A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story

***Reposting from 2010***

It was 5:00 pm Christmas Eve 1989, and I was locking the front door of the supermarket where I was Store Manager.

Over the years, I had made it a tradition for me to be the "closer" of the store on Christmas Eve.

Inside the store, my employees were rushing around counting their register tills, sweeping the floor, and generally preparing the store for closing down, so they all could rush home to their families for Christmas.

At approximately 5:30pm, I heard someone tapping on the front door.

“I just got off work and I need to shop for my family", the gentleman on the other side of the glass door shouted.

“Sorry, we are closed.” I answered.

“Please, I really need to shop and you are the only grocery store open.”

In the background several of my employees yelled out to me… “Mr. Gambone, I hope you don’t let him in, we all want to go home.”

I turned to my office manager and said , “Cindy, I feel bad for this guy…will you stick around with me until we get him checked out.”

She looked at me with a frown, “Well, I hope he only needs a few things, OK.”

We let him in…he was very gracious, grabbed a buggy and started to shop.

“I’ll only take a few minutes,” he said.

Then all of a sudden, he turned around and looked at Cindy and me in desperation… “Shit!..I’m sorry for swearing, but I left my wallet in my overalls at work….I can’t believe this!!!”

He abandoned the buggy and started walking towards the front door to leave.

Cindy looked at me and said… “Well, I guess we can leave now.”

“Hold on!” I said… “Sir, you pick up what you need and come back the day after Christmas and pay us.”

Cindy looked at me as if I was crazy. The gentleman was overjoyed and continued to shop.

When he completed his shopping, Cindy and I checked him out and bagged his groceries. He purchased lots of milk, cereal, bread and basic groceries along with some gift-wrap and children’s toys.

We wished him a Merry Christmas as he left and Cindy and I locked up and went home to our families.

...............the gentleman never returned...................

Yes, I took some heat from my boss when he found out…but that’s okay. I knew in my heart that it was right thing to do at the time.

It is moments like this is my life when I am reminded of the words a mentor of mine once shared with me early in my career...“The good you do, will come back to you.” Lou Z.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may you and your family have a glorious New Year.

Bob Gambone, The Pecan Pie Guy!

SMART Goals- A New Look For 2013

S- Specific is Terrific. Remember your Team will help you reach your goals only when they can focus.
 KISS: Keep It Simple and Specific.

M- Measurable and shared goals not only get accomplished but also get improved. Keep your Team informed by systematically sharing your Goals versus Actual (current condition).

A- Attainable based on competition, benchmarks and proven practices. Accountability is key! Create a system with your Team and / or Accountability Partner.

R- Realistic and Relating  to YOU and YOUR business and life. You need to ask yourself,  is this something that YOU really want to achieve? Will accomplishing this Goal be fulfilling to YOU?

T- Time framing your Goals will help keep YOU and YOUR TEAM accountable and disciplined. You need to have an END in sight, or your SIGHT will never end.
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Bob Gambone's Leadership Quotes

10 Favorites from BG, BG-MUSE, and Ed Gambone Sr.

"Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is not accepting fear as an excuse."

"By not making a decision, you have made one."

"Call it a problem and it will BE one. Call it an opportunity and you will HAVE one."

"We learn from our yesterdays, we live for our tomorrows."

"Passion is an attitude. Passion combined with wisdom is a road map to success."

"Leadership is giving;  Giving people the opportunity to do things they may not necessarily WANT to do, but NEED to do."

"If your memories are bigger than your future, then its time to turn things around."

"Managers get work done BY people. Leaders get work done With people."

"The best leaders know when to let other leaders,  lead."

"Do what you love, love what you do, and share that love with everyone."

BONUS ~ "Inspiration is inspired by the inspired."

Copyright  2012 by Robert V Gambone Sr.

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The Winner - Whiner Chart

             While Whiners Say...         Winners Say...
                                     I guess.        Yes!
                       That looks okay.         That looks terrific.
                             No Problem.         My Pleasure.
             This isn't a half bad day.        What a beautiful day this is.
                                   I'll try to...      I will...
I've never done it that way before.      I can't wait to try it that way.
              I don't mind helping you.      Sure I'll help you.
       No thank you I can handle it.       Yes, I would love some help.
                          It can't be done.      Sounds like a challenge.
                   We're not good as...        We're as good as we think we are
                 I don't know how to...       Up to now I've not been able to...
              I hope I don't blow this!       Watch me make this work.
              Boy did I just blow this!       I just learned one more way not to
 I'm not appreciated around here.       It's fun to do a great job.
                     We're understaffed.      We always get it done! Amazing!
    Let somebody else deal with it.       Here's my chance to contribute.
                Isn't it five o'clock yet?      You mean it's quitting time already
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Teamwork Test

How's your Teamwork?

Answer YES or NO to the following 10 questions.*

1. Do you believe work teams improve communication?

2. Do you believe working in teams increases productivity?

3. Has communication between you and your business associates improved?

4. Do you enjoy the work you do?

5. Though you may not always agree with your team members, do you respect them overall?

6. Do you believe your team is making positive contributions towards the ultimate goal?

7. Do you strive for good relations with your fellow team members?

8. Has your motivation increased?

9. Has working with others helped broaden your perspective?

10. Has teamwork helped bring out the best in you?

Score yourself:
8 to 10 YES answers shows that you "get-it" when it comes to teamwork.
5 to 7 YES answers demonstrates opportunity for improvement. Seek advise from a Team Dynamic Expert.
Less than 5 YES answers? ... check your pulse.

* Teamwork notes

Entrepreneurs need a “Secret Recipe”

Entrepreneurial experts around the world continue to debate over why small businesses fail, however they do agree on one thing; now more than ever entrepreneurs need to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.***

We have all heard the buzzwords:

“Branding”

“Point of Difference” (POD)

“Unique Selling Proposition” (USP)

“Secret Recipe” (from yours truly)

Think about this; every Fortune 500 company has a brand, a trademark and a tagline. Did you ever ask yourself, why?... Yes!...we all know the answer!
Because it is a fundamental business strategy!

So why do millions of entrepreneurs fail to create a “Secret Recipe”?

David F. D’Alessandro (best selling author ) says it best:

~ A business based on brand is, very simply, a business primed for success. ~

***Sources: Small Business Administration, Entrepeneurship.org, Personalbrandingblog.com

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Strange But True! Thanksgiving Stories- Very Funny

You can’t make this stuff up!

Three bizarre stories from my store manager days.

1). Irate customer phone call:

“Hello is this the store manager?”

“Yes, this is Bob the store manager, how can I help you?”

“You’re dam right you can help me…I’m about ready to call the F***ing police!!!”

“I’m sorry sir, what happen?”

“Someone placed a very sharp dangerous dart into our turkey, and I almost ate the frickin’ thing!”

“Really?, can you describe it?

“Yes, it’s white, about 3 inches long and has a sharp tip.”

“Sir…I think that might be the Pop-Up Timer?”

……long pause, then nothing…customer hung up.

2). Irate customer approached me with a bag in her hands:

“Excuse me, are you the store manager?”

“Why yes, how can I help you?”

“Here, you take this bag…and I want a double your money back on the turkey, it was terrible!”

“Ma’am, this bag is filled with empty bones.”

“That’s right, I had people over for Thanksgiving…we had to eat something!”

3). Customer phone call…she is whispering:

“Hello, store manager?”

“Yes, this is Bob, how may I help you?”

“ I wanted to call you first before I notified your regional office so you can check the other turkeys.”

“Check the other turkeys?”

“Yes…I was cleaning my turkey and getting it ready, and I found a bag of stuff in the turkey, I don’t know what it is, it looks like parts of rats or something…I think someone is trying to poison people, you know like that Tylenol thing.”

“I’m sorry this has frightened you, do you still have the packing and cooking instructions?, sometimes they are on the outside cover.”

“Yes!”

“How about reading them to me. I want to make sure you got all the details.”

“Don’t give me the run-around, I want something done about this!”

“Please, just read the instructions, thank you.”

“Okay!!...here you go; PLEASE REMOVE BAG CONTAINING GIBLETS BEFORE COOKING.”

…the next sound I heard was the dial tone.

Like I said…you can’t make this stuff up!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!