Back in July 2007, my phone rang, and a woman on the other end said: “Now that you’ve announced your retirement date from the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, we think you’re just the guy to start writing a blog for marine dealers in our Trade Only Today. Sound interesting?”
The caller was Lois Caliri, then editor-in-chief of Soundings Trade Only.
“Let me get back to you,” I replied.
I remember well that I didn’t want to tell her I didn’t quite know what a blog was, although I was sure in my childhood I must have gotten shots for it. After all, in ’07, blogs weren’t all that common. Still, some media outlets, particularly leading business publications such as Business Week, were adding blog content to their online offerings. So Caliri envisioned Soundings Trade Only as the boating industry leader in presenting content through blogging twice weekly.
Obviously, I called her back and agreed to give it a shot. She elected to name the blog Dealer Outlook, and so began what is now 16 years of writing twice-weekly posts. Perhaps the greatest appeal was that Caliri gave me carte blanche to pick topics. I’ve tried to include usable news and encouraging ideas that can help improve the retail side of our industry and the experiences of our customers.
Since Caliri moved on, I have been fortunate to work for several outstanding editors. Like those who preceded them, including Bill Sisson and Michael Verdon, it’s my pleasure to now work under editor-in-chief Gary Reich and deputy editor Michael LaBella, who always make me look better with their professional editing. To them, special thanks.
And to all who regularly read this blog every Tuesday and Thursday, I am sincerely grateful. I admit that while there are many days I’d rather be fishing than writing, knowing you read my posts means it’s always at the top of my to-do list.
And speaking of to-do lists, have you ever added something to yours that you’ve already completed just so you can have the pleasure of crossing it off? I do!
The problem with to-do lists is that they only include things we need to do. After all, isn’t that the reason we write lists in the first place? What they typically do not include are tasks we choose to do.
Many years ago, Linda and Richard Eyre’s book Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There! suggested a way to make the daily to-do list a lot more palatable. In addition to the day’s obligations and tasks, they recommended adding one item that you want — and choose — to do for yourself.
I’ve been following their advice ever since, and it works. If nothing else, it makes my to-do list seem more manageable because I have something to cross off daily — even when I haven’t completed anything else on the list. If you’re a list-maker, give it a try.
Today, one thing’s for sure: I’ll be keeping Dealer Outlook at the top of my to-do list for a while longer.
