Treat #61
: Though the Looking Glass
As I was processing my In-box and paying my bills on-line, I noticed I paid the wrong amount on three different bills the previous month. How could this be possible, you ask? I immediately called my bill paying service to find out why they had not paid the accurate amount, never thinking I could have made all three errors myself. The service rep assured me in a kind and gentle way that the person entering the data would be the one who made the error. That would be me, I exclaimed aloud in a playful voice (while feeling a bit silly). After hanging up the phone I wondered how I had produced those errors. I knew immediately. When I paid those bills I was not looking at what I was doing with my full attention, exactly what I coach my clients not to do.
I have the privilege of watching people process information and I often notice them clicking quickly down their lists of Projects and Actions as part of the Weekly Review process. I know they can't be actually seeing each item on the list. And, without their full attention on each item, those unseen items go back to the unconscious spot they previously occupied in their head. In my case, I make errors when I move that quickly without really looking.
Apparently I was due for a reminder to slow down to look with focus, because a day later a similar thing happened. I was calling the bank about transferring some funds and listened to the voice mail about my credit line that said I had a balance due of $1. I knew that was inaccurate because I had just paid the full amount due. This time I bypassed calling the service as I figured it was my error and, sure enough, when I got on-line and looked at what I had requested to be paid, it was short by $1. Not again, I exclaimed! This time the error was potentially expensive as this line of credit moves from a 2.9% rate to some usurious rate like 25% if the amount due is not paid-in-full. I was saved…the due date for the payment was the next day and the representative simply charged my checking account to cover the balance due.
Phew, that was a close call. Someone was watching out for me. Maybe since I was willing to take responsibility for the first set of errors, I was saved from a big consequence on this error.
Just to make sure I didn't get cavalier about it, I was given yet a third lesson about looking with focus while writing about it. I had written one paragraph of this Treat when my computer froze. I had a split second of wanting to blame the computer until I had to admit that I was typing so fast that I typed two keys at once and jammed things up. I yelled: Okay, okay I get it. I know I am trying to hurry to complete. DOING WITHOUT FOCUS DOESN’T WORK. I GET IT. Then I just sat there and roared with laughter and gave up trying to create my artificial deadline of completing this Treat.
I took a big breath and was actually able to hand-write the Treat (Mind Map style) in the time it took my computer to reboot.
I laughed to myself—if only my clients could see me now…and you are!
Addendum:
The day after writing this treat, I stopped at a Starbucks and was leaving with my very hot Grande tea when I was aware that the person in front of me was backing up with his hot coffee and didn't see me. I slowly stepped aside as he gently bumped me. He and his wife were thanking me for being so aware! I smiled and told them I had turned the corner with a week of less conscious moments and was happy that this time I was looking. I suspect I will be seeing more clearly through the looking glass after this week.
Martha Invitations
1.When you finish something, take time to look at it to see if it is accurate.
2.Be willing to look the next time you find an error to learn how you created it.
3.Laugh raucously if you find an error and have fun while you correct it.
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