Looking at my life, there are moments where I had a fork in the path.
A decision.

Small decisions are easy.
They have seemingly small consequences.

Big decisions are the opposite.

Despite that, it’s the small decisions that have made me happy.

The fork in the road described by Bob Frost is about following the safe or seeking adventure. Let’s call them Frostian decisions.

My friend, Wayne McKay, has a habit of picking up trash in parking lots, hallways, and hotel lobbies.
He’s not paid to do this.
As a custodian of hospitality, I like him because he cares about others’ businesses.

Another hospitable moment is how I met my wife.

When I was 23, Marc and Chantal invited me to go camping. My fork was, go camping with them or go out with some other friends. Marc and Chantal were a couple. I enjoyed adventuring with them. I was always the third wheel. And third wheels aren’t a problem until cuddle time.

This time, I told them I’d go, but we needed a fourth person. That little decision changed my life. They invited Aline.
Cuddle time came as expected.
Aline and I warmed our toes to the fire and spoke of things to come and things that would never be.
We giggled and laughed.

When it was time for bed, Aline forgot to bring a pillow.
Boy scouts are always prepared. I had an extra blanket to prop up my head.
So I gave her my pillow.
No big deal.

We became friends that night.
I tell people that’s the night she fell in love with me.
Chivalry is strong in boy scouts.
A few months later, we were engaged.

Fate suggests we would have found a way.
But what if fate is a dirty stinking liar.

The decision to ask for a fourth wheel and to give away my pillow changed the rest of the story.

Our lives are filled with decisions.

Big decisions are Frostian.
Don’t forget the custodian of hospitality.

Covid-19’s impact on business and the decisions needed for survival are Frostian.
But don’t lose your way.

Survival depends on Frostian decisions.

Your customers have never been more important to you.

The pandemic has given every business an excuse to reduce services.
Employees get sick.
They are tired.
There are challenges with the closures of schools.

Products are made slower.
Services are scaled back.
Prices are increasing.
Kids aren’t learning.

It’s easy to blame Covid.
Just like it’s easy to blame the government, the weather, and any other thing you can’t change.

A lot has changed.

This will not:
A customer STILL needs to feel loved.
An employee STILL needs to feel loved.
A friend STILL needs to feel loved.
Our kids STILL need to feel loved.

Everyone makes small unconscious decisions.
They decide who they like and who they trust.
They like people who care about them.

Giving away my pillow has made all the difference.
And I wouldn’t change it for anything.

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