Episode #849
May 10, 2025
Sometimes, but certainly not always,
doing nothing is the right thing to do.
Some weeks ago the smart light on my under-the-sink water filter faucet went out. The lights are meant to advise if the filter is OK, needs replacement soon, or must be replaced right now. Green, yellow and red. It was the green light that extinguished. I could not remember how long ago I replaced the filter. I’m sure it was more than a year. The filter box claims that the filter is good for one year or 1000 gallons. Since it had been more than a year, I decided to replace the filter. Maybe the battery just wore out. The replacement filter comes with a new battery, so I gave it a shot. Alas, even with the new battery, the lights remained out.
I contacted the manufacturer about what to do. They helpfully suggested several solutions, all of which required taking apart the filter housing and putting on my electrician hat. I don’t do electrical. I’m pretty sure I would electrocute myself.
I felt invested in the lights since it cost more to buy the premium lighted filter model.
I asked Paula what to do about the inoperative light. She said, “What is that light for anyway?” I explained the filter warning light code and the filter capacity. She said, “Here. Tape this on the filter.” She handed me a sticky note with a date on it, one year from now.
Problem solved.
The lights were unnecessary technology that was more easily ignored than repaired.
Recently, I was in a heated argument with my friend. He was certain he was right. I knew that I was correct. I found evidence on the Internet, but so did he. We shook our heads at each other in an impasse. I said, “I’m sorry Bob, let’s go to lunch.” So off we went and we both enjoyed the meal. It was delicious.
“The first to apologize is the bravest, the first to forgive is the strongest, and the first to forget is the happiest.” — requoted by Anthony J James
“Agree to disagree.” — John Wesley
Sometimes doing nothing is the right thing to do.
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I had the taped-on note solution in the first sentence. Great minds think alike.
I love Paula.s solution to put a sticky note that has the date to replace the filter
On the other hand, I’ve never liked the agrees disagree line there are times when the argument could go either way it is okay. But for example, someone at work once started skydivers can only go 120 mph because that’s terminal velocity and I explained how she was mistaken, she tried to use the let’s agree to disagree
I agree that some disagreements should be resolved for the sake of education and the truth. I should have been clearer when I said, “I was in a heated argument with my friend.” At stake here was the balance between the resolution of a disagreement and the weight/value of our friendship. Friendship is why I did nothing.
Remember Grondorf&Field, I barely can, it was so long ago I’m retired. But got an email from Indeed and saw an email from you. Just the titles of your books make it necessary that I read them. It’s great to see your creativity has grown exponentially. I have retired and moved to Vermont after the pandemic ran me out of the business. Then ageism made it final. Great to see you haven’t lost your edge.
Thanks for the comment on my bLog Mark. It has been a very long time. Some of the stories in “Technically Human” are about GFB. And an upcoming blog episode slated for June 21 titled Business Getting Done is a fictional story about GFB. Hope you are enjoying retirement. I AM