I have limited internet coverage while on the road here in Las Vegas. So, there will be no post today except to say that most of the time, you have to seek out your source of inspiration.
Sometimes it is right in front of you. Sometimes it is painfully obvious yet we fail to act on it.
So for today, open your eyes and seek out your daily inspiration. You may ne surprised from where it comes!
TweetI apologize folks. Monday’s post will be a little bit delayed. It’s a travel day. Heading for a convention in Las Vegas. Hopefully I’ll have today’s post up soon.
In the meantime, please enjoy the video below for a little inspiration.
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Just an old sweet song
I had just moved to Atlanta in May of 1984. Having worked at Six Flags during the Summer of 1983, it was a natural fit to work there again following the permanent move.
One Saturday evening in early June, I was taking my break when I saw some familiar buses pull up belonging to the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Being a big band geek, I headed to where they were parking. My job at the time was part of the same department that was in charge of park security so I happened to have a walkie talkie. They corps manager saw this and thought I was there to help.
Well, he wasn’t too far off. I was glad to help but had no clue as to where they were going.
Long story short, I quit my job the next day and joined Spirit, learning the music and drill in order to march with them for the rest of the season.
At the helm was the founder, Freddy Martin. “Martin served as Spirit’s director from the corps’ founding through the 1993 season. A noted band director in the Atlanta suburbs, Martin brought a love of music and especially for the education process to the corps.”
“Freddy Martin not only served as a teacher in music to the young men and women of Spirit, but he also imparted many life lessons to members of the organization.” **
Even though it has been several years since we’ve seen each other, I have no doubt he would remember me. He would have a big smile and probably call me by name. That’s just the kind of guy he is.
You might be asking what this has to do with customer service. Well, he worked with countless numbers of teens and young adults with varying levels of talent and education. But he worked them toward the same goal. Most of his time was spent coordinating the efforts of a 128-member musical ensemble, uniting them into a cohesive performing team.
As a business owner or supervisor, you have the same responsibility to those you lead. Unite them in purpose and singleness of vision.
Our theme song in 1984 was “Sweet Georgia Brown.” Freddy, you’re like an “old sweet song” to this Alabama boy. Thank you for your vision, your guidance and your passion for musical excellence and for being an influence on thousands of men and women for all these years.
** (The above quote was taken from the 2006 Drum Corps International Hall of Fame induction.)
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He had a vision and a song
Sometime in the 1976-77 school year, I was introduced to the sound of barbershop harmony. In part, it is a melody line surrounded by three harmony parts – tenor, baritone and bass. Having been raised on acapella singing, this was a natural fit for my ears.
After joining the “society” in 1978, I had heard of a man named Owen Clifton “OC” Cash who founded the Society for the Preservation and Propagation of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in the United States. The name was eventually changed, replacing the word Propagation with Encouragement and United States with America. The acronym SPEBSQSA was a joke, mocking the naming of many programs under the WPA, the government organization which helped carry out public works projects under FDR’s New Deal. But enough of that.
OC Cash wanted to preserve a period in American history where the songs were as sweet as the maple and sweet gum trees in Oklahoma, the birthplace of our Society. Songs like “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, “Down By The Old Mill Stream”, and “Sweet Adeline” hearkened back to a time of innocence, of prosperity and peace. Coming out of the Great Depression and prior to the start of WWII, it all started with 26 men on a roof.
At that time, there was no plan, no vision, no grand scheme other than to get a few men together to sing. It later became a pretty popular organization drawing 75-150 men each week. But with time, that changed. Word spread to other cities and more chapters were formed. Soon, the love of 4-part harmony was being shared from coast to coast. And the vision just sort of appeared.
That was 1938. Today, the “Society” boasts a membership over 30,000 including affiliate organizations across the globe.
Many still think of a barbershop quartet as four old guys standing around in straw hats singing century old songs about mom, first love, Ireland and such. Yes, a lot of Irish themed songs have very simple melodies that are easy to sing in the barbershop style.
But thanks to the organization of one man, and the dedication of countless others, thousands of men can come together around the world united in song. Do you wonder what happens when strangers from this organization come together in the most unusual place?
Well they sing, of course. Thank you, OC Cash, for getting it started.
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Is this thing on?
Exiting my store one day recently, a car was passing by slowly with the windows down. I was a few feet away so the conversation was easy to hear.
The driver was talking to his passenger about the number of vacancies in the shopping center including the business that is next to mine.
Do you know what he based his perception on? Their “open” sign was turned off. It didn’t matter that they had their sidewalk sign right by the road for everyone to see advertising “walk-ins” were welcomed.
Since the sign was off, to him this was a sign that the store was closed.
Whether or not you have a literal “open” sign, is it on? Can your customers see it? They’re not coming in if they think you’re closed.
Thank you Mr. “Open” sign inventor for inspiring today’s post and letting people know we’re still in business!
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