It's Not 8:00

Driving into town this morning, I mentally listed the various errands for the morning including going by the office, stopping at the ATM, going to the grocery store, getting the mail, and having my car washed. Placing these errands in order by their location and convenience and after stopping at the office, I found myself at the car wash place. The bays were open, workers were walking about, there was an air of energy and expectation, the business appeared ready to operate, ready to wash and vacuum cars, adding scents and tire dressings and various appealing cleansers to vehicles.

I happily pulled into an open bay, near to the vacuum hoses, and expected several workers to materialize as I hopped out of my truck ready to hand it over for the cleaning experience. But nobody came. I waited about 2 minutes and got the attention of a worker who came over with a scowl on his face. Using my immense charm, I smiled my best smile and said "Good morning, how are you?" With an indirect glance my way and somehow increasing his scowl, he said, "What time do you have?" I glanced at my phone to check the time and said it was 7:58. He said "Two more minutes" and muttered something nearly unintelligible about not giving any time to this place. I nodded and said nothing.

Two minutes later he smiled and said, "How may we help you?" I smiled back (actually tried to hold in a sarcastic laugh) and told him what kind of car wash I wanted. He proceeded to begin the process and I headed to the cashier to pay and then wait for my vehicle.

Supply and demand is an economic truth that in a true market economy is a driving force toward success. This story told has many applications and suppositions. Please allow me a moment of prophecy regarding the young man who refused to work two minutes before official opening time. I predict he will not keep his job much longer, or if he does, he will alter his general practice of performing at a minimum. Because the most productive workers are the ones who work beyond their pay scale and give more to the business than they take, a worker who gives less is likely to find himself unemployed. If a business employs workers who take more than they give, that business will likely find itself struggling. In light of this idea, I predict that if this car wash continues to employ workers who give the minimum, then there becomes an opportunity for another car wash business to be successful. For it stands to reason that in the world of supply and demand and in a world of trading money in exchange for a good or service, the one with the money holds the upper hand.

This is not always true, but is generally true that the service or good should be of greater value than the money exchanged. For today I accepted his impudence, I mean after all the business was officially closed. But I now search for an alternate way to have my car washed, perhaps even my own hand! Will the business suffer at all in the loss of my monthly $14.95? Doubtful. But if nothing else, I am reminded that my goal is to give more than I receive. For me, it just might require working a few minutes before the official opening time.