When I was a pre-teen, my parents and I went on vacation to New York City. One afternoon, when I was on my own, I noticed a store that had a “Going Out Of Business” sign in the window. Being curious, I gravitated to the store. The salespeople paid me no mind, but a few minutes later, a young man wandered in. One of the salesmen growled, “ You need help?” “No, thanks,” said the man. “I’m just browsing.” “Then get outta here,” yelled the salesman. Not wanting to be eaten alive, the young man and I dashed out of the store.
I don’t cotton to the notion that all New Yorkers are rude---anymore than I believe that all Southerners are charming. However, when conducting business, a little charm can go a long way.
When I lived in Georgia, I took my Mother to a restaurant. As we were leaving, the waitress said, “Y’all come back now.” So, my Mother turned around and went back. When she returned she said, “That woman wanted me to come back, but when I did, she didn’t want me to come back now even though that’s what she said. I was confused, so I gave her another tip.”
Also, no matter in what part of the Country you live, being rude to a secretary, the person between you and the boss, is really dumb. Telling an off-color joke can delay your appointment for at least a year.
In my career, I worked for many editors, some better than others. I have a friend who is now a very successful author. At one point she and I worked for the same magazine. She was assigned a story, and conducted 40 interviews for background accuracy. When she submitted the article, the editor rejected it saying, “This is not what I want, but I don’t know what I want.” Happily, she did not slit her wrists or shoot him. A good boss can inspire loyalty. A bad boss needs to beware of what his employee might put into his coffee.
In my hometown, there was a manufacturer who had an excellent reputation. During the Great Depression, the owner sent goods to stores around the Country, trusting them to pay when they could. He saved many stores from going out of business, and his customers were forever loyal. At the same time, in Atlanta, a department store owner gave chits to teachers, so they could get supplies for their students. Stories about that owner were legendary, and his customer base was constant.
Recently, a friend of mine needed a loaf of Holiday Bread. She got to the bakery and discovered that she had left her wallet at home. The baker gave her the bread anyway and said it was a gift. She went back the next day to repay him the money, but how can anyone repay that kindness? How a person conducts business is really a microcosm of how he or she conducts one’s life.
I’ve never seen a tombstone that says, “He made a billion bucks!” No one cares, because in the end, it’s the business of being a good person that really is the best epitaph.
Of course if you go to the cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona you might read, “He was a no good son-of-a bitch who stole my horse, but I forgave him after they hung him.” Even in the good old days, Monkey Business had its price.
Esther Blumenfeld