Virgil Winston:Marketing Guru
Two words that describe me to a tee are clean and clever. Truth be told, there are probably a few more descriptors that fit (most of which I cannot print in mixed company) but for the sake of symmetry in today’s blog post, I am sticking with clean and clever. Although my cleverness is apparent, most of you probably don’t know that I am a closet neat freak. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t stay up at night cleaning toilets or scrubbing floors, but I am meticulous about my personal grooming. You won’t ever find an uncoiffed hair, untrimmed nose hair or trace of 5 o’clock shadow on this guru. My pants are always pressed, my collar starched and a crooked bow tie is cause for a mild panic attack. Even my pocket protector is perfectly centered in my vest pocket. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bragging—quite the opposite—my neat-nick behavior is a point of contention between me and the Mrs. She simply cannot grasp how someone so into good grooming can let the garage drown in clutter or the bed go unmade. I’ve tried to explain (in the cleverest possible manner) that my neat freakishness doesn’t extend much past my person but this seems to anger her more.
I don’t see how perfect personal grooming can be a bad habit, but since my wife bristles when I mention it, I try to avoid the subject altogether. That’s why I was so surprised to find the gift my beloved left for me this morning. We sometimes get each other “just because” gifts that we are only allowed to spend $5 or less on and are meant to show our appreciation for one another. Today I received a custom water bottle imprinted with the words, “To the cleanest and cleverest.” I was touched, and a little proud, that my wife did such a bang up job of picking the perfect promotional gift with the perfect message. I guess I’m not the only born marketer in the family. It just goes to show that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big impression if you put a little thought into the right gift for the right person.
Well, I’m off to clean the garage, which proves I may not be the cleverest person in the house after all. Until next time, remember what my good friend Tom Hopkins says, “You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming, and encouraging your greatest asset.”