– Clarence Holm As we scroll through thoughts held dear,
Reliving dreams with well-worn veneers.
We dance with spirits who dwell in the posts,
Providing backgrounds to our playful boasts.Like shoppers gazing through December windows,
Our words behave like dancing mind shadows.
Dreaming of a treasured Christmas morn
Thoughts lost all twisted, tossed, and shorn.Solace we seek as we gaze on traditions,
In pursuit of reveries, some recalled ambitions.
Our stage is set inward, internally connecting,
Blindly defending, old wishes projecting.Deeply we sip from our thoughts in this dream,
Quietly we ended our voyage midstream.
Flushing from memories, left out and stripped bare.
Waking from thoughts remembered and shared.
Dreaming
History of Accounting
Long ago there was a glen surrounded by a cool mountain stream that could only be accessed by crossing an ancient stone bridge. This bridge was the home of a family of trolls that derived their income from the sheep that were driven across the bridge to graze on the grass in the glen by shepherds that worked for surrounding small farms. For each sheep that crossed over the bridge the trolls collected a small fare.
Because the fare was so insignificant, the troll would have to keep records of each sheep and which farm owned it. At the end of each month they could collect for the number of times a farm’s sheep crossed the bridge.
For many years, the trolls kept track by placing small rocks for each sheep in piles that was assigned to particular farms. At the end of the month they would count the rocks and send each farm a bill for each of their sheep that crossed the bridge to graze on the lush grass.
This system worked very well for centuries until one day, the king of the country decided he wanted to build a new palace. His wife decided that she wanted the castle to be built of stone, so he proclaimed that henceforth all loose rocks were to be delivered to his property to be used for his new home.
The trolls were beside themselves! How would they ever be able to manage their business without rocks? Their business would go broke.
Luckily the trolls recalled hearing of a magician that kept track of all of the king’s subjects that passed through fences. (For that was how the King taxed his subjects, each time they went through a gate they were charged a fee!) So the trolls called on the magician to inquire on how he did it.
The mighty magician explained that he maintained a list of all peasants. Each time one went through a gate he would place a mark. These marks were tabulated once a month for each peasant. Then each peasant was handed a “Gate Bill”
The trolls were excited! They wanted lists that would work for them too. So the magician created lists for them and named them “Spread Sheeps”.
And that is how, even to this day, we keep track of sales and receipts.
Introduce Your Pooka
Over 60 year ago Elwood P. Dowd introduced the world to Harvey, an invisible 6’ 3.5” pooka. For those that are not fans of eclectic motion pictures, a pooka is an invisible mystical Celtic creature who is drawn to societal oddballs. Elwood P. Dowg spends his day shuffling through life with his constant companion, whom he introduces to all that will listen at every occasion.
While the film has many great lines and scenes, one of the best is when Elwood sister, Veta explains to her daughter how anyone could possibly believe in an invisible rabbit.
“Myrtle Mae, you have a lot to learn and I hope you never learn it”.
Many independent insurance agents operate much like Elwood P. Dowd. They plod along through their live with their own “pooka” (In the case of these insurance agents a “value” proposition) In order to stay in business, they must convince customers of the existence of the invisible benefits of service. To flourish, they need to find and identify prospects that can see value. As with Elwood, the insurance agent soon finds that the world is divided between those that can believe and those that can’t.
Service and value may not seem to be able to blow away the competition, but their irresistible attraction will serve you well. As Elwood explained to Dr. Chumley,
“Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, “In this world, Elwood, you must be” – she always called me Elwood – “In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.” Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”
Never be afraid to introduce your pooka. If you don’t truly believe, no one else will either.