SIGN LANGUAGE
I was killing time in a small airport gift shop in a mid-sized southeastern city. This particular gift shop was full of things one expects to find in an establishment surviving on tourist dollars, but the shop also contained something that would have been amusing if it wasn't so pathetic. In its relatively modest space this retail shop contained 22 handwritten signs placed strategically so as not to be missed. Following are the warm-hearted signs that greeted the potential customer:
2--No drinks allowed.
8--Buy magazines, then read.
1--These are old, out of date papers, please leave them alone!!
5--Please do not handle toys. Toys opened or damaged will be paid for by parents or guardians.
1--Please do not open pens.
5--If you break, you buy!
What do you think was in the minds of the owners, if anything? Do you believe they were looking to improve their bottom line by increasing profit through the patronage of satisfied customers, or was their main objective to reduce their expenses by closing up each night with nothing broken? I can just imagine their mission statement: To be the southeast's largest storehouse of unbroken stuff!
In your personal life what kind of "signs" are you putting up?
I am fragile--be careful with me.
I am tough; you can't hurt me.
Go away; I don't need anybody.
Stay with me; I am needy.
I am better than you, or anybody else for that matter.
I am a scatterbrain, follow up with me on every detail.
I judged the gift shop as non-customer friendly and chose not to stay, much less buy anything (lest I break it on the way to the cash register). How are people judging you? Why?
I first became aware of my acting like a billboard at the end of day one of a two-day program I was conducting. The group got together for beer and pizza. I was invited, and so as not to hurt the inviter's feelings, and simultaneously quenching my thirst, I graciously accepted. The next day in class an antendee of both the program and the drinkfest, came to me and said, "I saw you across the room, but you didn't look like you wanted to be bothered, so I didn't come over to say hello." It took a bit of self-analysis to admit he was right. I was tired and I had a big day coming up, but I sure never would have come right out and said, "Stay away, I'm tired and I have a big day coming up" to anyone. I didn't even think I was thinking it, and yet I was alone most of the evening. How did they know?
Lesson: You got it, you asked for it.
The all-leather, NFL-regulation football, inscribed -- 1963 Chicago Bears
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
RUFUS GOOFUS
Ever watch hummingbirds eat?
The Selasphorus Rufus (hereafter known as Ruf) hummingbird is a sight to behold. Ruf is known as a "dominate feeder," that, loosely translated, means Ruf is the 500 pound gorilla when eating time comes around. With hummingbirds that's every waking moment of everyday of their fast and furious lives.
I was sitting in my office which overlooks a hummingbird feeder (actually in my office I tend to overlook a lot of things, but I digress) when I saw my first Ruf. Two non-Rufs were busily flitting from one feeder eating hole to another, and out of nowhere comes Ruf. The other two would have wet their pants if they could have found a pair to fit their spindly little legs. Ruf then began the process of doing his "dominate" thing and guarding the food supply so that no other hummer could feed.
To get something, you have to give up something. Ruf, to get sole possession of the food, had to give up something. What he had to give up was any time for him to eat the food he so jealously guarded. Ruf was so busy keeping others away, he couldn't eat. Sounds foolish doesn't it?
Let's ascend the food chain. My wife, Jean, taught 5th grade. A couple of times a year she had an "auction" in which the kids, using "Good Job " tickets which they have earned over the school year, bid on various items which Jean had brought in. Last auction a student named Destiny really wanted a small pitcher. Thomas another student, not knowing Destiny wanted the pitcher, outbid her. She was crushed, sad to see, but hey that's life in fifth grade (and everywhere else). In the process of wrapping the pitcher for his mother, Thomas got fifth grade boy-itis and dropped it. He now had a bag of smithereens for his mother. Jean later spoke to Destiny about what she thought of the events of the day and she said, "At first I was glad, but then I felt sad that nobody would be able to enjoy the pitcher"--a concept completely alien to Ruf.
When it comes to getting, or not getting, what you want, grade schools are full of lessons. During this same auction, Shelby a girl with special education needs really wanted a music box with a dancing clown. Shelby had 42 tickets to bid. The other kids knew that Shelby wanted that particular music box--the rest of the class stopped bidding at 40. Shelby had her music box with the dancing clown
When you don't get what you want, are you more like Ruf or Mrs. Payne's 5th grade class?
Lesson: Don't get your shorts in a wad over not having something, be happy for those who have it.
The Selasphorus Rufus (hereafter known as Ruf) hummingbird is a sight to behold. Ruf is known as a "dominate feeder," that, loosely translated, means Ruf is the 500 pound gorilla when eating time comes around. With hummingbirds that's every waking moment of everyday of their fast and furious lives.
I was sitting in my office which overlooks a hummingbird feeder (actually in my office I tend to overlook a lot of things, but I digress) when I saw my first Ruf. Two non-Rufs were busily flitting from one feeder eating hole to another, and out of nowhere comes Ruf. The other two would have wet their pants if they could have found a pair to fit their spindly little legs. Ruf then began the process of doing his "dominate" thing and guarding the food supply so that no other hummer could feed.
To get something, you have to give up something. Ruf, to get sole possession of the food, had to give up something. What he had to give up was any time for him to eat the food he so jealously guarded. Ruf was so busy keeping others away, he couldn't eat. Sounds foolish doesn't it?
Let's ascend the food chain. My wife, Jean, taught 5th grade. A couple of times a year she had an "auction" in which the kids, using "Good Job " tickets which they have earned over the school year, bid on various items which Jean had brought in. Last auction a student named Destiny really wanted a small pitcher. Thomas another student, not knowing Destiny wanted the pitcher, outbid her. She was crushed, sad to see, but hey that's life in fifth grade (and everywhere else). In the process of wrapping the pitcher for his mother, Thomas got fifth grade boy-itis and dropped it. He now had a bag of smithereens for his mother. Jean later spoke to Destiny about what she thought of the events of the day and she said, "At first I was glad, but then I felt sad that nobody would be able to enjoy the pitcher"--a concept completely alien to Ruf.
When it comes to getting, or not getting, what you want, grade schools are full of lessons. During this same auction, Shelby a girl with special education needs really wanted a music box with a dancing clown. Shelby had 42 tickets to bid. The other kids knew that Shelby wanted that particular music box--the rest of the class stopped bidding at 40. Shelby had her music box with the dancing clown
When you don't get what you want, are you more like Ruf or Mrs. Payne's 5th grade class?
Lesson: Don't get your shorts in a wad over not having something, be happy for those who have it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)