This is an open letter to my friends who own a small business…

Dear Friend,

I patronize your business because you are a friend, have a service or product I need, are local, and I want to help you succeed.

I do not support your business because I expect a discount.  In fact, quite the opposite.  I expect a good product or service at a fair price.  That is the limit of my expectation.

Since you have a product or service that meets my needs, I need you in business and flourishing so you can provide that.  You can’t stay in business losing money.

So if I walk in the door of your business, be it physically or otherwise, please meet my expectations and continue to charge a fair price for what you provide and I will continue to support you in every way I can.

Leave a comment with your business name and a link to your website or Facebook page, phone number, email or however you want to be contacted.  I’ll do everything I can to support and promote you.

What is your choice for a home defense firearm and why?

My first grab is a Mossberg 590 Shockwave, 12 gauge.

Loads

• First round 2 3/4 inch (low brass) #4 Buckshot
• Second round 2 3/4 inch (low brass) Rifled slug
• Third round 2 3/4 inch (low brass) #4 Buckshot
• Fourth round 2 3/4 inch (low brass) Rifled slug
• Fifth round 2 3/4 inch (low brass) #4 Buckshot

Why

• The internationally known sound of “fuck around and find out” that a pump shotgun makes when a round is pumped into the chamber.
• Wall penetration.  Most pistol rounds, and especially rifle rounds, will penetrate at least a couple layers of sheetrock.  Which means when you fire it in the house, it could go through the walls and into the next room.  At minimum.  The idea of that scares the hell out of me.  #4 Buckshot is less likely to do this.  A slug will, but my thoughts are by the time I get to the first slug round, hopefully the threat has ceased or I have positioned myself where over penetration is less of a concern.

Being good at your job often attracts more work.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “10% of the people do 90% of the work.”?

It’s called ‘performance punishment’ and is a dangerous game for leadership.

Overworking your high-performers and not growing your under-performers is a fast track to disaster.

It breeds resentment. High-performing employees will leave and under-performers realize their performance level is adequate to keep their job.

Leaders need to be careful of this or they will find themselves continually training, re-training or even re-hiring more under-performers while high-performers seek employment with compensation packages commensurate with their skill and performance standards.  Invariably, your high-performers have set expectations for themselves, and tend to hold their co-workers to those same expectations.  And when those expectations are not met, the problem becomes a focus for them driving up stress.  It is completely unfair to all concerned.

 

Be careful of this leadership pitfall.

 

This is Jorge Soler. He is a major league baseball player for the Atlanta Braves. This photo was taken off of my television during today’s Braves vs. Rockies game in Colorado.

Mr. Soler is singing his heart out. Eyes closed and singing. What is he singing? He’s singing God Bless America. He was born in Cuba and risked everything, including his life, to defect to our country from Cuba, to follow his dream of playing major league baseball.

For those of you who don’t want to be here? I am absolutely sure Mr. Soler has some family members still in Cuba that he would love to trade places with you sorry pieces of shit.

Thank you Mr. Soler. Thank you. The rest of you fuckers? Go die.