3 Business Truths for Valentine’s Day

When my wife was pregnant with our first child, she really wanted a certain kind of baby crib. It even had a name—the Jenny Lind crib.

Frankly, at that point in my life, I didn’t have enough money to buy it, but I really wanted to purchase it because it meant that much to my wife. I was discovering even then how to Work Positive. So I changed my perception, released my imagination, conceived a complementary relationship, believed that I could find the money, and acted on my attention and intention so I achieved the positive result of buying that crib.

First, I remembered my shotgun. I had not been hunting for years with that gun, but it was still special to me. Santa Claus brought it to me when I was 13 years old. It was my “dream gun”—a Remington 870 Wingmaster pump-action 12 gauge with a 28-inch modified choke barrel. I drooled all over “her page” in the Sears Wishbook catalog that year. I stood for hours staring at her in the local gun shop. Not that I was attached to my gun or anything like that . . .

Then, in a flash I decided that the crib was coming and the gun was going. I would sell my shotgun and buy the baby crib. On my way to the gun shop to sell it, I stopped by to visit my friend, James, who said he wanted it. So I sold the shotgun to him and bought the crib, presenting it to my wife as a surprise baby gift. She loved it!

About fourteen years later, on my 40th birthday, my wife threw a huge birthday party for me. She had about 250 of my closest friends over for a meal and party. It was great.

After everyone left, she escorted me into our home and said, “There’s one more thing. Close your eyes and hold out your hands and I will give you a big surprise.”

I did, and then she said, “OK, open your eyes! Here’s your birthday present” and handed me my Remington Wingmaster 12 gauge shotgun that I had sold to buy the Jenny Lind baby crib.

“Where did you get it?” I said.

“From James,” she said. “I called him and told him that you were turning 40 and asked him if I could buy your gun back. And Joey,” she said. “He wouldn’t let me pay him. He gave it to me as your present.”

Business Truth 1: Love your customers and clients, employees and suppliers with the same reckless abandon that my wife, James, and I did. Commit yourself to solving their problems, to growing their bottom line, and to improving their lifestyle. They will remain loyal to you forever.

Business Truth 2: What goes around, really does come around. Serve everyone associated with your business based on their needs first. You will always have enough to go around.

Business Truth 3: Believe in your business. Work hard to love and serve. And at the beginning and end of each day, remind yourself that there are Work Positive resources converging that are beyond your ability to control or influence. You will succeed.