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And now, back to The Rules
While still living in a state of perpetual gratitude, let’s get back to business. It’s not my intention to gush on about all the things I’m grateful for on this site. Just be aware that I am grateful for my many, many blessings. Chief among those blessings is that you have come to read yet another of my addle-brained posts. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope you find it worthwhile.
Christmastime is here
My absolute favorite time of the year has arrived! I absolutely love CHRISTMAS!!! All the treats, the warm feelings, the music, the decorations, the movies and TV specials… I absolutely adore all of it. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around the preparations for Christmas with the family. Mom baking cookies by the truckload and then putting them in Tupperware containers on top of the fridge. Listening to holiday classics on vinyl as we baked chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, thimble cookies, cutouts, gingerbread men, snickerdoodles and many others was something to look forward to after school or on the weekends. It was a magical time to look forward to every year.
I’ve been up the last few nights trying to spin a bit of Christmas magic of my own. Homemade gifts are a special treat. I’m hoping the kids will be thrilled with the treats I’ve concocted for them this year.
Some More Rules
Rule #31: Never make fun of a Ferengi’s mother…insult something he cares about instead.
The Ferengi are a very chauvinistic lot. They don’t let their women wear clothes or earn profit. As such, it would be pointless to insult any female member of a Ferengi’s family. The same is true of people in the real world, minus the mother bit. You shouldn’t make fun of people. If you feel the need to make fun of people, be aware that it’s pointless to make fun of something that doesn’t concern them. All you’re going to do is confuse them and make yourself look stupid if you try to poke fun at something that’s a non-issue to them.
Rule #32: Be careful what you sell. It may do exactly what the customer expects.
There are so many people selling crap. People expect things to flop terribly, but they buy them anyway in the vain hope that it does what’s advertised. Honestly, there’s a huge market in slinging hash. People just whirl the intellectual equivalent of pease porridge in the pot nine days old into “new” products and sell them online. Well, I guess you’ve got to start somewhere but really. If you establish your name as a purveyor of random crap, you’re not going to be in business very long. You should strive to provide real value in exchange for people’s hard earned money. The customer should expect and receive value from your products every single time.
Rule #33: It never hurts to suck up to the boss
The Ferengi culture is structured around a clear social hierarchy and ruthless ladder climbing. Corporate America isn’t far behind. Social climbing and trying to ingratiate yourself to the next higher echelon in the company is a game played by far too many. If all you can see is being an employee and being beholden to a company and a boss, then buttering up the boss may indeed be warranted. When you’re your own boss, you don’t need to suck up to anyone.
Rule #34: War is good for business
I guess it depends on what business you’re in. If you’re in the business of selling weapons, armor or the bare necessities of life, then war can be good for business. People living in fear will spend grudgingly on things that promise peace of mind, safety and survival. In the aggregate, war is actually quite bad for business. Destruction of infrastructure and supply lines causes shortages of desired commodities. Invading armies don’t spend money, they take what the want and leave you to clean up the mess. No, war is only good for business if your business is war.
Rule #35: Peace is good for business
No doubt. People who don’t have to look over their shoulders in fear of dropping bombs or invading armies tend to have more disposable income and are more likely to spend it on things that make them happy. Peace causes markets to blossom.
I hope you enjoy the holiday season as much as I do. Let me know what your favorite Yuletide traditions are!