This is a very touching article by Dr. Jeffrey Lant who is regarded as among the foremost Internet marketers in the world. Although Dr. Lant is best known as the author of thousands of articles on entrepreneurship and online business mastery, he often takes time to share real life experiences that he gently weaves into powerful life lessons that both instruct and inspire.
This article really touched me as I have made it a practice for more than two decades to write personal notes and from time to time send flowers as well. Given enough time, I could share stories of how a simple handwritten note has resulted in friendships, clients, political associations, board appointments and the affection of my family members and strangers alike.
Dr. Lant emphasizes “flower power” in this article, but the principle is the same and if you take note of the lessons weaved into this article, you will run out and visit your local stationary store and establish an account at your favorite florist as well. I trust that you will enjoy Dr. Lant’s latest golden nugget.
by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
I was at the grocery store the other day; you know, the Shaw’s Market at Porter Square, Cambridge.
My helper Aime Joseph was doing his usual efficient job of unloading the groceries onto the
conveyor belt. I was holding the flowers so they wouldn’t get crushed.
A tired looking lady was at the cash register, a woman of a certain age. She never looked up to
catch my eye… but when ringing up the flowers she brightened: “Someone’s lucky today,” she said.
And without missing a beat, I said: “You!”, whereupon I took a fervent red rose from the
bouquet and handed it to a now very surprised, rather embarrassed but thoroughly delighted, lady.
Flower power, a little bit of greenery, some blazing color, had done their work again. And they’ll work
as well for you, too.
Flower from the Latin flos, from the Old French flour
According to my ever useful dictionary, flower means “A blooming plant.” It also means, and this I think more useful, “The brightest, finest, choicest part, period, or specimen of anything.” Thus, when you give flowers, you give “the brightest, finest.”
Flowers transform the mundane into the memorable.
We are living through difficult times. Millions are afflicted by a punk economy, by unemployment and job loss, by house foreclosures and pension shrinkage. If Charles Dickens were alive today, he could well and truly write, “These are the worst of times”. He might well leave off the other half of his famous line, “These are the best of times” as being manifestly untrue.
However, we, the living, must do the best we can… and flowers undeniably help.
Don’t wait for a “special” occasion…. call up the power of flowers now.
I am always amused when on such holidays as Valentine’s Day and Christmas, I see the long lines at the florist shoppes. It is good, of course, that they are there; any time is a time that flowers brighten. But these are folks (usually male) who haven’t quite glimpsed the power of the unexpected flower. They are there,in that never-ending line, to cover themselves, lest they be accused of
forgetfulness and insensitivity!
Rather, I applaud the person who, quite clear on flower power, delivers flowers today simply because it is today, no further reason being needed. I think I saw such a person the other day walking down Massachusetts Avenue in my neighborhood. A bit sheepish, he held his bouquet high, a mixture of pride and embarrassment. I was hopeful there was no other reason for those flowers except to say “because you’re you…”
Know thy florists
Personally,I make it a point to know and try all the florists in my neighborhood. I like to see their very different approaches to the business of brightening the world.
At Trader Joe’s, for instance, there is always an eye-catching variety which in the Trader Joe’s tradition is limited… but always good value. It is a pity they are rather inconveniently located for my visits.
Tommy at the Montrose Spa added flowers to his convenience store line about a year or so ago. They are not his priority and as such he lets them sit too long, petals and leaves falling off, woebegone and in need of caring homes quickly. But Tommy waits too long to bring the price down and so there are always moribund flowers in the corner, sad, their powers diminishing by the moment.
There are two florists in Harvard Square, both conveniently located. However, I don’t patronize them unless it’s an emergency. The folks at Brattle Street Florist always seem too rushed to help. I like to have a good look-see… and always appreciate the considered opinion of the proprietor. I also like to know when the roses came in, to be sure I am getting them at their prime. I’m a stickler for
freshness.
John at Petali, handy in Forbes Plaza, tells me what I need to know, but he never quite focuses and though he waves to me on days when he bicycles past my house, I sense he is distracted, with other things on his mind. I feel like going into his shop and buying flowers for… him. He would smile then.
Then there’s the Central Square Florist. I never go there in person. (Central Square is another world for me. Denizens call it “between the brains”, because Harvard is one subway stop further on and MIT is one subway stop before.) But I have ordered so regularly over time they sent me a special “frequent flower” card. I keep it in my wallet, but always forget to use it. However, they seem to know me when I call… and perhaps they give me a discount since I am a member of their club. I never ask.
This brings us back to the flowers from Shaw’s Market. They always seem a tad brash, bold. But they are handy, reasonably priced, and employees are happy, when I ask, to give me extra plant food, which I never hesitate to thank them for and take, sometimes forgetting to use it after all.
Don’t forget the card
Flowers, despite the power of plant food, do die in due course, despite my many ministrations. But the card that accompanies them can last forever.
After my mother died, I found amongst her many effects, a few of the cards she found meaningful, from long-ago events. Often she had taped or stapled one of the flowers from that bouquet to the card. In her copper-plate hand she annotated the back of the card… which touched and reminded me how much I missed her. Even long-dead flowers and their cards can do that. This is why I shall never stop buying flowers and giving them to the people I care about… or even total strangers who seem to
need them and always smile at the gift.
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About The Author
Harvard-educated Dr. Jeffrey Lant is CEO of Worldprofit, Inc., www.MyWorldprofit.net where small and home-based businesses learn how to profit online. Attend Dr. Lant’s live daily webcast and receive 50,000 free guaranteed visitors to the website!
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