‘Jack of all Trades’, or ‘John in this Trade’?

‘Jack of all Trades’.

Most of us are familiar with this term that points to a person who has general-level expertise in different fields (is multi-skilled) though without mastery in any skill. You can know more about it at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none. While reflecting back at the last two months when I had to deal with people in different industry (Internet Service Providers, furniture houses, foreman for white wash, plumber, somebody to fix glass in windows, and for installation of ACs), I realised that there is a ‘John in this trade’ as well.

Most often I realise that I was calling these guys (because I was their customer and I needed something) till the time I purchased the product or service. And most often I noticed that the frequency of their response and their attention span drop considerably after I have made the payment but the product or service is not fully delivered (even though I am still their customer). Does it mean that the objective was merely to ‘get the customer’?

Understandable.

Worse still in such situations, when I would call an engineer (or service boy, delivery manager, sales engineer), one says ‘I will call you back in 10 minutes’.

Nobody does.

I noticed it for ISPs, furniture house, AC engineers. And I feel that there is a john in every trade. A John, that does not respond. Because John is not trained well. Is not paid well. Is not qualified. Is not professional enough. Is not responsible. Does not use brain.

I wonder if:

• Is it about cost (phone call cost)? (I doubt it.)
• Is it about time? (I am interested to meet John and ask what they do in the time that they save by not calling me back.)
• Is it about how they are trained? (And their common sense?)
• What are their priorities and goals? (Do they have any?)

I made payment for an air conditioner 4 (FOUR) days ( about 100 hours) back. John said that he would call me in 10 minutes. I am waiting.

My ‘John in this trade’!