Jim recently invited me to add to the QuickTrainer blog.  Since that time I have spent some time each evening thinking about how I wanted to begin. After all, I have never written for a blog before! Apparently the more I think about what to write, the less I know. I call this “blog fog”. So with my “blog fog”  in full swing, I considered writing about things that inspire me. And then it was clear to me!

I was inspired today by my experience in watching Jim solve a sales tax issue for a client.  For approximately two hours I observed as Jim patiently and expertly found a solution for what turned out to be a very complicated mess! After careful analysis of all the potential problems, he began trying different options to fix them. It took a lot of trial and error to get this straightened out!! He reassured our client that during the time it took him to analyze the issues and devise a plan, they were not being charged for his time.

There were several things that really impressed me about watching Jim work. One thing was just the high level of experience and skill that Jim possesses! Another thing is the way that he happily relieved his client of the “learning curve time”. All of that, to me, is impressive; but what I really feel like expressing is what inspired me about the experience.

I was inspired by the fact that Jim kept at it until the problem was solved. In other words, he persevered! He made lots of attempts that didn’t work out. He simply went back to the beginning and started over until he was satisfied with the results. Many people - probably even most people, would have become frustrated and possibly even given up. I have been inspired to strive for this patience and “controlled stubbornness”  when I approach problems in the future.

While Jim was working he mentioned that if he wasn’t able to find a solution, he would contact his mentor for advice. I don’t know if Jim is aware of this, but that is what he has become to me - not just my employer, but my mentor.