Type “definition of professional” into a well known internet search engine and in 0.2 seconds (depending on your broadband speed!) you’ll get over 85 million hits. 85 million! Doesn’t that tell you something? It tells me that perhaps there’s a bit of a dispute going on about what is “professional”. Imagine this scenario. It’s cold, nearly minus 10 degrees outside, and your boiler packs in. The guy living next door is a joiner but you’ve watched him enviously time after time fixing his lawnmower, servicing his car, rewiring his house and installing a central heating system. He sees you over the garden fence (though why you are outside when its 10 degrees below is beyond me!) and asks you what’s wrong. “Boilers packed in,” you reply. “Do you want me to take a look at it for you?” he asks Do you… 1. Say “Yes that would be great thanks.” 2. Ask him for some evidence of his qualifications in the “fixing a boiler” sort of field. 3. Say “No thanks, I’m going to get a professional out to do it.” Let’s look at the options: Option 1 He grabs his bag of tools, dons his overalls and comes round. He methodically removes the boiler cover, carefully placing each nut and washer on a piece of kitchen paper so as not to lose them. He starts by checking the obvious things like an electric supply to the appliance or the gas connection. He then checks for an ignition spark and pretty soon identifies the problem. Having disconnected the gas and electricity, he removes a small piece of pipe work, blows through it and clears it of some fluff that had gotten stuck there. He then retraces his work, putting everything back together again and reconnects the supply. He presses the ignition button and viola, the boiler is working again. You thank him profusely and ask him how much he wants for the work. “Forget it” he says, “Buy me a couple of beers next time you see me out.” Option 2 He politely, but with an obvious tone of resentment, informs you that he hasn’t got a qualification to his name but can turn his hand to most things. You thank him for his kind offer but decline his help. He shrugs his shoulders and goes back to fitting his new kitchen. Option 3 You flick through the Yellow Pages and see tens, if not hundreds, of adverts for Central Heating Repairers. You decide to go with the one that seems on paper to offer the best service, quick response, fully qualified engineers, no call out charge and guaranteed satisfaction. You give them a call and they promise you someone will be there within the hour. Four hours later, a smart looking uniformed guy turns up in a well liveried van. He takes one look at the boiler, without removing the cover, and explains that that particular model is notorious for one particular fault, that he doesn’t have the part on him because it’s an older model. That he can get the part but it won’t be available till tomorrow. It will be $280 for the labor and $120 for the part. He turns up the next day, having left you and your family without any heating for the night, seemingly replaces the broken part and hands you a bill for $400. The boiler works fine and you are well satisfied that you have had a professional service, even if it was a little pricey. So, what do we mean by professional? Do we mean that you have to have a degree of competence or just a degree? Is a lawyer a professional because he or she has professional qualifications or because they do a professional job? Is the neighbor in the scenario a competent amateur or an unqualified professional? Which option would you have opted for and which service would you have been happiest with?
Previous Article:
A heavily pregnant Tori Spelling after s ... |
Next Article:
'mud' premiere during the 65th annual ca ... |
 |
CozyCot.com
|
 |
CozyCot.com
|
