A summer writing project necessitated...
Illustration
A summer writing project necessitated sending weekly news articles electronically. By phone, I ordered an internal fax/modem board for my computer. Then I mailed a confirming letter along with my check. There was plenty of time. I did not need the hardware for another month. The shopkeeper promised to ship the equipment when it reached them the next day. No problem. After a week, nothing had arrived. I again phoned. "Yes, it's here. We'll get it right out to you," said the voice.
Another Friday passed. I again phoned. The voice recognized mine, "You don't have that board yet?"
I replayed the promises, "If it isn't here by Monday, it means my job."
"Give me your phone number," the clerk said. "I'll phone you right back."
She did. "Your board will arrive tomorrow --Federal Express --before
1:30."
It did. I was lucky. The shop was a nine-hour drive across the state.
At times, however, the art of negotiating or convincing or setting matters straight requires more than an explanatory letter, a phone conversation or a faxed message. Only the direct, face to face encounter of personal presence can communicate with enough power to clarify an issue. Somtimes, communication requires bringing additional credible persons with us on a fast-nine-hour trip across the country.
--Brauninger
Another Friday passed. I again phoned. The voice recognized mine, "You don't have that board yet?"
I replayed the promises, "If it isn't here by Monday, it means my job."
"Give me your phone number," the clerk said. "I'll phone you right back."
She did. "Your board will arrive tomorrow --Federal Express --before
1:30."
It did. I was lucky. The shop was a nine-hour drive across the state.
At times, however, the art of negotiating or convincing or setting matters straight requires more than an explanatory letter, a phone conversation or a faxed message. Only the direct, face to face encounter of personal presence can communicate with enough power to clarify an issue. Somtimes, communication requires bringing additional credible persons with us on a fast-nine-hour trip across the country.
--Brauninger
