Numbers changing

We have changed the numbers to protect the innocent and pure. Everything else remains the same. I was reminded via interoffice memo this morning that our target demographic contains very few in this category, and that henceforth I should keep my opening statements directed towards the audience that actually reads this blog, and from whom (remember the directive came from the corner office) we might actually be able to manufacture some type of response, one that also includes the potential transfer of cash. Ah, commerce. Business. Value. The barter system without the hassles of bean counters and compound interest. We provide THIS and you provide THAT. And everybody lives happily after.

What we provide is somewhat of a grey area. We don't have a product per se. We sell no widgets. Our brand is widely unknown. Our market share oscillates between dismal and bleak. We are the table scraps of the health and fitness industry, the red-headed step-child of the training arena and the prodigal son of triathlon. Our niche is so small that is was suggested we re-brand to RCV(subatomic)man. We have a mission statement only a Mother could love and a logo made for radio. The company car is a bike and my travel budget, once decent enough to allow flea bags and subway sandwiches vanished faster than our 401K plan. Right now our overhead is to low what the pole vault is to the limbo stick. Still we press onward.

When this grand event began many years ago, I was told at the race brief that by doing what I love, the money would follow. I suppose I should take great delight and deep satisfaction in the fact that my speed and endurance has kept me in first place miles ahead of the guy toting those sacks of gold. Son, they said, the money will FOLLOW, not necessarily catch up and deliver. Oh, sorry.

So we changed the numbers. Not an accounting trick, no smoke and mirrors, no Ponzi schemes, nothing illegal. We just look at it differently, trying to control what we can and not fretting over what we can't. More innocence and more purity. The heart of the matter.

What we vend is the hope of a better me and a better you. We sell dreams. We relentlessly (as in every day) throw varying ingredients into the blender of motivation and have it puree a tasty concoction of information, inspiration and fun. I have in the past confessed to being a shameless thief when it comes to good ideas. When I hear one, it gets tested. It gets researched and it gets what the corner office likes to call due diligence. If it passes this litmus testing, it gets tossed into the mix. I am doing all that again as we communicate.

You always know the results, the methods, the pathology, practice and protocol. You also know the price.

We changed the numbers. Used to be (we said) you can do anything for five minutes. We proved that to be true. Used to be (we also once said) you can do anything for an hour. Proven affirmative. Used to be (we postulated) you can do anything for 90 minutes. Roger that. Time is not money. My training focus needs to be pure, innocent and dedicated that eternity depends on each nanosecond. Change the numbers, see for yourself. You can do anything for a lifetime.

Oh, and hey, no additional charge.

And that guy following me with the money? I take great joy in keeping him well behind. Something the corner office seems to have issues with. Oh well.

Pic: Pure snowflakes fall, business' fail, time marches on. Just keep the bakery open. Lynwood Center, and Pane d'Amore Bakery, open for business.