Punishment for being a professional

This morning I was speaking on reengineering. I elaborated on how companies often try to fix a piece of the problem instead of fixing up the process. I gave a recent example of how my car dealer took almost one month to repair the car. I added,” hope the dealership will fix the process and not the ‘piece’ that is my recent experience”. I hardly had any idea that I was about to get an opportunity to go to the dealership!

In the evening, we had a wonderful session with Subroto Bagchi on his book “The Professional”. We discussed a lot about challenges specific to professionalism in India. I moderated the question and answer session where we had laser sharp inputs from Mr. Bagchi. Again I was unaware that I will get first hand experience of things we were discussing within a few minutes after the event!

I started my journey back from the event venue and met with an accident. A truck hit my car from behind while I was taking a turn at the green signal. The fellow pushed the car a few feet with the bang. I could not do anything. The truck driver had taken the wrong path to turn. In addition, he tried to give way to a car which was also taking wrong turn beside the truck. The truck driver said, “I did not see your car as I was trying to drive away from the other car who was taking wrong turn. I was fortunate that I did not hurt myself in the accident. But my car is damaged.

We say that every problem is an opportunity. I will have the opportunity to check whether my car dealer has fixed up the process as I will have to go there tomorrow. But is this the kind of opportunity we look for? If yes, at what cost?

What could have happened if the truck driver and the other car driver would have followed the rules with ‘self discipline’ like a true professional? Is this punishment for being professional?