DW's Blog

The Waiting Equation

by DW Green — March 29, 2023

Resisting the natural flow of things (of life) is not healthy.

Yep waiting is annoying. I know I can get upset and annoyed when I feel I’ve had to wait too long. Waiting is a commonplace occurrence. Having to wait “for something” happens practically everyday. And for sure businesses should do their best to minimize waiting…being respectful for customers’ time.The other side of the waiting equation, the personal side, and maybe the more important side, is our personal reaction to the WAIT. For me, it’s about being present and aware of my initial and unconditioned response to the situation at hand. Rather than getting mad or upset over something that I have little control, I need to relax, take a deep breath or two, and respond accordingly. If I choose not to wait, I can leave. If I can’t choose to leave, like being in a traffic jam, I can choose to accept the situation for what is and stay calm. Resisting the natural flow of things (of life) is not healthy. I need to remember, that my time isn’t more valuable or precious than yours, or anyone else’s. Easier said than done!“A man who is master of patience is master of everything else.” —George Savile

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Sign Of The Times

by DW Green — March 22, 2023

Sign design should reflect the purpose, meaning and personality of the store’s brand.

The ole maxim “Signs Sell” is true! But then I guess that’s what a maxim is, an expression of a general truth or principle. In truth, however, the maxim should read “A well-designed sign with thoughtful and intentional copy sell a lot!” Aside from the obvious sign ingredients like product description, price point, accurate spelling, product benefits and so worth, the sign design should reflect the purpose, meaning and personality of the store’s brand. Otherwise you are missing a tremendous opportunity to reinforce the unique benefit of your store to your customers. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a well-designed sign is worth a thousand sales.

Literal

by DW Green — March 8, 2023

Design is the opposite of literal. Good design is imaginative, dynamic, and energetic.

Sometimes with design work, retailers prefer designs that literally reflect the subject they represent. According to the ole dictionary, literal is defined as the strict meaning of the word or words, not figurative or metaphysical. To construe words in the strict or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; dull; prosaic. So basically, the word literal refers to the use of words. The problem is that design goes beyond the specific definition of the word or words, good design also conveys feeling and emotion. Grocery shopping is more than a grocery cart. A new or remodeled store is more than new fixtures, new floors and new décor. Design is the opposite of literal. Good design is imaginative, dynamic, and energetic. Good design builds an emotional connection between your customers and your brand. We recently updated a store logo for a client. The new design created a clean, comfortable, and captivating look and feel. The design brought energy and an aliveness to the brand. In a word, Amazing!

Read More – Who Matters

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by DW Green — February 22, 2023

Just like the tribes of old, the strong leaders of today’s companies distinguish themselves by being good storytellers; voices that employees listen to, are inspired by and respect.

I attended a niece’s wedding near Portland Oregon. The wedding was amazing. The ceremony was held on Bladberry Farms on Sauvie Island serenely resting within the mighty Columbia River. It was a truly beautiful venue.The bride and groom embodied the very best of the millennial generation. The measure of their depth of wisdom and understanding of the meaning of marriage and the sanctity of their union was inspiring. The minister too was phenomenal. How often we forget the true meaning of marriage as we move through the business of doing and managing the unfolding of daily life. It is good to pause and silently reflect on the beauty and wholeness of our relationships.The word “tribe” was used often to describe the importance and connectedness of the bride and grooms extended family and circle of friendships. Businesses too represent tribes. They are tribes to their loyal and passionate employees, customers and communities. The stories that circulate in and around he organization paint a picture of the company’s culture and value’s towards both employees and c...

by DW Green — February 15, 2023

It’s good to look at and question your personal truths, beliefs and values.

Pairs of opposites such as good and evil, or life and death, are examples of mental dust catchers. Any fixed idea that has not been moved around for a long time creates a place where illusion can breed. A fixed idea is like a stove, or a refrigerator, or a bookcase. Underneath and behind fixed ideas are hiding places that can collect all sorts of mental rubbish, or lint!It’s good to look at and question your personal truths, beliefs and values. These are often learned when we are young. I read that the ego/mind presumes and is convinced that its perceptions and interpretations of life experiences are the “real” thing and therefore “true.” It also believes by projection that other people see, think, and feel the same way; and if they do not, they are mistaken and therefore wrong. This explains why there is so much discourse in our world right now.

Read More – Remembered for Niceness

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by DW Green — February 1, 2023

Accept all people and all circumstances in your life exactly as they are.

If you were traveling in Tibet, you would experience tidbits of Tibet. If you were a native Tibetan, you could be a Tibetan tidbit?

Any way here’s some tidbits to ponder.

Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.

You are not in the Universe. You are the Universe, an intrinsic part of it. Ultimately, you are not a person, but a focal point where the universe is becoming conscious of itself. What an amazing miracle.

The secret to happiness is letting go.

Accept all people and all circumstances in your life exactly as they are. Knowing that everything is as it should be. Practice defenselessness and relinquish the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view.

Tibet is an administrative division of China. North of the Himalayas: prior to 195...

by DW Green — January 25, 2023

Agonizing over which road to take can eventually prevent us knowing any road.

—Yogi Berra

Like the koans of Zen monks and the whit of Shakespeare’s jesters, we may never know if the sayings of this baseball legend are utter nonsense or utter wisdom. But the longer we stay with them, the more they reveal.

What this one says to me is not to stall too long at the crossroads of life, not to hesitate our way out of living. We can’t experience everything, and taking one road will always preclude another, but agonizing over which road to take can eventually prevent us knowing any road.

Even when taking one road, keeping the other alive in our mind for too long is the beginning of regret. In fact giving over to regret is a way to resist our limitations, a way to still take the other road with us. It’s the heart’s way to be stubborn. Ultimately, keeping the other road so actively with us only keeps us from fully knowing the road we have chosen.

We are beautifully limited creatures, capable of great moments of full living, but we can’t experience it all. We can only, par...