I really miss my father.

He worked 7 days a week to feed his family.

He loved his mother.

He loved my mother.

He loved his kids.

He loved his music.

He loved life.

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.” 
-Mark Twain

Customer Service Strategies
I was honored this week by being asked to “moderate” a panel at the Hawaii chapter of the International Council of Shopping Centers “Idea Exchange” at The Hilton Hawaiian Village. My panel’s topic was “Customer Service Strategies.” On the panel I had Thomas Sorensen from the Honolulu Design Center, Tanna Dang from The Wedding Cafe, James Kerr from SuperGeeks and Michael Zhang from Blue Hawaii Lifestyle. We shared things we are doing to prosper during what so many are finding to be challenging times.

Good Sign
The first sign of prosperity was when I pulled up to the Valet and saw this license plate on Doug Smoyer’s new Maserati. Doug has had this plate for many years, but the car is new.

It’s EASY!
I have had EASY on my car for many years as well. The car has been a Cadillac since 1962, and this one is new. I tipped the valet a little something extra to park our cars side by side to deliver a message to those attending the conference. The message is that “Retail Success is EASY” when you are doing the right things.

Hilton Luau $95
Another sign of prosperity was the line I saw going into the Hilton Luau.

The showroom was full; it holds 500 people. Do the arithmatic. Yes, people are here and they are spending money!

Kevin Takes The Stage
When I got this photo and e-mail from my son on Maui, it made me proud; proud of him and his family. I hope you don’t mind my sharing that pride with you all.

Hi Dad,
A couple weeks ago just as Kevin was finishing with Kindergarten, we were invited to a special dinner for forty students and their families. These children were recognized by their teachers, and the school as exceptional both in academics, and helping the other students. I hope you enjoy this close to as much as I do.
Aloha and Mahalo,
Michael Martin
Handyman Services
Lahaina, HI

Yes, It’s a Big Deal
I especially like this part of Michael’s e-mail.
“I hope the schools can keep challenging him.”

I might add that if the schools don’t, life will.
Go Kevin.

Why the Word ONLY?
I continue to be amazed and irritated by how the mainstram media looks for the worst possible way to present any situation. This headline; “Isle Economy Grew Only 0.7 Percent Last Year” in today’s Honolulu Advertiser would invoke a completely different emotion if it were to be without the word “Only.” To listen to many people, “ANY” increase in 2008 over 2007 would be seen as good news. After all, 2007 was a banner year.
At one point the article reads, “The last time growth was lower was 10 years ago, when the economy was coming out of the economic doldrums that afflicted Hawai’i during the 1990s.” Now tell me, is that good or bad? I for one choose to like the idea that we may be heading in the same direction as we were when “coming out of economic doldrums.”

Besides that, I continue to find and highlight businesses that are not only doing good, but even better than ever before. To see one such company, just CLICK RIGHT HERE!