Are You the Priority or the Option?

As a former retailer, I have come to understand that customer relationships make or break your business. You may provide superior products and services. Your place of business may be modern, clean, well-stocked, and have great signage. You could have hired the most qualified staff. The business may have a strong presence in the community. You have invested in a great advertising campaign and the customers have responded. Things are going well--or so you think.

After the first year, you notice that sales have consistently dropped. The number of customers have diminished. The customers who remained are spending less than they did before. The staff isn't performing as well and most are late for work and out of uniform. What happened?

What you put into your business is exactly what you will get out of it. It is critical to take care of the people who shop with you as well as the people who work for you. They are human after all. They have needs, worries, and problems that need resolution. If you don't do a good job of responding to their problems, some will be very vocal and lodge complaints. They will make you do your job. Others will give you another chance, but will seek out the competition to compensate for your shortcomings. And then there are those who won't make a fuss. They won't make suggestions on how you could improve. They will just stop doing business with you and tell everyone they know why.

Personal relationships are no different. The worst thing that you can do is to take the people in your life for granted. If you ask for more favors than you return, ask for help but offer none, and include them in the work while excluding them from the fun, then they will remove themselves from your circle.

In this life, it is incumbent upon each of us to give as good as we get, if not better. The lesson here is that you cannot expect others to make you a priority when you treat them like afterthoughts.

Be good to yourself~and others! More next time...

It's Not Hard to Say Goodbye...

This is the last day of 2011. Like many of you, I had an action-packed year. I am sure that each of you has had just as many triumphs as failures. It is not unusual to take a moment and be reflective about all of the things that you did or didn't do, things that did or didn't happen, the people who came into and went out of your life, the people who loved you and hated on you, the people who stuck with you and who turned their backs on you, all of the lessons you learned, and so on...But reflection is one thing, and holding on to "what had happened" is something else.

There is a lesson in everything--that is what the living is all about--so be present in every moment. See people for who they are and recognize that they are in your life to teach you something. Some will support and inspire you while others serve as an example of what NOT to be. Embrace that. Don't waste time on petty vendettas. Accept that we all have insecurities about something and those insecurities manifest themselves in our attitudes and behaviors. We can often feel threatened by the successes of others if we don't understand that the gifts we have are what we are supposed to have. There is a place in this world for everyone. The only person you should compete with is YOU. Stay in your lane, define your success on your own terms, and keep it moving (moving forward, that is).

If I am blessed to be here tomorrow, I vow to try harder than I ever have, challenge myself more than I ever have, ignore distractions and detractors, believe in myself, have faith in what Allah (God) has in store for me, strive to be a better sister, mother, partner, and friend, embrace love, shun jealousy and envy, and help somebody who needs it. I encourage each and every one of you to do the same.

So in case I don't "see" you, Happy New Year! Make it your best year yet!

Be good to yourself! More next time...

Reflections

"Friends...how many of us have them?"
"One love...you're lucky just to have just one."

Today I want to share some thoughts about life, love, family, friends, and our duty to ourselves and others. Thanks to RVT, MJ, AW, LCA, GM, RAJ, RDJ, and DHG for being an inspiration to me. I love you all!

If you pay attention to the role that someone plays in your life when you experience a trial, it will be crystal clear who your real friends are.

If you expect greatness for yourself, you will inspire greatness in others.

One of the most selfless acts that you can perform is to encourage someone else to be better, especially when they don't believe that they can.

Love is as love does.

Strive to be a good example--you never know who is watching.

Spend time with those who want more for you than they need from you.

Prioritize the children in your lives.

Stay present in the moment and your future will flash before your very eyes.

Be grateful.

Being alone and being lonely are not the same thing. A lonely person has lost touch with himself and God.

Embrace those who remind you of your duty. Don't hesitate to remind others of theirs. You are your brother's keeper.

You can say a lot with a look, a hug, a kiss, or a smile. Mean what you say.

Be honest with yourself and others.

Focus on the lessons that you learn through mistakes and adversity. This will make them easier to share with others, free yourself from guilt, and empower someone else. That is kind of the point, after all.

If you're going to do it, do it right, all the way. Otherwise you haven't done it.

Be good to yourself! More next time...