Bon Jovi's influence on my new years resolution ...

I decided to ease back into work mode this week.

Not meeting up with any clients yet ... just working for a few hours each day from home - but still getting out and about to enjoy the Summer that has finally decided to make an appearance in Sydney.

One afternoon I was getting on with some writing, when one of the other residents in my complex decided to crank up their music. Now normally I like to work in complete silence, but it was a stunning day outside and so I kept my balcony doors wide open, and chose to keep working ... while every now and then singing along to the music.

About an hour later the music got louder.

It was Bon Jovi's "No Apologies".

I sung along to myself for a few minutes, and then decided to finish up for the day and head out to run some errands. 

At the supermarket, a woman came hurtling around one of the aisles ramming her trolley into mine.

"Sorry", I said, before continuing up the aisle.

A few minutes later at the fruit shop checkout, the girl at the register said, "That comes to $31.85".

I handed her a $50.00 note.

"You wouldn't have $1.85 would you?", she asked.

"Sorry I don't", I replied.

Suddenly Jon Bon Jovi's voice popped back into my head ... "NO APOLOGIES!" ...

Why had I apologised to the crazy woman racing through the aisles at Coles when she had rammed her trolley into mine? Why did I then say sorry for not having more exact change at the fruit shop? It wasn't my fault at all?

I couldn't get the song out of my head ... 

How many emails had I sent over the last few days with the opening line "Sorry for taking so long to come back to you ... I have been away for a week with no access to email".

How many people had called my phone only to hear my voicemail greeting "Sorry I can't take your call at the moment, but please leave a detailed message and I will come back to you as soon as I can"?

There was nothing at all for me to apologise about.

Realistically I should have told the trolley woman off there and then. I should have just said "No I don't have $1.85" to the girl at the fruit shop and just waited for my change. But more importantly my emails should probably not have even made reference to any delay in response or to the fact that I had been away.

My new years resolution for 2012 came to my like an epiphany.

NO MORE SORRY ... unless of course I do something wrong.

As soon as I got back to my car, I actually changed my voicemail message on my mobile phone - removing the word "Sorry" from the greeting.

"Sorry I can't take your call right now ..."

Sorry? For what exactly?

Nobody should be expected to be available 24 x 7 to answer the phone!

Next time someone bumps into me on the bus, I won't say anything at all. Next time a client misses an appointment, I won't send my standard email "Sorry we couldn't catch up today. Please give me a call to reschedule". If someone calls while I am in a meeting I won't say "Sorry I missed your call earlier" when I call them back. I will just say "Hi, it's Paul returning your call from earlier today".

I've always been a bit of a Bon Jovi fan.

Image courtesy of: qnibert00