BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

A long time ago I attended a symposium in San Jose about what an agency was all about by some well respected agency partner from Chicago. Now the first thing about any consulting type from one of the top 3 cities in the nation (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles) is that he must be good! He must have some keen insight into what it really takes to be able to bill millions and millions of dollars in fees for the company. He must be a workaholic. A true martyr for the cause... a zealot that has brain storming sessions for breakfast. This person has arrived with his quick silver suit and polished ultra thin briefcase with gold trim. He approaches the hotel microphone cautiously as he is going to deliver a masterpiece of thought. Here it comes. He delivered those holy words by saying...

"Many of you think that this world that I live in is created with smoke and mirrors. Well, I hate to disappoint you but here is the essence of what an agency does. THEY GET THE RIGHT THINGS RIGHT! Sure, there is a little creativity, coordination, preparation, planning, etc. But the first and foremost item is Getting the right things right." You could hear a pin drop. What? All that gobbledygook on the 54th floor is getting the right things right? How can that be? We must have heard it wrong. Say it ain't so? The 30 minute talk went on with annecdotes of getting the right things right. We were all amazed. Think back. That is what the client really wants... his replacements, his doubles to get the right things right. For if he and his staff had enough time and thought, they could do it themselves. They would not need us! Gasp.

I will never forget those thoughts, although I forgot the presenter's name and company long ago. If the budget is $30,000 it is not $35,000! If the address is #1 California it is not #10 California St. If the ad needs to be there on Monday that's not Tuesday. If it's dot com it is not dot net! What a simple revelation but a truer statement was never said. And a more common error about agency involvement was never made. Getting the right things right has always been in the forefront of the business.

ABOUT THE OWNER

This coming year on July 7 and 8, 2007, we will have a special event here in Modesto. It's the 33rd Annual National Depression Glass Association Inc. glass show. I have the honor of being the chairperson appointed by the board of directors of NDGA to run the show. This is not possible without enlisting the help of many people to bring the dealers from all over the nation to the Modesto Centre Plaza in July 2007. To this end, I have enlisted the help of Camille Gasper, Office Manager of The Staley Concern, (company hosting the show), Janine Bender, Glass Dealer from Pebble Beach and noted authority on Depression Glass, Cindy Hornback of the Modesto BEE, National Display Coordinator, and last but not least Carol Nelson, my wife and membership director for the National Depression Glass Dealers Association.

The Staley Concern made it possible for the convention presentation at the last July show in Dallas and the awarding of the show location to Modesto, CA. It is the resources of the Staley Concern and the membership of the National Depression Glass Assn. Inc that make this large public show and sale possible.

Ed Staley

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