On my trip to Milwaukee this past Sunday, I became one of hundreds of passengers delayed in the Houston Airport. After another overly ambitious announcement from the airline about an earlier departure, it became evident the wait would be a longer. I headed to the men’s room nearest the gate to see this sign on the entrance.
It struck me as odd.
I get that doors break. I get that caution signs and warnings are necessary.
I don’t understand why the airport had a professionally made sign describe the broken door.
Wouldn’t it have just been easier to fix the door? If the door is such a problem that a simple fix doesn’t work, doesn’t that speak more about the design of that space?
I could go on and on, but basically, the whole sign struck me as something pretty ridiculous.
Popular blogger and author, Seth Godin, did a great speech a few years ago which I’ve previously mentioned called “This is Broken.”
It’s time that we look at the broken things in our world and FIX them.
I’ve noticed that we’ve become a lot more like “dead Henry” as we complain about problems and our lack of tools, but do little to fix them.
I’m guilty of this as well, but being helpless is no way to lead.
Solutions are there.
Solutions that are better than slapping a sign on a door.
It’s time for us to implement them.
Don’t just complain about the bucket.
Don’t just put on a sign on the door.
“Fix it.”