Honor
So, Mr. Fixer and I were talking about various aspects of personal and business character. For people, it’s called “character”. In Business, it’s called “ethics”. What it all really boils down to is whether or not a person or business conducts oneself/itself with honor.
For a few examples:
It is dishonorable to sell a car as new if it is not. It is dishonorable to claim ownership of something that doesn’t belong to you. It is dishonorable to say you are something you are not.
Is there honor in business anymore? What happened to the concepts of service and good, ethical conduct? Who said it was okay to stop caring about who and what you are and what you do?
The husband and I went to the movie last week. Upon reaching the concessions stand, Mr. Fixer chose to peruse the menu. Before he could read the prices the menu was replaced by a movie trailer. Slightly irked, he waited through the trailer until the menu reappeared. The second perusal was again interrupted, leaving My Hero rather frustrated. Upon the husband’s arriving at the counter, the concessions clerk stared at the ceiling, walls, counter and register, choosing not to make eye-contact.
This is bad business; it is unethical. Requiring a person to speed-read a menu, then presenting him with an uninterested and “bored” staff member who provides no assistance is a great way to lose customers. Are movie theaters so confident in the “drug” they provide (mindless entertainment), that they don’t want repeat customers?
There was a time when companies understood the concept of service. There was a time when employees cared about their jobs and were diligent about doing them well. There was a time when “Have a nice day.” was backed with genuine interest. Where are the companies and employees that understand service? I would think that in this current economy, with all the unemployment and tenuous financial situations, employees and companies both would make a greater effort to engage customers.
Have we become such a consumer-driven society that we, as customers, don’t care anymore? Are we so inundated with choices and options that we no longer require respect from those to whom we give our money? Has our “enlightened society” turned us into non-thinking automatons and greedy consumers who only care about how much we can get rather than how we are treated?
And, the biggest question of all:
If Idaho is the birthplace of all American potatoes, where the hell are the couch variety?
Until next time…
D. S. Vic
Email is welcome. Please put “Northwest Journal” in the subject line of all correspondence. JD_DSVic at Yahoo.com
© D. S. Vic. All rights reserved.
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