Take a Message to Garcia

Over-functionality is way over-rated.
Maybe it's because I now find myself in the South with my work with St.Jude
Children's Research Hospital, but a simple, "Can you give me directions to the airport?" inevitably ends with, " Why don't you follow me in your rental car, or better yet, why don't I drive with you, I'm sure someone at the Rental Car place can get me back? What time do you need to be there? Why do you get a rental car instead of the car service, then they could get you there? What airlines? Why? What? How? When?
"Never mind. I just map quested it."
Take a message to Garcia.
This story first came to my attention through a Copy Chief at Marshall Field's when I was Director of Creative Services.
The story takes place during the Spanish American War. Long story short, Spain invaded Cuba, blew up a US military ship, pissed off McKinley, who declared war on Spain, and needed to reach a certain General Calixto Garcia, a Cuban born Creole who was the leader of Cuban rebels. McKinley needed to get a message to Garcia so they could join forces against Spain. No one knew Garcia's exact location.
The task went to a Lieutenant Andrew Summers Rowan. All he was told was the message had to be given to Garcia and that he may be somewhere in the Eastern part of Cuba. Without one question, Rowan left to find Garcia. He delivered the message. Wham bam thank you ma'ame.
No, "Where is he? What does he look like? Who are his contacts? How do I get there? Does he need a ride to the airport after I find him?"
No questions, just got it done. Delivered the damn message to Garcia. P.S. We won the war!
When I first started at Marshall Field's my assistant gave me, rather forced upon me, the reputation of being a self-doer, or as she said, 'you're quite an independent guy aren't you?" According to her, I barely allowed her to answer my phone for me.
So I tried, I really did. I tried not to live by the rule of 'if you wanted it done right, I should do it myself'..but then the questions would start flowing: who, what, when, why...and truly, by the time I had answered any and all of those questions, I could have not only done it better, but a hell of a lot faster.
I ran my own company for ten years and didn't have an assistant or someone to do the calendaring and travel and detail work. I did it myself.
Now, don't think I didn't get used to that help after 15 years at Marshall Field's and Target but on any level we should all be working to take that message to Garcia. Just do it.
And, now, living by my own rule, when I want directions some place I just find out.
So, over-functionality for me, is just another example of someone covering their ass, of asking too many questions to make sure they're doing exactly what you could have done for yourself without the aggravation, to make sure that if something does go wrong they always have the caveat, "Well, you said...."
Call it initiative, self-starting, call it 'having a brain'. Call it whatever you want.
Just take the damn message to Garcia.