Angela Schwindt, a home schooling mom said: “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about“.
I cited this quote because of the new topic ASQ CEO Bill Troy proposed to talk on the “A View form the Q“. He asked: Have you met someone whose teachings on quality influenced you or inspired you? What were these lessons? You might name a famous quality guru, but I would encourage you to think of those outside the quality field who nevertheless can teach us key lessons about quality.
Being a mom of 2 beautiful boys (4 and 1 year old), it is amazing how I learn lessons about leadership, business and quality ALL THE TIME.
Let’ me share with you just one simple situation and all the lessons learned from it.
Scene: At home we have a train table. My 1-year-old boy is so into climbing everywhere and the train table is his favorite. One day, he wanted a toy that was at one corner of the train table, opposite side where he was and… the challenge started!
Check the following table with the facts and lessons learned.
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FACTS
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QUALITY LESSONS LEARNED
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In his first few attempts to climb the table to pick up his favorite toy, he failed.
He cried and asked for help.
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– Have a clear goal and stay focused.
– Do not be afraid to ask for help. Always be honest, first with you.
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We taught him that he can get the toy if he walks around the table.
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– Be always open to learn.
– Training always pays off.
– There are more than one path to solve problems.
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He walked around, got his toy but he didn’t play with it. He now had found a new challenge: climb that table no matter what.
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– Accomplish your goals. Follow your dreams.
– Stay aware and ready for new challenges. Don’t be afraid. Be courageous.
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He tried to climb the table for the entire day. Unsuccessfully, he asked his brother for help. This time, his brother (dressed like Iron Man) thinked for a little while, put a box next to the table and showed him that he can use it to step on it and climb.
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– Keep trying, never give up.
– There are always more than one solution to solve the problem. Stay back, see, think, analyze and act.
– Be creative.
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He finally climbed to the table using the box! Smiled and clapped for his accomplishment. His brother enjoyed helping him.
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– Have fun doing what you do. Celebrate. At the end, what matter is what you feel about what you did and not the actual outcome.
– Believe in yourself. If you think you are a superhero, YOU ARE.
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Two new challenges:
1. How can I get down from this table? First attempt, he fell down (we have carpet, don’t worry, he didn’t hit his head!). But that failure didn’t stop him to keep trying. He climbed again, but this time asked for instructions (not for help) to how he can go down the table. We taught him. He tried it 2 more times (with me on his side just in case he falls again) and the 3rd one BANG, he did it!
2. What happens if the box is not there anymore? How can I climb the table without anything to step up? Unavailable, but day after day he worked hard to train his body, muscles, legs and arms until he reached his goal. He was able to push his body up to the table without any support.
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– Never give up even when the results are not the one expected (and sometimes hurts!).
– Be bold! Be aware that always is going to exist risks. Keep an eye on them and have a contingency plan.
– Learn from mistakes and do not forget your lessons learned!
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Next time, he climbed up and got down the table all by himself. Smiled, celebrated and right away was looking for his next challenge.
NOTE: because of what he learned, he now climbs to the couch and bed, and gets down easily.
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– Passion, consistency and hard work pays off.
– Apply what you’ve learned in different scenarios.
– Look for new opportunities in unlikely places.
– Do not stop learning and keeping improving.
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I can write tons of lessons, concepts, quality tools that a child uses in his life. We have so much to learn from them.
To finish, I would like to remember the life of Martin Luther King Jr., that we in the USA celebrate every January, by sharing one of his quotes that embrace what life and quality is all about; at least that is what I believe!.
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward”
Share your story with me: Have you met someone whose teachings influenced you or inspired you?
3 Comments
federica · February 5, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Great article Jime! I admire your awareness as a mother (and friend).
Jimena Calfa · February 5, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Thanks Fede!
Roy Marthinsen · July 29, 2015 at 8:59 pm
Hi Mrs Calfa
I just read your article and have to say I am very impressed,
Let me first introduce myself I work with quality in the oil industry in Norway Europe.
In my search for new ways of looking at and teaching quality control and the philosophy behind ISO Standards I came across your article
What impressed me is the way you broke down the quest of your son to an easy to understand quality lesson.
It was very inspire ring
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