialized vehicle, one that was notoriously difficult to schedule and had already taken significant effort to secure for Monday, I insisted he show me the problem firsthand.
After inspecting the machine together, it became clear that the encoder, a device that helps control the machine’s movements precisely, was indeed broken. However, I quickly realized this particular encoder was designed for laboratory use and not for the demands of a production environment. In production, machines face constant use and vibration, making a ruggedized encoder essential to ensure reliability and performance.
The physicist seemed convinced it would be impossible to obtain the proper replacement in time for shipment. But I wasn’t ready to accept defeat. I knew that waiting for standard procedures would delay our shipment, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and reach out directly to the company’s president. Determination fueled my actions.
Once I had the catalogue in hand, I immediately noticed the company president’s picture on the opening page. Without hesitation, I called information, requested his home number in Cleveland, Ohio, and dialed. A woman answered, and I said, “Hello, pardon me for calling at five o’clock. I hope I’m not interfering with your dinner. I am Allan Musterer calling from San Diego. I am in critical need to speak to your husband regarding a product we have purchased from his company. Is he available?”
She replied, “I am sorry, he’s about to return from the office. Oh, wait, here he is!” Her husband picked up, and I explained our dilemma, emphasizing the urgency and critical nature of our request. I asked if he could get us the ruggedized encoder by tomorrow.
He responded without hesitation, “Yes, I can call my foremen to package one up, and there’s an American Airlines flight to San Diego that leaves early in the morning and arrives at 1:45 pm. Will that work for you?”
“Absolutely!” I replied, grateful for his exceptional service. After hanging up, I turned to see the scientist, who was visibly astonished.
“How did you do that?” he stuttered.
I answered, “I believed I could, so I did. You believed you couldn’t, so you didn’t.” I let that sink in, then continued, “Now you need to tell the team to prepare the machine to receive the new encoder and work through the weekend to get everything ready for the scheduled shipment on Monday.”
The shipment went out on schedule that Monday.
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Turning Point
This experience reinforced my belief that proactive problem-solving and unwavering determination can turn obstacles into opportunities. By believing in myself and acting decisively, I was able to keep the project on track and inspire those around me to do the same. This was also evidence of the truth of my favorite saying “If you believe you can or you believe you can’t – you are right!” and my corollary to it “If you believe you can you will, but if you believe you can’t you won’t.”