Know Thyself

i truly believe that everyone should be aware of their limitations:
if you're a size 24, perhaps the Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke inspired outfit is not for you. if your voice has been compared to the sound of alley cats mating, maybe you shouldn't audition for American Idol. if you look like Wilfred Brimley or Bob Hoskins, you probably won't make a convincing drag queen. if your level of patience rivals Madonna's acting ability a career in teaching might not suit you as well as you may think.

i am not a patient guy. maybe it stems from being part of the generation brought up with microwaves, instant coffee, and conflict resolution in half an hour (including comercials). maybe it's because i know my own limitations (both mental and physical) and rarely attempt to exceed them. whatever the reason i have little tolerance when it comes to other peoples limitations. where am i going with this?

i am a terrible teacher.

i have no patience to explain things to someone more than once. i have no tolerance for other people's learning styles. i almost can't bear to slow my pace for the sake of another's understanding. it boggles my mind that i can understand how to do something that somebody else can't.

granted, the person in question is new to the department, and (in fact) new to the company. try as i might, i find it nearly impossible to teach him our computer syste, our e-mail system, etc. these things are so elementary to me, that i can't believe that someone can't understand them. i've only shown him a few times, but in my mind he should be able to grasp it. it's terribly unfair, i know, but i can't help it.

i know my limitations.