"Urgent, pls call - Jim"

Like pulling a fist out of a bucket of water

My first real job was in the aluminum hot mill at ALCOA – it was a mechanical engineer’s dream.

The 120” reversing hot rolling mill was the center of it all…. This beast was the first step in transforming a 6’ X 20’ X 2’  50,000 pound slab of aluminum at 1000 degrees into aluminum sheet…..a marvel of technology in  service of man’s most basic needs – beer cans and aluminum siding – and airplane skins….

The mill was the size of a house - 3 stories high and 3 stories below ground – powered by two 5,000 horsepower motors.

It was primal and primitive – and at the same time weirdly futuristic.

Spraying lubricants hissed as they evaporated on the hot slab.  Spotlights lit it up the mill through the smoke it belched - when the slab slammed into the rolls the thunder shook the building’s foundations ….and rearranged internal organs of anyone nearby.

Watching this monster work instilled a mixed sense of awe, fear and respect for the pure raw power.

It ran 24/7 and was the literally and figuratively the hot spot of the entire operation…

There was intense performance pressure from above and below; eyes from the headquarters in Pittsburgh monitored uptime daily…. Management flinched whenever the mill hiccupped….. and the local unionized workforce was less than hospitable and forgiving.

It was a very tough spot for a brand new engineer – exciting and terrifying. I took my share of hazing and made more than my share of mistakes that first year.  But I had a great boss and I poured myself completely in. It wasn’t long before I was answering calls in the middle of the night or going in on weekends to help diagnose and solve problems.

By the end of the third year I had several big successful projects under my belt – and was perhaps a few steps beyond confident.

Then the news came – they needed me to move down in the “Finishing” area – cold mills, slitters and levelers. Although it was a promotion and I was excited to learn some new things, I was disappointed that I would no longer be in the spotlight.  I was also concerned about the performance of the hot mill.  I had learned a so much about the equipment…

 I am not saying I thought I was indispensable….. but the new person taking over was…. Well… new and the systems were complex.   

I assured Jim, the maintenance manager, that I would still be available to answer questions or help anytime…….  I may have mentioned it more than once. With a seemingly sarcastic smile he confirmed that they would absolutely need my help.

I was sure it would only matter of days before something happened and they would be calling for my assistance.  I moved my things to my new office over the weekend and started work in the new area on Monday. 

I will confess a slight bit of disappointment as several days went by and not a single call – not a single pink message slip left on my desk. By the time I headed home Friday afternoon I had to resist the strong urge to swing by and see how things were going.  I was genuinely surprised they had not needed my help the entire week.

Monday and Tuesday the next week go by – not a single call or pink message slip….  A mix of annoyance, wonder and uneasiness creeped in…. could they really not need my help?

I was working out in the plant most of the day Wednesday and when I finally got to my desk late in the afternoon – there they were!  Four pink slips – four messages from Jim. He had called at 10, 12, 1:30 and 2:30.  The last message read – “Urgent – please call – Jim”

That sense of satisfaction swelled inside – they really did need my deep expertise after all. I smugly picked up the phone and called.

“Hey Jim – what’s up – what’s so urgent?”

“Damn I am glad you called - we have been looking all over for you all morning….”

“Sorry, I was out in the plant – what’s going on?”

“We really need your help”

“Of course !  Did the hydraulics on the levelers go out again? Those poppet valves really need to be upgraded”

“No, no -  the levelers are OK.  But Tom had to cancel this evening and we desperately need someone to fill in on the softball team tonight.… can you make it?    6 at Higgins field”

 “ugh… softball???”  I stammered.

“Yeah – we are playing the South Plant and we can’t forfeit to those morons”

I was stunned – it felt like someone had reached in and ripped my heart out of my chest

 “OK … I guess … ummmm…. what time? uhhhhh … where ?

“6 – Higgins field – are you OK?”

Actually I was not ok…… at all….

I have since changed roles many times ….and seen many senior executives change roles…..

And each time the exact same thing happens….  somehow the world goes on…. the earth keeps spinning…

Someone described it   
“Stick your fist in a bucket of water and leave it for a minute – then pull it out – see the hole your fist made?  That’s exactly what it is like when someone changes roles or leaves an organization – no one is indispensable”

Over the next year I did get a couple calls to help Jim out …. But I answered them with much more humility….

And we did beat those morons from the South Plant…..

Just a few thoughts…..

Walt