Lemons into Lemonade

I taught service schools all over North America. Had many interesting experiences. I would arrive an hour or so before start time and set up my equipment, and chat with the wholesaler or wherever it was being held. For the most part they were always friendly sharing of information. There were always one or two techs who researched in advance to find ways to stump me. This is actually beneficial to both sides. I never taught a session where I didn’t learn something.

Once I was teaching a group in Patchogue NY. It was a time when warranty policies were being reviewed and changed. Our biggest competitor had extended their warranty, and we had not at this time. There was all kinds of verbal sniping coming from the group which made it difficult to progress through the class. I finally said “I was teaching a class in Canada last week and they felt like you guys. They just drug me out back and beat the heck out of me, all your doing is talking.” They started laughing which broke the ice and we had a great class after that. Rather than fighting with them, I more or less agreed which resolved the problem.

Another time I was scheduled into Appleton WI for 5:00 P.M. at a wholesale house. I arrived at 4:00 P.M. The owner wanted everyone to have a good time and so had bought snacks and a keg of beer. Unfortunately, they opened the beer at 3:00 P.M. Let’s say the class was a disaster at best. Finally, they just shut it down.

Instead of going back to my hotel I invited anyone interested to meet in the parking lot. About half showed up and we swapped knowledge for the next two hours. In the end making lemonade made the school a success.