Now's the time to take a fresh look at yourself
Michael Greene -- Furniture Today, January 20, 2002
These are days for looking yourself over.
A good, honest look and not like the one I do every morning when I breathe on the shaving mirror just to make sure I'm alive, and then think to myself what a lucky gal this Bubbila of mine is to have me as her very own. Wow-e-e!
Come to think of it, I've never told you that this lovely lady of mine has one eye that is near-sighted and one that is far-sighted. Yes! And somewhere in between she thinks I'm Tom Selleck!
So, when she politely asks, "Tom, can I please have two Tylenols?" I never say, "Who?" I do what she asks. I know when I'm ahead.
This is the time to really look yourself over and lend an honest ear. Not to get lost in the endless shuffling that faces us every morning on the boob tube and in pundit writings. Yes! This is the time for positive thinking, like the 95-year-old gentleman who stepped into our local bank and asked about their terms for a 30-year mortgage.
This is the time to think like Tom Edison who, when he had failed 86 times to produce a proper filament for his light bulb, laughed at the naysayers and said, "Now I know 86 ways that don't work."
Now's the time to learn some new skills, like my buddy, a young bank teller, who on weekends stops counting cash and learns how to create cash by climbing up a ladder with his carpenter father.
Is he ever gonna be a carpenter? I doubt it. But it'll make him a hands-on vice president of loans at the bank.
Now's the time to get out of your cubbyhole, look around and see what there is to see. If you're a retailer, look at yourself from the street. See who you are, where you are, and what you look like to passersby, visitors (including sales reps) and your competition.
Walk in on the competition in the next city and give them a once-over. See how they're doing something fresh and note how they miss the boat.
And don't do what so many gals and guys did after Sept. 11. They stopped "bragging" and it killed them when they tried to play catch-up. The consumer wants to know what you can do for them every day. Question your customers and your sales force. They're out on the battlefield. Find out what they see and what they hear. It may not be gospel but "fer sure" it's another viewpoint.
Finally, pay attention to your family. After all, when you come home grumping about rough days on the retail (or factory) floor, they still carry a smile and story for you. So listen. Show up with a bouquet, a smile and kisses, because tomorrow's another day.
Thanks for listening, again, and drop me a note saying, "You're adorable, Mike."
Opinion columns are available online at www.furnituretoday.com.
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