« There oughta be a law.... |
Main
| Men of the Bible: Adam, Part Two »
January 20, 2006
Growing up Retail
My family has been in retail since God was a baby. When I was old enough to say "Can I help you?", I sold greeting cards, handmade crafts, and the ill-fated 'good luck' charm. Unfortunately, promising a fellow third grader she will have good luck for a mere ten cents every day is not considered a legitimate service. In my defense, I was only going to 'ensure' her luck until I could purchase my dream - Sea Monkeys. Her father stopped my money train at $3.60 and demanded a refund. Alas, I've never achieved my dream of being a Sea Monkey owner.
But I did learn quit a bit from my family's business and it wasn't only about customer service. Truth be told, successful businesses focus as much on their employee's happiness as their customer approval. Same thing goes with families. You concentrate so much on the children's success that you can lose sight of what brought children into the world - the marriage. Putting your spouse first strengthens your 'business' of child rearing.
Another thing my father instilled in us from a young age was to never, under any circumstances, humiliate someone in front of others. While his experience was driven from managinga multi-million dollar jewelry store, the underlying lesson holds true for any situation. On the school yard, in the classroom, or in the home, humiliation accomplishes only one thing: an enemy forever.
The last lesson, but one of the most important we learned from growing up retail, was never judge a person by their looks. Many of my dad's best customers didn't walk in wearing Italian suits or mink coats. Instead, the biggest spenders often wore oil stained pants, inexpensive blue jeans, and the occasional coverall. The same can be said for best friends, potential spouses, and honorable people. Its who you are not what you wear, drive, or own, that makes you worthy.
Without my first seventeen years, I don't know if I could make idle chitchat with a depressed person at WalMart, or convince a woman her new shoes match just fine while at the mall. I might not be as outgoing or aggressive, ambitious or compassionate, or as blessed with what growing up retail really afforded me: living with other people in mind. I think I read that somewhere else, too. New Testament, maybe?
Posted by Tish at January 20, 2006 04:57 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.tishasharp.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/405
Boy, from selling protection - I mean "good luck" to classmates to living with other people in mind that's pretty good. Not only is it a good way to live, but it probably kept you out of the slammer too. Well, except for that one time.
Posted by: Mike (exscientia) at January 20, 2006 06:33 PM
You know what really works? Tell everybody you meet: "You know, your mother liked you best." Walk off, leave them dumbfounded. They will be happy, if just for a little while. Heck, maybe for a long while.
I loved your "message" about loving the spouse to make child rearing workable, or something like that. Yes, truly, that is outstanding.
Posted by: old horsetail snake at January 20, 2006 06:34 PM
One of the toughest lessons to learn in life: you can't judge a book by its cover.
Posted by: Flourish at January 21, 2006 07:45 AM
Excellent post, Tish. I have thought the same things many times; I just didn't articulate so well.
I'll bet you make great tacos, too--which is another way to strengthen your marriage/family.
Posted by: Paul N. at January 22, 2006 08:23 AM
I think that whole "you can't jusge a book buy it's cover" thing goes some of the time but definitely not all the time. But that's just me.
I do, however, totally agree with having a strong relationship with your spouse in order to strengthen the child-rearing "business".
Great post, as usual, Tish. =)
Posted by: Dub C at January 22, 2006 11:05 AM
It never ceases to amaze me how employers don't grasp the simple concept of happy employees growing their business.
Posted by: poopie at January 22, 2006 02:17 PM
Awesome post Tish!
I was taught fairly early on as well that you must never take away a person's dignity...
And it drives me bonkers when I see others doing it!
Posted by: LisaBinDaCity at January 22, 2006 04:55 PM
Post a comment