The Latest and Greatest

I’m often frustrated when I don’t know how to do something new on my computer or smartphone. I’m a hands-on learner and need to be shown, then told the hows and whys something is done to completely understand. I also like to write down instructions. Doing these things helps me process what I’m learning. Show me and I’ll understand much better than if you just tell me. As my three-year-old niece use to say: “Me do myself.”

If you have the latest and greatest — whether it be a new cell phone, washing machine or heavy-duty tow truck — it won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to use it to its fullest capacity. You can have the shiniest tow truck loaded with all the specialized equipment, but if you can’t operate it properly, what good is having it?

There’s been a lot of debate with regard to training, certification and plain old “learning on the job.” Each is valid and critical to doing a good job; it doesn’t matter if you’re a tow operator, dispatcher or office manager. When you have training, certification and on-the-job experience, the bonus is that when you have the latest and greatest in technology and equipment, you can use all of these to make your job better and easier, and work smarter, not harder.