Oddly Enough…
The hard truth is, we mess up…often. Yet every once in a while we get it right, too. The same youthful inexperience that precipitates these errors, also leads to stunning breakthroughs of originality. Thursdays are dedicated to true stories from my own experience and from the experience of people I know. These stories are about successful experiments, lucky innovations, and happy coincidences.
Weird things happen when you own a business. The strangest people will inevitably drift in through your door. Now, this may not be true for you cybernauts, running web-based, home-based or consultancy businesses, but if you have a brick-and-mortar storefront, I guarantee you will meet some doosies.
I had a paranoiac come in once, trying to warn me about the hidden message being encrypted in the match-book covers.
I had a mother come in to extract her child from the store—after looking around, she proceeded to explain to me exactly why and how fast I was going to go to hell for selling role-playing games to children. (She seemed nice enough, maintaining a present tone of voice and such, but I never thought I would hear the words “eternal damnation in seething, sulfurous hellfire” spoken in perfect earnestness outside of a live theater.)
One of my most memorable such encounters came very early, before we even opened our doors. I was just looking over options for our storefront signs when an unfamiliar gentleman walked through our unlocked but uninviting front door. (At the time we had no signage, and our entire display window/glass door was covered from the inside by plain brown butcher paper.)
He was civil enough in manner, but clearly not fully socialized. He spoke in mumbles about some form of news media conspiracy, and his worn and disorganized attire spoke of an alternative living arrangement. (That is to say, some alternative to ‘indoors’.)
As I politely ushered him toward the door, he asked me what I was doing. Not one to be rude, I answered that I was trying to find a sign painter. He immediately stated that he was my man. He explained that he had painted signs and facings for several stores in the area, offering phone numbers and contact names as references, and explained that he was willing paint an 8′x4′ sign for no more that $75.
I was all ears. My best lead until then was $260. A few reference checks later, I invited him to paint our sign. He came in at the appointed time, bringing with him all of his own paints and sealants. He whipped out a beautifully painted sign in under four hours, integrating our elaborate logo in perfect detail amidst legible, distinctive lettering.
I was so satisfied that I later commissioned him to paint our entire storefront for $200. His work was unique and eye-catching, garnering a number of compliments. A friend of mine still has the sign, kept as a memento of the store.
You will meet some odd folks if you run a business, but keep an open mind. Unusual does not mean unreliable, nor unskilled, untalented, or unproductive. Look everywhere for your edge, and be prepared to take smart risks. It will pay off.
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