The first summer job I had was with an extremely colorful, old salt-of-the-earth type of guy named Waldo Bates.

Waldo didn't have a lot of schooling; the Dust Bowl and the Depression put an end to any hopes and dreams he had of "book learning."

In actual fact, Waldo didn't need books. He had something far more powerful: good sense. Not common sense, which is not all that common, but uncommon sense. He could look at a situation and figure out the right thing to do, the right way to do it, and then know how he – and his team – could get it done.

One way Waldo communicated was in memorable little sayings, some of which he learned from his daddy and some, I suspect, he made up on his own.

It's been a lot of years and a lot of miles since I worked with and for Waldo. But, there are plenty of times I still hear his slightly nasal and high-pitched voice in my head. And now – as then – what he said makes perfect sense.

Here are five of the lessons I remember most vividly:

• The third time you step over a dead rat, you stop seeing it.

Paying attention to your surroundings is an important discipline. If you stop seeing the detail, you keep missing the point. When you overlook a situation that should be dealt with, you create a chronic problem – one that you will have to deal with later. Fix it while it's easy.

• The perfect is the enemy of the totally excellent.

Good enough is not good enough. But settling for great is a better plan than trying to get to perfection. Perfection is not a realistic goal because it recedes as you approach it. Get it great, and then move on.

• Don't hammer with your screwdriver.

Use tools properly and intelligently. Since there is usually a tool that can do the job, that is the one you should use. If you don't have the right tool, get it. The job will be done quickly and correctly. And tools are not just mechanical devices. They include eyes and ears, methods, formulas, mindsets, disciplines and the sense you were (hopefully) born with.

• Do it once. And do it right.

Action is important. But it should be the right action, done the right way at the right time. Know when that time is and know what the right step is. Then be prepared to do the thing, the right way at the time when it should be done. When you are done, get on with the job's next steps – or the next jobs.

• I never saw a leak that couldn't be fixed.

Any situation can be improved, if you have the will to do it. You also need certain skills, of course, but knowing that the effort is worth it is critical. Many little leaks have turned into big problems, because nobody thought that it was important – or possible – to fix them, now.

The lessons Waldo taught me many years ago help me every day as I work with IBT's Integrated Services Group.

We help companies recognize dead rats – and pick them up quickly.

We work, quickly, to make measurable improvements in the supply chain management and MRO process.

We bring the tools – including technology and procedures – to help our clients simplify, clarify, rationalize and improve their processes.

Our bias for action – the correct action – brings positive change to the situations we encounter.

And we find and fix "leaks" – and make sure that they stay fixed.

If you have situations at your place – in terms of store room issues, MRO management, inventory management, employee training or related needs for improvement, let's talk.

What I have to say may not be as memorable as Waldo's words, but I am certain we can make a difference for you.