2 ways to do, and go out of, business
By Michael Greene -- Furniture Today, September 30, 2001
Some of us believe every day is another blessing and should be treated with appreciative love and care. Others believe we're going to live forever so time is not of the essence. And some don't bother to believe at all.
One story goes this-a-way:
Once there was a mama and papa who worked very hard to build a home furnishings store. They worked long hours and had a steady flow of customers who loved to show up, regularly, to schmooze with papa while he sold them all kinds of goodies for their home, of decent quality and at fair prices.
The women especially loved it when papa sold them 12 extra yards of fabric, like that on the sofa, to sew up a pair of draperies for the double window in their living room. And when he tossed in an extra yard for tie-backs, it made their day and his too. Everyone told her neighbors.
Mama ran her show at the cash register (Remember? They were never "down.") Although she wasn't a schmoozer, she was quick with a smile and a "thank you." And mama and papa treated their suppliers the same way — fairly, honestly, appreciatively. In turn, reps loved to show up with specials.
And so their business blossomed, as did their family with the addition of two hard-working sons, both MBA's with dreams of grandeur. Yes! Two brothers created of the same cloth but imprinted with two completely different patterns. And before you could say "Wall Street," up popped a string of stores, an IPO and then another string.
Mama and papa retired and things really looked hotsy-totsy. Except that one brother did business like papa and the other guy thought he was going to live forever and did business that way: He squeezed every penny out of every business deal, and while reps appreciated the business they didn't enjoy the way it was dished out. Customers, too, appreciated the selection but didn't particularly enjoy the encounter.
So one day the business cycle went whoops! and whoops! went the business … to the bankers. The two brothers were out in the cold. Is that the sad end of the story? Nope! It's the beginning.
As one brother tumbled from his ivory tower, the business friends and associates he had nurtured ran to stretch out their arms to catch him. But when brother two tumbled, the silence was deafening and the business pavement awfully hard.
Moral? We all do go around only a short once, but the people we encounter have very long memories.
Thanks, again, for listening.
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