...didn't always come during one's lifetime.

And I've also borne witness to the profit of such action - though such profit didn't always come during one's lifetime.  I'll repeat that...didn't always come during one's lifetime.

You'll recall this was written in the last post.  Below reads one of those examples in which profit didn't come during one's lifetime.

A few years back my satellite was struck by lightning.  At the time, it was not in the budget to replace  so I had full intentions of going without until the time one could be afforded.  At the same time one of the local satellite TV and internet providers in our area was looking for land to put up a new tower.  The owner was in the area and talking to my dad about possible tower positions on the farm.  The predicament of having to go without satellite  came up in conversation while he visited.  The owner told me to go in and get it replaced.  When I assured him I would as soon as the budget came open he suggested more strongly that I go in and get it replaced immediately.  "Tell 'em Grandpa sent you," he said.

I let the conversation go and didn't think about it again until I was in town.  Dad called me and reminded me of the suggestion - twice.  I finally promised I'd go - and I have a hard time breaking promises so into the store I walked.

I can assure you I felt a little odd going into the business and telling the clerk that 'Grandpa sent me' like it was a codeword or something.  I felt even odder when two boxes were carried to my car free of charge.  OK maybe not odd...maybe a little guilty.  See, I didn't know why he'd do something like that for me - having just met me.

Flashback - LONG before I was born.  The Anderson grain elevator and scale was in full swing.   Anderson - yeah, that'd be my family, more specifically my Grandpa Don and Great Grandpa Fred (I think I can get away with mentioning their names).  As in any elevator and scale there is often a long wait in a long line of trucks and sometimes that meant a long time between meals.

The owner of the local satellite internet and TV provider and his young son were among those that hauled their grain to the Anderson elevator.  They were among the last in line one particular day and both faced a long trip home before dinner.  Grandpa saw the need and brought the two into his home for dinner.  The specifics of the meal are a little vague and Grandpa's not around to ask.  If we ask Grandma - and we have - her explanation is "It was one of many."  Grandma was a good cook but I never once would have thought it a meal to have lasted in one man's memory for close to 50 years.

It wasn't the meal necessarily but the act of kindness behind the meal, the stepping out of business character and recalling that people have needs outside the office - a meal, a good conversation, an ear to bend.  It was that simple act that 50 years later brought his granddaughter the return of one of today's conveniences.

And...in return...his granddaughter is now a loyal customer to the man and his business because he remembered my Grandpa.

Now this is just one of many examples of profit not coming during one's lifetime.  There have been other times when we were given something simply because "your Grandpa/Grandma were good people".  No other explanation than that.

That's good business.

It's Just Good Business

This is a topic I've wanted to touch on for some time now but lacked the focus to do justice to it's blogging.  Thanks to a friend, I think I found the direction I wanted to go with this.

How often is it heard, "No offense to you, it's just good business"  or "Being nice is all well and fine but there just isn't a profit in it."?  My guess might be too often.

Is there a profit?  Is it good business?  I admit and have seen first hand that there is definitely a gamble involved in providing good customer service or in having a heart when it comes to doing business with the public - not just for yourself but your entire family.  And I've also borne witness to the profit of such action - though such profit didn't always come during one's lifetime.  I'll repeat that...didn't always come during one's lifetime.

Profit isn't always in monetary gain .... I might need to repeat that as well....'Profit isn't always in monetary gain'.  Sometimes it's a little longer lasting than money - money can be as easily lost as it is gained.  Respect, honor, loyalty - those are profits that will carry down through the generations. 

From here my blog gets difficult to write - mostly because there are names I'd like to mention, businesses I'd like to make note of , and I really should be careful about all of that without the proper permissions (even if they are in the most positive light).  Some of you know me so it may go without my mentioning the business  names or the people.  You might recognize them.  Others - it may not matter so much, only know that respect, honor, and loyalty all go beyond monetary value into something deeper.  It is something that will continue long after the tombstone has been etched.

In the next blog - shortly to follow this one I'll make mention of one of the first businesses - hopefully without letting names slip in the process of honoring them!