Everywhere I go...

I ask business owners, "How's it going? Have you noticed a drop-off? Are you okay?"  I'm constantly out there querying and prodding, even if I'm just out to buy moisturizer or gummy bears (I know, I"m OUT of control with the candy...). But I'm my own field researcher.

So today I stopped by a health club to convince them to let me join for pool priveleges for a measly 2 months.  I need to train for the Nautica Triathlon and need a pool for that amount of time until my own club's pool opens in June. So I took at stab at it, went to one of the top places in NYC, pulled the full Monty (Hall) and said, "Let's make a deal." 

At first they were a little shocked that I wasn't joining outright. Then they 'got' it.

"Tell you what..." was the beginning of the negotiation. It ended with them charging me a flat fee for the next 2 months which we both felt was reasonable. Here's the deal: if businesses are to survive this downturn, they better start bending before they break. We both got what we wanted: I get to swim and they get my money.

Everyone's happy. 

I love American business. When it's runs right, everyone wins.

--See you tomorrow!

Liz