This could take a moment. Go grab a cup of coffee and come back prepared to give today’s message some serious thought.
The answer to my question is “20 years ago.”
Not in the spring. Not in the fall. Not in the winter. Not in the summer. If you planted a tree twenty-years ago you would be enjoying a little shade today. I can hear some of you now, “Is that all you have for us today Mike? Have you turned into a dendrologist?” Stay tuned.
I am betting you are a lot like me when it comes to the following: I love to receive incoming phone calls. I love to receive email from the people I care about. I love to hear how well people are doing. I love to hear success stories.
What I DO NOT like is when people call me with the “call-of-doom.” These calls usually come near the end of the week, and sound something like this: “Mike, I have invested so much time and money in building my business and nothing seems to be working. I attend the seminars, conferences and workshops. I buy the books. I am frustrated and at a complete loss as to what to do next.”
I hate receiving these calls. And, although I try to shed a little hope on the situation, more often than not there is little I, or anybody else can do. Waiting until the 12th hour to seek help just makes everybody sad. And the truth is, it doesn’t have to be like that. Listen to the words of Casey Stengel, and think about what the old baseball geezer was saying:
“If my pitcher would pitch at the beginning of the game, the same way he pitches at the end of the game once he realizes he is losing, he wouldn’t be losing in the first place.”
As much as I would like to flatter myself, my job is not to “get you out of a jam.” My job is to make sure you never get into a jam. What you do today will determine the size of your smile tomorrow. Some wise old farmer put it another way, “You will reap what you sow.” (Now that I think of it, I think it was the Big Guy who reminded us of that truth. Regardless of who said it, you can take that advice to the bank.)
Good people out there in travel land, all you can do is all you can do. Just make sure that you are doing all you can do … starting today. And while you are at it, try to make your actions make a difference. Work for work’s sake is not the answer.
Okay. Since you have been so patient waiting for today’s message, here it comes: “If you find yourself up against the proverbial wall and looking down the barrel of a travel business gone south, do not call me. Call your shrink… call your priest… call your bartender… call your ex-spouse who got you into this mess in the first place… but do not call me. Not because I don’t like you, but because you waited too long. There is nothing I can do. You needed to plant your tree long before today.
On the other hand, if you want to continue doing your happy dance for the rest of your dancing days, and perhaps polish up a few new moves… call me before it is too late… as fast as you can dial. If you want to stay away from trouble, call me. If you want to remove the word “procrastinate” from your working vocabulary, call me. If you want to laugh more, help more, and accumulate more take-home pay, call me. (And don’t “call me maybe.”)
Call me to become a card-carrying, certified member of a happening group of travel professionals who are making it their business never to play their “doom card.” EVER!
As cliche-ish as it may sound, “Your future does lie in your hands.” You alone, along with a little prodding from an outsider perhaps, (and a gentle whack-in-the-head when warranted) can insure a bright future.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club. Send for details.
One thought on “When Is The Best Time To Grow a Tree?”
Mike, I’m glad you printed the when to plant a tree reminder again. I have always kept it in mind. Thanks.