Monday, April 5, 2010

Mr Bigstuff, who do you think you are?

There comes a time when hearing aid users need servicing. Both the old lady and the old man needed theirs worked on and I made an appointment to have them see S. He is selling more in 2 days than we used to sell in a month when we were in business for ourselves. (Sigh) Incredibly busy but if he has a few moments between appointments he will try to deal with walk-ins.

He was still helping a woman when we arrived and there was a very large man waiting outside the test booth. I asked him to move so I could sit my parents down. I asked if he had an appointment? He answered with a strong Russian accent he just dropped by to see S. I told him that we made an appointment. The assistant asked if he wanted to schedule a time to see S. No, he would come back sometime.

Finally the woman left and as S escorted my folks into the booth he asked where Mr E had gone. That is Mr E? Our eldest used to swim with his youngest. I said I told him we had an appointment and he should make one. S said he never does, just expects to be waited on.

Mr E was an incredibly powerful business man. He was CEO of a fortune 500 company and flew about the world in a private plane. He had assistants and his assistants had assistants. It was a huge deal if he ever came to a swim meet. Now he is retired and expects to be treated more importantly than others. But he isn't Mr E of the big company. He is just another customer and my thousand year old parents, who had an appointment, usurped his assumption of personal importance.

I have been reading a book about ignoble things royalty has done and said and the way they died. No matter who you think you are, you live and then you die. It is how you treat others that counts more than what others think of you.

Mr E! S will see you and fix your hearing aid ... you just have to make an
appointment.


4 comments:

  1. Finally an authentice blog. Isn't it strange how people allow their job titles' to define who they think they are and how they should be treated...even after retiring? Ahhhh, the ego. Anyway I'm a new follower visiting here from the 5 Minute Party and hope you'll be a follower of mine also? http://darkmoneyside.blogspot.com/
    Thanks. - Haupi

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  2. Haupi,

    I was just about to delete this blog because I felt it was mean spirited and saw your comment. I will certainly check you out.

    Carol

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  3. Stopping by from the Ultimate Blog Party. Nice to meet you. You're right; it's how you treat others that matters.

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  4. You could never be mean-spirited! Though you might want to try it occasionally. Couldn't hurt to sharpen your claws a bit... ;o)

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