That's exactly what happened to a Kansas woman, Ethel Martin. In 1914 her cousin mailed her a Christmas card. It was just delivered to the woman's sister-in-law this year.
I wouldn't have even heard about this quality control issue if it hadn't been for a post I read at Freelancing Journey. The full story is on Yahoo.
Naturally, this story is an exception to the rule. It's one of those flukes that sometimes get overlooked. When it's finally discovered no one quite understands why it took so long to resolve.
There is a lesson in this story, though.
The lesson is to be careful. If you've been putting off looking at a particular problem in your business, why not take another look at it today? Chances are, you will be coming at it with a fresher perspective. You may even be able to solve the problem now, even though it might have originally seemed very difficult.
By periodically reviewing difficult tasks, you may be able to avoid spectacular snafus like the one that caused Mrs. Martin's Christmas Card to arrive after she died.
On a personal level, I would love to receive mail intended for one of my ancestors. What a treasure! It would be a priceless way to learn more about them. As the intended recipient, however, I don't want to have to wait years for my mail.
What about you? Have you got a problem that you've put off dealing with?
Leave a comment and let us know.
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What a smart spin on that wild story! Good thinking!
Posted by: Denise | December 20, 2007 2:27 PM | Permalink to Comment