The Cubicle Times

2ND FLOOR – As I was working on a report, “A” came by my cubicle about a question on AutoCAD.  Being an engineer myself, it’s always fun to tackle these “technical” problems.  “A” was in his mid 40′s, and he always carried a smile wherever he went.  I had heard “interesting stories” about him, but had yet to experience it myself.  As “A” explained what he wanted to do, the following conversation took place (one I will never forget…):

Me: So can you double-click on that (pointing at the screen)

A: Ok (but didn’t do anything)

Me: Just double-click on this you are going to work on (pointing at the screen again)

A: (right-click)

Me: No, can you double-click on that?

A: (pause, then left-click)

Me: Well, double-click (a bit irritated, but keeping my composure)

A: OK (double-RIGHT-click!!!)

Me: (ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I mean, are you serious, man? Who in the world double-RIGHT-clicks???)

Me: (still in shock) Dude, you gotta double LEFT click on that.

A: (withdraws hand from the mouse and signals me to do it for him)

Me: OK, let me do it for you.  Don’t worry about it…

After walking to my cubicle, I couldn’t stop but bursting into laughters.  I was wondering how “A” got his engineering job in the first place and how he survived the last few months working here.  After shaking my head for a minute like a bobblehead, I came to the conclusion – he probably got his engineering degree many years ago (pre-PC era), and got too comfortable later and didn’t try to improve and learn more skills (PC, that is).  He probably realized that after many years, but it might have been too late for him, or he simply just lost the motivation to learn.

It was a nice reminder to myself that I should never stop learning new skills, because the world is running fast with or without me.  Feeling a bit sad for “A”, I thought I should not only continue to learn new skills, but also learn how to give as well.  Yeah, learn to give…