Stick with me on this. It will make sense…I promise.
One day a farmer’s donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal brayed for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn’t worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.
He grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely.
The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt. As the farmer continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of the farmer.
OK so what is this all about?
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
We are in the well right now. And dirt is being tossed on us every day. Refunds not returned. Bookings canceled. Irate clients. You name it, when it comes to travel, it is all falling on our backs. I seem to consistently say that we are the most resilient industry I have ever encountered.
When Delta snatched commissions, we shook it off and took a step up. When 911 brought travel to a halt, we shook it off and took a step up. When the country was at war, we shook it off and took a step up. When SARS hit, we shook it off and took a step up. When the economy tanked, … you know the rest!
Today is no different. The circumstances may be different, but we are in a great place to work on our businesses and come out ahead and to come out stronger. What are you doing to facilitate that?
Need some suggestions? Richard Earls, or publisher has shaken it off and taken a step up by recently launching the Travmarket Media Podcast Network featuring eight podcasts that will keep you focused and moving forward in this challenging time. But I want to call your attention to the TRO Signal Podcast. This is Richard’s baby and it is a winner! Each episode has several travel professionals discussing (so far) how they are dealing with COVID and their business. It is funny. It is insightful. It is powerful. But most importantly, it will make you think. You will think how you can implement ideas. You will think “how does Richard think that is funny?” And you will be better for it.
We have some time on our hands. I have been listening to them every morning as I jog to try to get out of shape. Current shape=Round. Preview them at the links above, but I encourage you to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And who knows, maybe YOUR podcast will be the next to join the network.
And as to that fable… there is a corollary as well. After the donkey got out, he bucked and gave the farmer a solid kick in the face for trying to kill him. So remember, when you try to cover your ass, it will come back to bite you.
