Dear Local Business Owner...
Dear Local Business Owner,
I see you come into Starbucks every morning. And while they always say "hi" to you, you're not always very nice to them. I'm not sure you even see me when I greet you. And then I can hear you as you're (loudly) talking to your friend about your customers and your employees. In all the time I've seen you here, I don't recall ever hearing you say anything nice about either the employees or the customers. In quite...colorful...language, you're usually complaining about each and every one of them. Your friend listens patiently. Do you realize what a good friend you have there?
Then, yesterday, I was "privileged "to listen as you yelled into your cell phone at someone who appeared to be a customer with a concern about the way you did something at your business. Your language was again...colorful...in a very public place. There weren't children here, but there often are, and based on prior experience, I doubt that you would have cared. The verbal abuse you heaped upon the person on the other end of the phone would qualify you for a defamation lawsuit if you said it to the right (or wrong) person. Whatever happened to listening and hearing the customer out?
Again, this morning, you walked by me using...colorful...language to describe a situation at your place of business. Did you even realize I was there? Did you care that I could hear you? Do you realize that I know which which business you own and run? And do you care that, based on what I see of your behavior in public, I wouldn't frequent your business or patronize you with any of my money? The way we treat others has consequences. If you treat those who come in to your business the same way you treat them behind their backs, I doubt you'll stay in business very long.
I'm assuming from your colorful language that you have no interest in faith, and that you're not currently a person of faith. But you don't have to be a Jesus follower to recognize wisdom in what is called the "Golden Rule:" "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). And while that has implications that range far beyond your place of business, it at least applies there. How would life change if you took this simple (somewhat common sense) truth and lived it out?
I doubt you'll ever read this. But even if you did, I wonder if you would recognize yourself here.
I pray for you. You are obviously broken in such a way that only the grace of God can heal you. I'd love to talk to you about it, but I don't know that you'd hear me right now. So I pray that changes and that one day...soon...you find that love and grace. So when next you're in Starbucks, if you see someone with their head bowed, that's probably me, and I'm probably praying for you.
Sincerely,
The Guy In The Corner Drinking His Chai Tea
I see you come into Starbucks every morning. And while they always say "hi" to you, you're not always very nice to them. I'm not sure you even see me when I greet you. And then I can hear you as you're (loudly) talking to your friend about your customers and your employees. In all the time I've seen you here, I don't recall ever hearing you say anything nice about either the employees or the customers. In quite...colorful...language, you're usually complaining about each and every one of them. Your friend listens patiently. Do you realize what a good friend you have there?
Then, yesterday, I was "privileged "to listen as you yelled into your cell phone at someone who appeared to be a customer with a concern about the way you did something at your business. Your language was again...colorful...in a very public place. There weren't children here, but there often are, and based on prior experience, I doubt that you would have cared. The verbal abuse you heaped upon the person on the other end of the phone would qualify you for a defamation lawsuit if you said it to the right (or wrong) person. Whatever happened to listening and hearing the customer out?
Again, this morning, you walked by me using...colorful...language to describe a situation at your place of business. Did you even realize I was there? Did you care that I could hear you? Do you realize that I know which which business you own and run? And do you care that, based on what I see of your behavior in public, I wouldn't frequent your business or patronize you with any of my money? The way we treat others has consequences. If you treat those who come in to your business the same way you treat them behind their backs, I doubt you'll stay in business very long.
I'm assuming from your colorful language that you have no interest in faith, and that you're not currently a person of faith. But you don't have to be a Jesus follower to recognize wisdom in what is called the "Golden Rule:" "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12). And while that has implications that range far beyond your place of business, it at least applies there. How would life change if you took this simple (somewhat common sense) truth and lived it out?
I doubt you'll ever read this. But even if you did, I wonder if you would recognize yourself here.
I pray for you. You are obviously broken in such a way that only the grace of God can heal you. I'd love to talk to you about it, but I don't know that you'd hear me right now. So I pray that changes and that one day...soon...you find that love and grace. So when next you're in Starbucks, if you see someone with their head bowed, that's probably me, and I'm probably praying for you.
Sincerely,
The Guy In The Corner Drinking His Chai Tea
Well said. I hope that somehow this finds its way to the right man's attention and it makes a the difference you have prayed for.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely said! Being a business owner does come with the responsibility of conducting ourselves professionally. As my daughter always says "Lead by example Mom"!
ReplyDelete