Mob Rules

Although this isn't particularly about business, it is about klass.

We live in a quaint town that has a farmer's market every Saturday and tries to find other ways to bring more tourists to our area along Lake Michigan. It just so happens that today the city hosted a "Harvest Fest." Local merchants had sales. A petting zoo was assembled in the streets. Eateries were handing out samples. The weather was a fabulous 80 degrees - which in the Midwest in October is, by my standards, the makings of a wonderful day!

My husband, two kids and I ventured down to town and were having a fabulous time taking in the sights and smells. We stopped to admire a man's intricate wood carvings. His work was incredible. He obviously had the patience of a saint or a kindergarten teacher! While in that moment, a lady was at a 4-way stop allowing pedestrians to cross when an overly frustrated man harshly honked his horn. It was as if a record scratched. The crowd quickly grew irate at this man because he was using his horn, breaking the beauty of this Rockwell moment for all of us. Come on, mister. Ease up a bit! But he honked again. By this time, the wonderfully peaceful crowd let this impatient man have an earful. It was as if the lady in front of him was a feeble person we all needed to save from this tortuous man.

Although the crowd was polite with their gestures, telling this man to just relax. He didn't get it. In his hurried ways, he just screamed back at the crowd telling everyone how inept the lady in front of him was at turning. In this moment - that literally was a couple of minutes at the most - I saw a mob form for all of the right reasons and handle themselves with klass, helping to preserve the positive memory of such a wonderful day for all that was standing near that street corner.

I learned the virtue of patience in today's klass!