The other day a friend called and complained excessively about the bad times we are all supposedly experiencing. Trying to be an optimist, I told her, "Yeah...things could be better, but they could also be worse." I started telling her an old story about a funny accident report, thinking that she would interrupt me and say, " Chris, I've already heard that story." But she didn't interrupt me, and she had not heard the story. And the story made her laugh and temporarily forget her troubles. I thought everyone in the world had probably already heard the accident report story. But as it turns out, I told the same story to several people over the next few days who had not heard it. So, I decided to share the story with you in case you haven't heard it (or have forgotten it). It's a story about a man who filled out an accident report. Subsequently, the insurance company contacted him and asked for more information. This was his response:
"I am writing in response to your request for additional information for block number 3 of the accident reporting form. I put 'poor planning' as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust the following details will be sufficient. I am an amateur radio operator and on the day of the accident, I was working alone on the top section of my new 80-foot tower. When I had completed my work, I discovered that I had, over the course of several trips up the tower, brought up about 300 pounds of tools and spare hardware. Rather than carry the now unneeded tools and material down by hand, I decided to lower the items down in a small barrel by using the pulley attached to the gin pole at the top of the tower. Securing the rope at ground level, I went to the top of the tower and loaded the tools and material into the barrel. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow decent of the 300 pounds of tools."
"You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh only 155 pounds. Due to my surprise of being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate of speed up the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time, I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold onto the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of tools hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel."
"Devoid of the weight of the tools, the barrel now weighed approximately 20 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the tower. In the vicinity of the 40-foot level, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of tools and, fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the tools, in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel 80 feet above me, I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope..."
As it turns out, the story appears to be an urban myth. It has been floating around in various forms for years (I originally heard it as a story about a bricklayer over 20 years ago). But that doesn't matter to me. It's a good story...it still makes me laugh. I keep it in my files and pull it out and read it when I think I am having a bad day. Now maybe some of you can print it out and do the same.
Have a good day!
Chris Crouch, president of DME Training and Consulting, has spent years researching and studying both the mental and physical aspects of being productive. His new book, Being Productive: Learning to Get More Done With Less Effort, is now available through Amazon
How did you know that was just what I needed this week? Thank you for sharing and thanks for the chuckle ...
Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Rosemont | December 05, 2008 at 01:45 PM