CLIPBOARD FREEDOM
True story but I wrote this just for fun.
In the early and mid 1960’s the Army was not politically correct. The Army used what can best be described as a “destroy the old you and make you into the new Army you” method in Basic and Advanced Training. At least that was their plan.
During “Basic Training” I learned to survive the Army’s version, at that time, of Hell. I am told that in the modern incarnation it has become more genteel. In those days it meant little sleep, being treated like a convict on Devils Island, long marches, verbal abuse, almost inedible food, etc.
After “Basic Training” you graduated to “Advanced Training”. In my case I was sent to be trained on “Indirect Fire” weapons. Mortar Gunnery School. Unlike Rifles or Artillery, which are, at least in theory, “Direct Fire” weapons, the Mortar is fired high into the sky and, done properly, comes raining down out of the sky on your enemy like “Fire and Brimstone” on Sodom and Gomorra.
I also learned that the Mortar is a useful fishing accessory but that’s another story.
In addition to learning how to kill your enemy without ever seeing them, I think the most valuable thing I learned in Advanced Training was the magic of the clipboard. It was a ticket to freedom on many days.
Walk around with a clipboard containing several pages of paperwork and others assumed you were working on a task of some kind. That clipboard would make those NCO’s and Officers who had the power of making your life miserable more likely target those whose hands were empty for such enterprises as moving a pile of rocks from one side of the Parade Ground to the other on a day when it was 102 degrees in the non-existent shade.
By the time I made Sergeant I had turned the use of the clipboard into an art form. It very often bought me many hours of leisure in place of undesired labor at menial tasks.
Want to have some fun?
In civilian life I observed that many public “servants” and private workers who serve the public, do not like note takers as they fear what might come back to haunt them from carefully documented note pages.
So, I substitute a notebook for my army clipboard.
I like to take a notebook with me when needing to visit the offices of sometimes surly City, County, State or Federal employees. It also is helpful in commercial public enterprises.
For example, you might want to try this:
In a public office or private enterprise, enter and walk up to the counter. After making sure you are being observed, take out and open your notebook and, looking at your watch or the clock on the wall, make note of the date and time. Then, with a friendly smile say “Good Morning” and ask the clerk for their name or copy it carefully from their name badge into your notebook. If they ask you what you are doing, just smile and say that your memory is not so good and you need notes to remind you of the purpose of your visit and what you accomplished during your time there. Make some notes to yourself in the notebook during the visit. At all times, and despite any aggravation, remain, pleasant and courteous. It works even better if you have a silent friend with you who just listens and smiles.
You might be amazed at the polite, helpful, even courteous service this usually leads to.
A little planning ahead and a clipboard, notebook or other prop can greatly enrich your life.
I have many fun examples I could share from my experiences but enough for now.
Bob Bandy
Please stop by the sites we stick to, which includes this a single, because it represents our picks in the web.
1Sites of interest we’ve a link to
2although sites we backlink to beneath are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they’re truly worth a go via, so possess a look
3although web sites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we feel they are really worth a go by way of, so possess a look
4very couple of internet sites that happen to become comprehensive beneath, from our point of view are undoubtedly effectively really worth checking out
5Here is a good Blog You might Discover Exciting that we Encourage You
6we came across a cool website that you simply could delight in. Take a appear in case you want
7The details mentioned in the write-up are a few of the very best offered
8Sites of interest we have a link to
9Every after in a whilst we pick blogs that we study. Listed beneath would be the latest web sites that we pick out
10one of our visitors lately advised the following website
11we came across a cool site that you might get pleasure from. Take a look in case you want
12Usually posts some pretty interesting stuff like this. If youre new to this site.
13usually posts some really exciting stuff like this. If youre new to this site
14I use WordPress for the site.
15There is a tab at the top of the page plus my email address is in the bottom right corner of the page. email to: Bob Bandy
16This piece of writing gives clear idea in favor of the new viewers of blogging, that actually how to do running
17a blog.
Thankfulness to my father who told me regarding
18this blog, this blog is truly awesome.
This design is wicked! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
19I needed to thank you for this excellent read!! I certainly loved every bit of it.
20I have you saved as a favorite to check out new things you post…
Nice post. I study something tougher on completely different blogs everyday. It should at all times be stimulating to read content from different writers and apply a bit of something from their store. I’d favor to use some with the content material on my blog whether or not you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link in your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
21My only condition on quoting my writing is that I be credited.
22I was curious if you ever thought of changing the layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
23Thank you for your input and suggestions. I appreciate it.
24Music started playing when I opened up this webpage, so annoying!
25Don’t know how this could happen. I have no music on the site.
26Hi! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks
27Thanks and please do share with others.
28Your style is really unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this blog.
29Sweet site, super design and style, very clean and employ friendly.
30Awsome website! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also.
31Some genuinely nice stuff on this web site, I like it.
32I’m very pleased to uncover this web site. I need to to thank you for your time for this particularly wonderful read!!
33I definitely liked every bit of it and I have you bookmarked to
look at new things on your website.
Love you Mr smart
34Well put Zeno my man, well put!!!🙂
35Everything is very open with a really clear description of the issues.
36It was definitely informative. Your site is very helpful.
Thank you for sharing!
i loved this
37