September 2002 Archives

Trancendentalism in retail…

I tend to be a person who will see the best side of people – a transcendentalist. I believe that people are basically good. When it comes down to it, people’s hearts feel better when they do good things for their neighbor. There is much argument otherwise – that all “selfless acts” are motivated by some internal greed. To some of these arguments I sometimes have no response except my faith that most people are good people.

Retail challenges this belief on a daily basis. I seem to see the worst side of people working in a service oriented environment. I see the ones whose Christmas spirit consists of running other people over to be first in line for something. I see people who will curse at my staff because they can’t return their year old stinky shoes. I see the ones who would rather spit in your face than say hello. I see the ones who grump and complain when they see a long line even though they seem too lazy to walk to the cashier with no line. And tonight, the customer who felt that the restroom wouldn’t be needed by anyone else but her, and so made the biggest mess I have ever seen causing us to have to close the bathroom. Yes, it was poop that brought these thoughts to mind.

Daily I remind myself that those who may be nasty today might be the one helping another human being out tomorrow. I remind myself that my staff is being as helpful as they can in the face of this rudeness I see, and they represent the good in people. I try to remember that usually it is the ones who are upset that make the most noise, and I’m just not hearing all the good things people have to say, thus creating the false imbalance. I remember that my perspective is not the only one, and I should put myself in someone else’s shoes. Then I see that it’s not all bad from where I stand. I remind myself that I am in retail – not the place to see all the good people have to show.

My faith holds strong. It’s the customer who complements the cashier who was nice in the face of the nasty person. It’s the one who helps the old lady up after she was mugged. It’s the person who says, “Thank you.” It’s every selfless act that my staff shows one another when they’re in need. Each act reaffirms my belief tenfold that the good in people will win out eventually.

Of course, karma takes care of the ones who I’d like to trip.