Most of the time I manage the curve balls that come in the nine innings of a day. I swing, hit a few, get to first base, and occasionally knock one out of the ballpark. Like the grand slam I scored earlier in the summer by saving the company I work for half a million dollars in fines.
But today wasn’t one of those. Rather, it felt as if I struck out each time I went to bat. So I left the batter’s box feeling as if it were time for a pinch hitter to take over. One younger and faster. One more in tune with the team’s vision. No, that’s not true. I’m in tune with the team’s vision; I’m just not used to the anger that pervades business today.
Cases in point: Strike One – I had the lawyer from a famous music company contact me regarding a cease and desist order. He wasn’t pleasant at all. In fact, he didn’t want to just throw strikes at me; he wanted me out of the game.
Strike Two: A vendor we want to do business with sent forms to be filled out that were really detailed and almost insulting. But I know this is how business is today, given the state of the economy. No vendor offers terms without assurance you can pay. I’m working to get to first base on this throw.
Strike Three: The budget that I meticulously prepared to reflect our fourth quarter’s expenses vs. sales are already obsolete, since various decisions were made in the past few days where I wasn’t in the loop. I’m sure it’s an oversight, given we’re moving into our most hectic time of the year. At the same time, it makes for extra work. And the feeling that I’m maybe the designated hitter instead of the regular player on the team.
A bad day can’t stand in the way. Hopefully in the future, we’ll reach the World Series (of Retail) with these issues resolved, and we’ll win. Which means we’ll have a better season than last year’s, that our customers will be happier, and that our bottom line with be a winner. That’s really what it’s all about.
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