A friend of mine told me there’s a family movie tradition at his house for Christmas. And it’s how they watch the same three or four Christmas themed movies every year. And they always end up with “It’s A Wonderful Life.” If you haven’t seen that one, you must be new to our country. Because George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart’s character) is famous in these parts. His story is so great because it shows how when you invest in people, it can pay you back in dividends.
George Bailey spent most of the first half of his life trying to get away from his little hometown of Bedford Falls. But circumstances always pulled him back in. And it wasn’t just because he had no other choices. It was because George cared about people. His friends. And neighbors. And, of course, all his Building and Loan customers.
George made a fiery speech I like.
It was directed at mean ol’ Mr. Potter. And it shows how much he cared about people. It was when the Building and Loan board of directors met, after his father’s death, to decide the fate of the company. Mr. Potter was in a hurry to dissolve the Building and Loan, and George said…
“Just a minute – just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. Just a minute. Now, you’re right when you say my father was no business man. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know. But neither you nor anybody else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was — Why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn’t that right, Uncle Billy? And he didn’t save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get outta your slums, Mr. Potter. And what’s wrong with that? Why…here, you’re all businessmen here. Don’t it make them better citizens? Doesn’t it make them better customers?”
Yes, invest in people because nothing gets made without ’em.
And nothing gets bought without ’em either. What are stocks, bonds, commodities? And what are products, services, customers, and clients? They’re all forms of relationships between and among people.
In my RondaReady system I talk about and share lots of information about building and maintaining relationships. And the best part is, the system helps serious business owners and entrepreneurs stay on top of the whole process.
And when you get that kind of control going for you, it’s a wonderful life.
That’s why I truly do wanna help you Get Ready to Be Ready and be the highly organized CEO of your business.
Stay Ready,
Ronda