A question of Respect

On the relativity scale, I had a lovely day overall. But a run-in with some of the older gentlemen where my parents just purchased a beach condo really irked me.

Today's topic:
A little respect goes a long way.

Something that successful small business owners seem to understand and that many older folk I've run into seem to forget is this beautiful little word in verb form: respect.

Please, indulge me.

After a lovely morning walking along the beach with a girlfriend of mine, we decided to go to a local donut shop that I had never eaten at before. (Side note: if you ever walk in to a donut shop and there is a donut with the name 'sour cream' in it, eat it. It was legitimately the best pastry I have ever eaten.) After stuffing our faces with donuts and iced coffee, she began telling me about the owner who was unfortunately not working this morning. My friend, a loyal repeat customer, is known as "my girl" to the owner. A free donut here and a smile there gives my girlfriend every reason in the world to return. Friendly service and respect for customers leads to a faithful following. This is a very simple business model that works.

I went with my dad to the condo this evening. My parents are working on fixing up the place so they can move in next year when my brother graduates from high school. The association here has a lot of rules, so my dad has had issues dealing with them for construction and things of the like. So when he goes to speak to the head of the association, I would expect my dad to be treated fairly. Everyone in this building is an equal, right? Instead, I watched an 84-year-old man sass-mouth my dad.

Being the youngest person in this building, it was very difficult for me to keep my mouth shut and be "respectful" of this elder. But really, his complete disinterest in my dad or his requests upset me. To add insult to injury, the older man who lives below us comes upstairs to not only side with the association head, but to tell my dad that we make too much noise. We don't actually live here yet to make noise in the condo, and we haven't started any construction in here either.

Maybe it's because they think they've earned the right to not be respectful of others by being alive longer, or maybe I just happen to meet some really nasty older people. But I feel like these older men could really learn a lesson from a small business owner. A smile and being genuine will get you places. Being mean will make you enemies.

It's a good thing I don't really live at home anymore and that I'm up at school for most of the year. Otherwise, I'd show these old gentlemen what being a nuisance and noisy really is: a college-style house party. Beer Pong and Dubstep, anyone?