Though we are retiring, we are never not thinking about business…ours or those we see as we travel! It’s hard not to reflect and compare, especially when we are no longer at the helm of each day’s activities. We put informational fences in place, target goals to meet, and we’re always thinking of different ways to get the right information needed to guide our business to continue for years and years, well beyond our lives.
We are currently staying in a campground that is now owned and operated by the next generation of children. The founders have successfully passed it down to the next generation and each one of their four kids has a different area that they manage. It is interesting to view this from an outside perspective, and think about how our four kids may continue our Deer Creek Winery business in the future.
The biggest outcome of what we have observed and experienced here in one word is “TIRED”. There is one part of the complex that is newer and very active, while all others are rather rundown. It seems there was a good plan in place maybe 25 years ago, but the paint is chipping away, dirt is being left to gather more cobwebs where once it had to have been shiny and colorful, and everyone seems tired. It looks like no profits are being put back into keeping things looking nice. Was there not enough money to go around for the 4 families, are there disagreements on what to do, or are they all just tired? We find it very sad.
I wish I could sit in on one of their meetings to just give a different perspective to them. Encourage them to look at things through their customer’s eyes. If they would just take a couple weeks to go around buildings with a power washer and then follow with a fresh coat of paint. What a difference a few hundred dollars would make on how this campground is viewed. Could they move the older, ragged looking stored campers to the back so the fresher ones are seen?
The customer experience we receive is far from wanting to make our stay the best it can be. Where had it been lost through the years? Have there been major disagreements that just ended up with no actions taken?
Will we see things differently as we travel back to our business? Will we notice that some paint is starting to chip and cobwebs fill more corners than before? Will our kids see the things that need done and choose long term planning over short term? I believe they will from what I know of them and their thinking. We know we are not beyond any of the things we have experienced this week, but it is good to be aware that our business can reflect the energy of a governing board of directors. If we are tired, our business will look tired, and our customers will feel it.
Actively Retiring 