The Best Time to Grow a Tree
Mike Marchev’s Monday Cup of Mo-Joe
A whole bunch of “stuff” seems to be getting in our way these days. The negative daily news associated with politics, weather, cars, houses, food, and more are hitting us full force day after day. Every evening news show and late evening talk show has us reeling in bad news.
To suggest that all of this information has nothing to do with you would be ignoring reality. Even positive, upbeat, motivational speakers (like myself) know better than to blow hot air in your ear thinking that a bunch of cleverly tied-together words can put a bounce back in your step.
There is only one thing that introduces a little bounce back in your step, and as the crusty old cowboy said to Billy Williams in the movie City Slickers, “That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.”
Here is a weathered quote I can toss into the mix. You might have to read it more than once to connect with its full meaning, but you can bet it is worth internalizing. The season happens to be ideal for this piece of sage advice.
“If my pitcher would pitch at the beginning of the game the same way he pitches at the end of the game once he realizes he is losing, he wouldn’t be losing in the first place.”
Casey Stengel, Mgr. NY Yankee & Mets
Translation: Stop putting off what needs to be done by using the daily barrage of bad news as your excuse. The best time to grow a tree may have been twenty years ago, and the best time to have grown your business was long before today.
That being said, the next best time to do anything is today, now, right now. Pick up the phone and call somebody, right now. In this case, “somebody” represents a customer of yours.
You will quickly find that each small success will lead to another small success, and your energies will soon return to a healthy level.
Let the doomsayers write, report, and say what they feel is in everybody’s best interest. It just isn’t going to be representing the “Kool-Aid” you are going to be drinking. You are only going to do what is in your best interest… starting today. Pronto.
Now go out and make more people in your personal marketplace glad they know you.
Assignment. Forward this article to somebody in your world who is currently “stuck” in neutral at the moment. If they seem to connect with down-to-earth sage advice, give them my email: mike@mikemarchev.com
