Are you available or not?

Do you sometimes tell your customers you don't have time for them because you are not available or because you think your are not available?

Think of this as you read this anecdote (I don't call it a story because I am not sure if it is true):

George Phillips of Meridian,  Mississippi , was going up to bed, when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?"

He said, "No."

Then they said "All patrols were busy.  You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available."

George said, "Okay"  He hung up the phone and counted to 30.

Then he phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot them!" And he hung up.

Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence, and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

The next time your customer asks your for some support, take into consideration the importance of that request to your customer. If you really are too busy for them, be careful, they may just prove you wrong.