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The classic 1947 seasonal film, The Miracle on 34th Street, reminds us that generosity, faith and imagination are essential in life long after we lose our childhood innocence. The story of how the ?real Santa? changed merchandising rules by ...
The classic 1947 seasonal film, The Miracle on 34th Street, reminds us that generosity, faith and imagination are essential in life long after we lose our childhood innocence.
The story of how the ?real Santa? changed merchandising rules by actually steering children (and their parents) to competitors? stores if they had the toys of the children?s dreams might be part of the movie-maker?s imagination but for anyone who has been in business a while, we know quite well that putting our own short-term interests aside in favor of the larger community and our clients? real needs usually pays off multiple times in business success and profitability.
I?m bemused by forum posters advocating the wonders of door-to-door canvassing who fail to see the demoralizing and disrespectful attitude this practice forces on employees, contractors and potential clients (though there are exceptions to this, and every, rule.) Equally, I?m saddened by business owners who misconnect price and value and fail to appreciate that the indirect, larger-picture approach to creating value is almost always guaranteed to be more effective and successful in business than the short-term commoditization of our prices.
On Christmas Day, regardless of our own religious faith, it never hurts to remember the basis of business (and living) success is not what you accumulate, but your ability to share and improve the lives of others. Maybe we can and should rediscover the Miracle on 34th Street.