Punch Out the Holes

It was time for a new shower curtain in our bathroom. It’s a simple enough task. But as I started to hang the curtain on the first hook, I realized that the holes in the top of the curtain where the hooks are inserted are not punched out. Oh, they’re outlined and perforated, ready for punching — but they still need to be punched out.

I didn’t think much of it on the first hole, but by the time I was on the sixth hole I was starting to wonder, why wouldn’t the manufacturer finish punching out the holes? Are there really people who hang their curtain without using the holes? And would those people really object to the aesthetics of holes where they didn’t need them?

By the twelfth hole my arms were starting to ache and I was getting aggravated with the whole lack-of-hole thing. Why leave out the holes? Why make more work for your customers? Are you really saving that much in the manufacturing process by eliminating the hole-penetration step?

Maybe the curtain manufacturer cares. Maybe they don’t. Either way, I’ll probably never take the time to let them know. I’ll blow it off as not worth the effort.

It got me thinking about my clients. I wondered if maybe there are holes I’m not punching out in my process. Are there things I’m leaving undone that create little aggravations for you?

I try to cover all the bases. That’s why I perform heat loss calculations, and ask you how you use your heating system, and clean up after myself, show up on time, return your phone calls and emails, and do a multitude of other on- and off-the-job tasks intended to soften the impact of what I’m doing on your everyday life.

But I still wonder if I’m leaving some holes unpunched. Is there something I’m not doing, that despite my best efforts is even a small aggravation for you? Something that causes you inconvenience?

We all love to hear praise, and I’m no different. But without criticism how are we to improve? And I do want to improve.

So, please, tell me what aggravates you. I’ll listen. I promise. And then I’ll punch out the holes for you — whatever those are.

Hydronically yours,

Wayne