For better or better

There are certain things everyone should do before it’s too late. And, given that we can never really know when it’s too late, it’s never too early to begin. For starters, I would suggest that you watch any/all of the following movies: “The Princess Bride,” the original “The In-Laws,” and “The Last Samurai.”

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Then, when you’re finished watching, swap glasses and read any/all of the following books: “The Color of Light” by William Goldman, “Ball Four” by Jim Bouton and “The Paper Chase” by John Jay Osborn, Jr.

I guarantee you will be a better person for doing any/all of this.

ZONE in!

From the mouths of babes ... A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang, so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the call.

“Mommy can’t come to the phone to talk to you right now,” the little girl said. “She’s hitting the bottle.”

ZONE in!

It’s Show Time! … While I actually wonder if anyone circles the calendar any more — what with all the electronic prompting we’ve invented and used and then tossed when it became obsolete — I still would suggest that you take note of these dates: June 10-12.

That’s the when for the what, namely the National Lawn & Garden Show. The where is Chicago’s Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel.

And all that pales next to the why:

You won’t find a more efficient means to conduct business. Billed as the “only show that guarantees the opportunity to make your business grow,” the NLGS features pre-set, timed appointments that bring vendors to the buyers.

Every conference is about “the deal.” Each appointment between qualified, decision-making buyers and manufacturers cuts straight to the chase. The vendor introduces his product and touts its value to the market. The garden center operator then decides if it’s a good fit for his/her store.

It’s that simple, that direct — and that effective. If it sounds like a show that would benefit your company, visit the Web site, www.nlgshow.com for more information or for registration particulars. You’ll be glad you did.

ZONE in!

Gillette Player of the Game … This month, we whistle a happy tune for the great Ernest Wertheim, landscape architect extraordinaire and one of the most courageous people the Green World or any other has produced.

I recently had the chance to see a video of a Wertheim speech about his incredible life as a Jew who fled Europe during World War II, landing, eventually, as an intelligence officer for the U.S. and a friend/confidant of General Douglas MacArthur.

Great countries are built on the likes of this man. Great industries, too.

ZONE in!

Warning: End of column near … A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise and yelled over to the boy, “Hey Willis, forget your troubles! Come in and visit with us. I’ll help you get the wagon up later.”

“That’s mighty nice of you,” Willis answered, “but I don’t think Pa would like that.”

“Aw come on boy,” the farmer insisted.

“Well okay,” the boy finally agreed, and added, “but Pa won’t like it.”

After a hearty dinner, Willis thanked his host. “I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset.”

“Don’t be foolish!” the neighbor said with a smile. “By the way, where is he?”

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“Under the wagon!”...

- Yale Youngblood

May 2008