The Creme Doesn't Always Rise To The Top... But The Sludge Sure Does!

Just about everyone remembers the purchase of their first car. I sure do! It was a warm summer evening when my dear old father took me to 24th and State Street (in Erie) to go car shopping. Of course, in those days, it was always used car shopping. A decent used car went for around $500. Even at that amount a loan was required along with parental co-signers, and your first born as collateral. The owner of the car lot and his 'shark' reputation, came a stumbling out of his tiny shack (office) to put the squeeze on. He was a typical 50's greaser with dark slicked hair... a duck tail in the back and an Elvis wave in the front. The cars that he sold were always previously owned by a sweet little old lady, whom he knew personally!

I got sucked in and bought the car, but that's not the story. You see, this guy went on to become the biggest 'New Car Dealer' in Erie, (now residing in Florida and sometimes in Erie). He gained political clout as his dealerships increased. He purchased a small plane, learned to fly, (not to well according to his runway accident report), and even had sports events named in his honor. He was able to frequent the company of the Erie Mayor, and County Executive. And still today, he is held in the highest esteem of the elite upper crust social circles.

If you have never read the "Peters Principle", do yourself a favor. It depicts guys like this... rising to the heights of their own inabilities. He (unfortunately) has been cloned into all areas of Politics, Large and Small Business, Entertainment, and even Tel-evangelical Religion.

Tis the sludge that always rises to the top these day, and no longer the creme!

Stomping On Small Business...

Having been self employed for thirty plus years, one would think that "respect" would finally come with the territory... WRONG! Seems that the "New Yuppies" have this concept in their minds that they both , know it all, and are better than those accounts or people that they serve. Case in point: The Advertising Industry... that necessary evil, should now be kissing up to all of the retailers and small businesses, in view of the recent "state of the economy". But, just the opposite is happening. Young Yuppies, are given the status of "class titles,"e.g. account executive, associate marketing director, etc. Their immediate supervisors are often but a few years their elder, if not the same age, and lacking both wisdom and experience. They can do no wrong, even when it is definitively proven that they are wrong! Like gregarious birds of a feather, they huddle among themselves telling each other how he, she or it is wrong, and convincinging one another that they are the one's in the right. Their fluffy titles go to their heads, and when coupled with the company that they represent, a condescension automatically takes place. How often do you hear: "Hello, I'm Jane/John Doe marketing consultant for a major firm" ? Would they ever say, "sales rep. for a pitifully small company"? No, they represent what is considered a Goliath, while small business is viewed upon as "ma and pa". And thus the cycle of I'm up here and your down there, begins. One can even extrapolate this into personal everyday testimonials with the banking tellers of today, customer service employees, insurance salespeople, car sales, and the list goes on and on. All are equipped with lofty attitudes of, "I'm more important than you are, so hurry up I need to get on with my very important day". At fault are the owners and general managers, who fuzzy up the ego's of employees with lavish titles to avoid the encumbrance of salary, matching wisdom and experience. Ti's the ole' Peters Principle: Man rising to the height of his inabilities!