BOSS's Blog - a Florist's Rant

With all the talk the last few days, it got me to thinking, and I thought I'd just jot down a few thoughts as to where I see myself going this next year and lay out for myself, and anyone else who cares where I see me-myself-and I heading in 2010 and beyond.

Some folks that know me, know I try to be helpful in anyway I possibly can, I want the best for everyone and anyone I cross paths with and if it takes me helping them to achieve that then that's my mission for that moment in time. The Lord has blessed me with working with homeless people for one thing. They are so grateful for the most insignificant hand up (notice I did not say hand out). Things we so take for granted like a simple hug and a kind word, sharing with them that in spite of their (and my) brokenness that they are loved, and that God really does have a plan for them. Something as simple as a pair of mittens on a cold day, a warm meal and a place to lay their weary body can make such a difference in a life that it is beyond my imagination that the Lord continues to suply all that I need to work with to help others.

As I sit here this morning I am so thankful for so many things. I look at the business around me, and at the generations that it took to build it to the point that it is at and thank those that went before me.

FlowerChat too is a blessing to me. I have been here since the first minute the site went live, my member number is 2, not that that is important at all. I have seen online communities begin, flourish, wither and die many times in the last 10 years and I know first hand how much work is involved to keep a viable living entity alive. I am dedicated to helping see it continue to live, grow and move forward.

Thus: My mission

My mission is first to be a good husband to my wife Cherie and te leading head of household the Bible says I am to be. Leading through love, firmness and kindness the people in my life the Father has seen fit to put in my charge.

Secondly I am to be a businessman, taking care of what I have been blessed with, by the previous generations of my family and my own hard work over the last 40 years in the flower business. I am charged with responsibilities to my God, myself and my employees in that order and I am to make decissions I feel are in the best interest of my business, knowing that I am only the caretaker and that it really belongs to God and is here for His glory.

Next, my community. I have aspirations to build another homeless shelter as we are beyond capacity today. I also want to build, fund and manage a facility for recent parolees and those being released from prison back into society that need assistance with learning, loving and living a faith filled life. I want to see everyone succeed and if I am to help them, I ask God to cross our paths, open our eyes and ears and give us the means to do what it is He wants us to do.

Lastly, FlowerChat and the flower industry. Here too I feel the will to make a difference in the industry. It's different than the feeling for community above as I know many many people in the flower biz personally and I truly want to see them succeed as well. We have seen in a very short time our industry raped by those we thought would protect it. We have seen them morph into something no one could envision 15 years ago and the wolves have dropped their sheeps rags for cash cows that continue to put florists into bondage.

Someone has to step up to the plate and work to make a difference or 75% of all florists will cease to even exist. We have seen for years what we get when no one takes the lead, we get page after page of talk, inuendos and finger pointing without any action taken to move forward.

I want to put forth efforts that will gather thousands of florists to inform, teach, learn from and grow. I want to put an end to Big Brother Flower Company and work to see that we are profitable first, and then maybe there will be room for an overseer. I want to interconnect MAS, FAS, FloristWare, Visual Ticket and any other independent technology in the industry to see that florists are served and thus consumers too. I want to produce offerings that can help florists like calendars, containers and a unified nation/world wide selection guide that we can all use, trust and rely on. We really do not need 4 different ones, I think one is enough. There is of course much more, like consumer advertising, national donation promotions and several other items floating in my head that may or may not be worthy.

One thing I do know, for 7 years now, FlowerChat has been a faithful place where I can go to live, laugh, love, cry, be prayed for and find peace of mind, industry news and even a fight or two. I intend to see that it continues long past my time. It's certainly not about me. It's about doing something that will make a difference for generations to come hopefully and something that will flourish.

There are several "free" places on the internet for florists to hang out. you have Proflorist Forums, you have the SAF board, the old FloristBoard, Flowersandcents.org and probably some I don't even know about. None, are doing anything to make a difference in the industry, these free sites do not have any plans to help me, you or anyone succeed in this turbulent time, and in general, free is free and what it's worth.

Now I know you probably expected me to blast everyone for their thoughts this last few days, and I'll be the first to admit I have had to hold my tongue, fingers and even toes a few time. We are seeing once again, a few people continually banter about the proverbial ball, without accomplishing anything and certainly not moving forward. Once again, the dead horse is being beaten. We're getting no where.

Some of us have decided to move on, some have paid our money and put our faith in the future, some have chosen to ride the ride and some have chosen to complain. I don't have time to debate the merits of our decision I have work to do to moe our industry forward.

So, finally... here it is: @@@@ or get off the pot.

*This is my personal opinion and in no way reflects the position of FlowerChat, te administrators or any other member of the community