Yes, I’m writing this while sitting on the dock on a beautiful morning up north. There’s not much better than a morning on a dock, coffee in hand and the sun slowly rising. It gives you time to think and appreciate the small things in your life.
So, it got me thinking about all the often overlooked things that we don’t appreciate enough about working in retail. We spend so much time complaining, worrying and being stressed out that we can forget what a great “place” retail is.
Start with all the amazing customers you get to meet and build a relationship with. Think of all the smiles and laughs you have with them over the day. Yes, a small percentage can be challenging, but most are terrific people who, if you take the time to really listen to them, will amaze you at some point with what they know, where they’ve been and who they are.
Think of all the wonderful people you’ve had the privilege of working with and getting to know. Even the ones you didn’t get along with taught you lessons in life … and gave you stories to tell! For many, new and lasting friendships were created from names on the schedule.
Don’t forget about all the Managers and Leaders you’ve had that have taught you so much and hopefully inspired you along the way. I know, not every boss you’ve had was ideal, but when you look back and look around you now every one of those bosses served a purpose in your life.
There’s endless learning and growth opportunities that present themselves faster in retail than any other industry. Retail can give you pretty much anything you want if you put a little effort into it.
Take the time to think about all the good things that retail has brought to you … and all the good things you’ve brought to it. A little appreciation for even the small things goes a long way.
For me, I’ll appreciate the second cup of coffee soon to arrive on the dock.
