Greg's Right FIT #422

Quick notes to help you grow your business in less time with less effort. . . sometime next week. 

In this issue: 

- Thoughts on Perspective
- Being Human
- Random Stuff

Thoughts on Perspective

• Develop your perspective muscle. For instance, as you contemplate a success or setback, remind yourself there really are a billion people in China that don't care. 
• Developing and maintaining perspective sounds simple, but it's not easy. "A ship which looms large in the river seems tiny when on the ocean," said Seneca. Sure, but if I'm on the river and it's bearing down on my dingy, it seems like a big deal.
• We make maps. The maps come in one of two perspectives: top down or ground level. These perspectives describe how we give advice too. Use it to improve communication. If you give a high level picture, follow it up with a ground level version. And vice-versa. 
• Emphasize perspective next week. Business matters are important, but that doesn’t mean we have to take them so seriously. Spend four hours with a baby or an old person, and you'll notice they rarely talk business. Keep perspective

Being Human - Working with what you have

“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” ― Cormac McCarthy

The Romans had a goddess of luck. Fortuna carries a cornucopia and can either bring you luck or withhold it. She is pictured as blindfolded, leading to the expression, "blind luck."

Fortuna is also the goddess of fate. She doesn't give special treatment or blessings to talent or hard work. Her presence reminded citizens of the ancient world that life is unpredictable. Life on the plains in the early 1900's was unpredictable too. Maybe not as unpredictable as the year 100, but it was there. The author Willa Cather noted this in her book, A Lost Lady, through the voice of Captain Forrester:

“Well, then, my philosophy is that what you think of and plan for day by day, in spite of yourself, so to speak – you will get. You will get it more or less. That is, unless, you are one of the people who get nothing in this world. There are such people. I have lived too much in mining works and construction camps not to know that.” He paused as if, though this was too dark a chapter to go into, it must have its place, its moment of silent recognition. “If you are not one of those, you will accomplish what you dream most.”

Fortune is blind, and she doesn't find everyone, regardless of how deserving they are. 

Keep this in mind as you go about your work. Although we live in an age of medicinal miracles and financial wizardry almost guaranteeing good fortune, unfortunate things will happen. We can only control so much. Work with what you have and make the best of it. Don't begrudge the luck of others, and have empathy for unfortunate circumstances. No one gets out alive. Be kind. 

Random Stuff

“All a man needs is coffee, wi-fi, and a dream."

January is behind us. In my hemisphere the last 10 weeks have been the darkest of the year. From here we'll build up to a day of big sun and then work our way back to the dark.

Knowing this, my neighbors are probably asking themselves: When will the Chambers take down their Christmas lights?

There used to be a neighbor named Steve who kept his lights on all year long. I'm not a nutter like that, but I'm in no hurry. I took down the most obvious holiday decorations. The Christmas tree went down just after the New Year, last week I removed the garland over the door, and yesterday the red lights on the little Charlie Brown tree came off, but the white twinkle lights remain. 

There used to be a restaurant in Omaha, Mr. C's Italian Steakhouse. It had a great patio. 

The real attraction, though, was the inside.  There was a mural of an Italian village along one wall with little cutouts of famous people, as I remember. The reason I tell you this is that the interior was filled with Christmas twinkle lights. Year round. 

It was festive. It made people smile. It was a destination.

I'm festive. I should be a destination.

I read a story about a bill being advanced in Washington State to allow for more neighborhood cafes. Like a small coffee and pastry shop on my front lawn. 

Greg's Bakery and Coffee House. Nice ring to it. Poetry readings on Tuesday's, arm wrestling on Wednesday's, and startup pitch competitions on Friday's. I can almost smell the fantastic aroma of Ms. Laura's famous scones. Heck, I already have an apron. I can make a list for whatever else I need.

Of course, a lot hinges on the passing of a city ordinance which has yet to be proposed. And I will need to run this idea by Wilson the ABC. He's very concerned about strangers encroaching on the estate. He'll be the most difficult hurdle to overcome.