Tuesday 8 June 2010

The Landscape Gardener

I had a family who were members of my church who owned a market garden business. It was always a joy to visit them. The staff were happy, and customers loved to visit, or to have the staff work on their gardens or make deliveries - anything from bedding plants to ride-on mowers.


For as long as anyone could remember, the owners were extremely positive happy people.

Most folk assumed it was because they ran a successful business. In fact it was the other way around...

The owner always wore a big lapel badge, saying, “Business Is Great!”

The business was indeed generally great, although it went through tough times like any other. What never changed however was the owner's attitude, and the badge saying Business Is Great!

Everyone who saw the badge for the first time invariably asked, "What's so great about business?" Sometimes people would also comment that their own business was miserable, or even that they personally were miserable or stressed.

Anyhow, the Business Is Great! badge always tended to start a conversation, which typically involved the owner talking about lots of positive aspects of business and work, for example: he loved the pleasure of meeting and talking with different people every day.

Then there was the fun and laughter in a relaxed and healthy work environment and the fascination in the work itself, and in the other people's work and businesses, he seemed really interested. He liked the great feeling when he finish a job and it had worked out well.

The new things you learn every day - even without looking to do so, and lastly the thought that everyone in business is blessed - because there are many millions of people who would swap their own situation to have the same opportunities of doing a productive meaningful job, in a civilized well-fed country, where we have no real worries.

And so the list went on. And no matter how miserable a person was, they'd usually end up feeling a lot happier after just a couple of minutes listening to all this infectious enthusiasm and positivity.

It is impossible to quantify or measure attitude like this, but to one extent or another it's probably a self-fulfilling prophecy, on which point, if asked about the badge in a quiet moment, the business owner would confide:

"The badge came first. The great business followed."

This blog is linked to my other.  Sunflowers

4 comments:

  1. Great post and especially so for me, Ralph, as I am involved with the rough and the smooth of business ... however Business is Great! hee hee

    Speaking of which, I am having a book launch for my latest publication. A commission, I was given by a charity; a social history booklet called the Book Of Memories.

    If a trip to Dundee is due; then I would love for you and family to attend as my guest.

    Book of Memories Launch:
    Arthurstone Terrace Library
    Tuesday 15 June at 5.30 pm
    Teas and coffees will be served
    After introductions free copies will be available

    Just a little affair Ralph, but if you are in the area you are very welcome. The Courier has been invited.

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  2. I wish I could have someone nearby in my life with this gentleman's attitude. Maybe it would infect my own.

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  3. Good Morning, Ralph, I am alive and it will be a great day! I also believe that attitude is everything. One of my favorite quotation is,
    "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are surely right!" I am so certain that what one seeks in life he will find. It is always the attitude that will cloud the vision or offer us
    clearer skies. It will be a great day and I will make sure that happens.

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  4. My mom was from the south and she always came up with what I called "southernisms". My favorite has always been "can't never could". Attitude is indeed everything.

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