How I help!

I remember my first job really well, it was the summer of 1977 and I left school with basic gcse results, I had always wanted to be a mechanic and got myself a very sought after position as an apprentice mechanic at a local garage, the first day was fine but it went steadily downhill from there, the boss and his bullying sidekick weren't interested in me or the apprenticeship, and the information I needed from them was not forthcoming. I was treated like dirt and felt after a while the job was pointless. Six month's later I left with a sad heart.

In hindsight I now realise it was not my fault but theirs, at the time I was just glad to be out, the problem was " information " and the passing of knowledge to me, they expected me to be able to do things they knew like the back of their hand- simple things like oil changes etc, when I asked they took the mick rather than advise , i soon felt worthless.

So later on in life I became a manager for a large window making company, I took to it like a duck to water and people responded to me, I did well and enjoyed the job, promotion and further qualifications followed and I felt appreciated. I realised how lucky I was to be in that position but wondered why I had been promoted so fast and asked the MD. His reply was - " you take things on board, and you explain things simply without criticism and people respect that!"

That is how I see things on here, I may not know everything about bays and I certainly do not know things like how a certain cog in a gearbox effects performance or how twin Dells are balanced but I would do my best to understand it in its simplest form if I had to, Then when I understood it I would if asked pass that info on - in it's simplest form, I certainly wouldn't baffle people with big words or mention things they don't need to know at that point because it would simply confuse them.

So that is how I post, simple concise advice, I write as clearly as I can and I use words that I know people will understand, I never try to criticise, I never try to belittle, it does no good.

We are all here for advice - some people are quite clued up but others are just starting their vw/mechanical journeys and benefit from patience and understanding.

So that is why I add my bit, I hate the thought of people like my self taught garage owner being in a position of authority and knowledge but not really capable of passing the knowledge on without putting people off their dream

Remember - It's only simple if you know it!

 

It is difficult to explain things concisely sometimes Charlie - better if you understand them yourself or understand the point your trying to make, sometimes it is best to say nowt or stand back a bit before replying!

 

And vice versa.

spose that's me to a point.