Well, it is April Fool's Day'but the post really has nothing to do with this holiday. =D
I got to thinking the other day about how people are capable of making things easier and effective. I live in Mexico (and this is in no way directed to or puprosed to offend anyone). And if you have ever been here or lived here you will probably know what I'm talking about... One thing in this country, in which I have lived most of my life and absolutely ADORE, that buggs the heck out of me is the processes they make you go through in order to get anything done. For example: to get your licence you have to go to the issuing office and take 1)your birthcertificate, 2)your voters registration ID card, 3)a proof of address, and this is if you have a licence that needs to be renewed. If it is the first time you get your licence you must take the three things previously mentioned plus 4)a certificate declaring you have no legal allegations declared against you, 5)another certificate declaring you have taken a drivers course (if you are a minor), 6)once there you have to take a drivers test. Ok now I know most of you are thinking, "Well, when I went for my licence they asked me for several of the same things, so what is Natalie talking about". Ok here ges the process(for a first timmer): a) On Monday, you go to the main office and present the first 3 things mentioned (because this is all they tell you you need), b) they'll then tell you you have to all the way across town to process the certificate mentioned in #4 above. Now the problem with step #4 is that this certificate costs money and will not be ready in one day, so you have to go back the next day early in the morning to stand in line and be able to be attended during service hours. The next day you can go and pick up the certificate. c) Now that you have #4 you go back to the licence office and present the first three documents plus the fourth since that was the document you were lacking when you first went to the offices. d) The check your documents and tell you that step #5 is lacking too. (this is the part that buggs me, instesad of them telling you you needed certificates #4 & 5 they only told you about #4, so now...) e) now they send you BACK across town to ask for certificate #5, which also costs money. f) the same process has to be done as in B. g) you finally have all the documents/certificates you need. So you go to the licence office early the next morning and present all the documents. h)They receive them and now they tell you you need 2 copies of each document. i) you have to go find a place that will make the copies and by the time you do you will stand in line, and not be close to beeing attended, when the service hours our up. j)now it's the weekend, since it is a Gov. office they don't oppen os Sat. or Sun. so now you have to wait 'till Monday) Now it's Monday you wake up early to be within the first 20 people in line. You arrive and there are about 30-50 people ahead of you. You wait. l) Now that it's your turn you present all the documents, they aprove of them. *Whew* m) You take the driving test you pass. n) And now they ask you to pay and then wait till the licence is ready. WOO-HOO!!!! You have your first licence!!!! But the cost of the first licence (which has an expriation date within 1 year) cost you: more than a week to process the whole thing with the going back and forth, plus the money you have to pay for 2 certificate and the $450 pesos for the licence which is good for 1 year.
Now isn't that just frustrating. (By all means this is just an example of where my fristration comes from)
I was talking to my husband the other day about the processes we have to go through, becuase in May I plan to submitt my Event Planning Business before Mexico's IRS equivalent and make it official. I'm excited!!!! Except for the whole process of going back and forth. Anyway, I asked Julio why things here weren't made to be more practical and I gave him the following example:
-If I owned a bussness that painted the lines in a parking lot and I had the option of using a pait brush or a spray gun, which would I use? Let's look at the pros and cons. Both get the job done. With a paint brush I need 5 people to get, lets say, 20 lines done in 1 hour. With a spray gun, I need 5 people to get 75 lines done in 1 hour. In 5 hours, with 5 people and paint brishes I get 100lines done. And if I have 5 guys for 5 hours and spray guns I get 375 lines done. I get more money and more work done right??? That is my way of thinking. But here in Mexico they decide to do it differently: They have 1 process, which requires 6 people - 1 person to receive documents, 1 person tu sign documents, 1 person tu make the change of info for the new documents, 1 person to charge you for the documents, 1 person to seal the new document(s), and last but not least 1 person at the pick-up window... Now please tell me that there are people more capable working at you office and can receive, verify, change info., sign, stamp, receive payment and deliver/send/or hand you your new documentation.....???? Plus that way I would only have to pay 1 person to do all 6 steps instead of payin 6 differnt people.
I wonder..... and will keep wondering I guess.....
Thanks for taking the time to read.
