Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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January 16, 2007

Nice, Intelligent, and Strategic

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 6:18 am

A Saloonkeeper’s Daughter

2007

I read over My Blogging Goal, in the sidebar. I think about how I’m doing and I have to say that I’m only half-way there. If my dad is the model for this saloonkeeper’s daughter, I might look like him in some ways, but there was more to him than met the eye.

Everyone says I’m the “nice one,” the “friendly one,” the “community builder.” That’s so cool, and I’m grateful for that. But, my dad liked it that I was smart. That’s what this blogging goal story is about.

My Blogging Goal: Part 2

My dad worked every day at the saloon. People asked him if he ever slept. He was there when they looked for him. He was family to them and so I was too.

That meant for my Christening, he rented a farm and hired a band. The entire saloon was there to celebrate. When it was my dance recital, everyone got tickets to come. At my college graduation dinner, the long table was filled with farmers and workers who sat at the bar every other day of the week.

On holidays we went to the fanciest restaurant in town. It was one block away from my dad’s saloon. At the end of the meal, my dad would take out a writing pad and ask who was working. He’d make a list, starting with the head chef ending with the busboy — once it was the same busboy who spilled a tray of water glasses all over me before dinner. Then he’d carefully calculate tips for every person working that day. I’d put out my hand, and he’d smile as he gave me a dollar too.

My dad was a most generous man. No doubt about that.

I asked him when I was about 13, why he did that — why he tipped everyone in the restaurant. He told me this. I give you $5, and you remember me. After work you walk one block to say thank you and spend some time talking. You have a drink at my saloon.

Even at 13 years old, I knew some folks didn’t do that. After all the busboy was too young to get into the saloon. But I also knew all of the folks — especially the busboy who spilled the water — remembered the $5.

My dad was a generous man. He didn’t expect folks to come. He gave freely.

He was also an intelligent and strategic marketer, because he loved the people he served. He understood his customers.

This year I’m out to prove that I’m my father’s daughter in that way too. I’m not just the nice one. I’m also stategic and intelligent marketer.

From my new business, Perfect Virtual Manager, I’m serving people I love and having fun doing it — showing folks how to connect authentically with customers, how to let customers see their energy, how to leave that proverbial $5 that brings folks back to say thanks and spend some time talking!

My Dad was born in 1907, that makes 2007 a special year. I can’t think of a better goal in his honor than to pass on what he taught me.

The nice, intelligent, strategic one.
–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
My Blogging Goal,

Behind every Successful business there is an Outstanding manager. Perfect Virtual Manager


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19 Comments to “Nice, Intelligent, and Strategic”

  1. January 16th, 2007 at 6:22 am
    Jesse said

    You are doing a wonderful job, and any father would be proud to call you his daughter. You have shown to all of us that you are just as generous as him, while not in dollars, but in a sense of belonging.

  2. January 16th, 2007 at 6:34 am
    ME Strauss said

    Jesse,
    Thank you! Everything you give comes right back to you. I believe that.

    Surround yourself with positive people and positive things will start happening.
    I believe that too. :)

  3. January 16th, 2007 at 6:43 am
    Hsien Lei said

    What a wonderful story! I loved learning more about you and your father.

    Best of luck on your new venture!

  4. January 16th, 2007 at 6:50 am
    ME Strauss said

    Thank you, Hsien! He was a remarkable man. Thank you for kind words of support. You and he would get along fine.

  5. January 16th, 2007 at 8:41 am
    Karin said

    Hi Liz (2.40 pm here, raining - agian)

    Inspiring story. Can’t help but think this is a ‘trend of the week’?: givers gain?
    I was bloggin on it, Kent Blumberg also and he indicated more have been thinking, pondering about the same good and welcome ‘trend’.

  6. January 16th, 2007 at 8:54 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Thank you. I sure hope it is a trend. The world could use more of that kind of thinking. It’s the kind in which everyone wins. :)

  7. January 16th, 2007 at 9:01 am
    Monique Attinger said

    Nice to read a story of how the lessons that our parents teach us can be built upon, even though the world of 2007 is very different from the world of 1907.

    I think that the blogging world is a great example of how “givers gain”. My blog traffic has steadily increased as I’ve learned more about blogging, and gotten more involved! For instance, I learned about this blog because of a link at Instigator Blog; this has meant more traffic for you Liz (I’ve arrived and will likely end up with links on my site to yours) and it will also likely mean more traffic for Instigator Blog (as I’ve already got links to his site) and it will surely also mean traffic for me.

    Traffic “karma”: what goes around, comes around!

  8. January 16th, 2007 at 10:19 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Monique!
    How well you show the connectedness of it all and how we naturally “give ourselves away” to each other linking up. :)

    It is a nice circular feeling to the whole thing.

  9. January 16th, 2007 at 10:33 am
    homebiznotes.com - b5 Business Channel Bloggers Share Their 2007 Goals said

    [...] Liz Strauss at Successful Blog, extends her Problogger Writing Project Blogging Goal with a story, “The Saloonkeeper’s Daughter,” that shows how loving the people you serve is Nice, Intelligent and Strategic. [...]

  10. January 16th, 2007 at 11:18 am
    Whitney said

    If you think Liz is a giver here on her blog, wait until you spend one-on-one time with her in the context of her Perfect Virtual Manager service. THAT is where she shines so bright you have to wear shades.

    I took advantage of her services in December, because I felt like I was getting in my own way on some business development matters. I had a very specific goal, had spent three weeks (off and on) in a spiral of brainstorming, and just got to the point where I said “Enough.” 30 minutes into our first phone call, Liz got me to my goal.

    One the best investments I’ve made in myself, ever.

  11. January 16th, 2007 at 11:20 am
    ME Strauss said

    Wow, Whitney.
    Thank you!

  12. January 16th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
    Scot Herrick said

    Doesn’t Perfect Virtual Manager just make a whole lot of sense?

    When Liz and I first talked about it, I had one of those “aha!” moments. Those of us running a business could always use the advice of a manager, but we so rarely have that working from home, working as a solo entreprenour, or running a small business.

    Especially an impartial manager looking specifically to help someone. We’re instead doing all of it on our own.

    Perfect Virtual Manager really helps in those situations.

  13. January 16th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Gosh, you guys, thanks for the support!

  14. January 16th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
    John Wesley said

    Thanks for the insightful background story Liz. Best of luck in 2007.

  15. January 16th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi John,
    Welcome! Nice to meet you. Good to hear from someone new. Thank you for the well wishes. I was just over at your blog and I’m thinking I’ll be going back to see more of it. :)

  16. January 16th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
    Martin said

    From a purely business sense, great idea Liz - Scott’s comment (#12) is spot on.

    On a personal level, I hope you succeed beyond your wildest dreams with this.

    Now Liz … when are you going to get that GoDaddy parked page off on PerfectVirtualManager.com ? ;-)

  17. January 16th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Martin!
    Thank you1
    You are a friend and gentleman from day 1. :)

  18. January 16th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
    Darlene said

    Great Story Liz! It was great to get hear about your dad! I had an awesome dad too!

    There is so much power in the principle of reciprocity. What we give will surely come back to us in the most amazing ways and many times in unlikely ways that we can’t imagine!

    Good luck with your new business venture. I look forward to hearing more about it!

    Darlene

  19. January 16th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Darlene!
    Welcome! Nice to meet ya! Glad to hear about your awesome dad too!

    It makes a difference to give before we think about getting and to give without a worry about what’s coming back. My dad was really authentic about doing that. People could tell. That’s why they came to say “thank you” and chat.

    Thank you, Darlene, for your nice words and your memory of your dad. You’re not a stranger here anymore. :)

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