I Have Some Bad News by David Ledoux

I have a bit of bad news today.

The Mr. Submarine shop at the corner of 24 and 7 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada closed this week.

Why should you care? Because I missed out on an opportunity. Perhaps you can learn from my mistake....

I used to eat at that place at least 2-3 times a month for 4 years. I figure that's over 100 meals there. It was on my 'route' between Guelph, Waterloo and London. Back then I was running the roads, driving the miles and drawing the circles building my network marketing business. At one point I was doing three hotel meetings a week along that lonely stretch of highway. I wanted to be a success in mlm so bad...

I got to be friendly with the owner. She was a nice lady, European I think. Maybe Portuguese or Italian. I never bothered to get her name, but she would always say hi when I stopped in, and I would always say hi back.

I figured I spent about a grand in her sandwich shop. 100 meals, everyone of them identical. A pizza sub, bag of Doritos and a large black coffee for the road. I gave her a thousand bucks, and never once talked to her about business.

She probably paid over a $100,000 for her sub shop. And quietly, without any media coverage or fan fair, one day she went bankrupt. She poured 90 hours a week for how many years, only to lose everything?

I'll never forget the day I pulled into the parking lot. It was empty. My brain didn't register. The lights were out. It still didn't register. The place was empty. I thought, 'Wait a minute...something's different.'

It was only when I read the Letter of Eviction on the door did it finally sink in. I stood there, the January snow softly falling, numb with disbelief.

For four years, over 100 times, I could have shown her a better way. She watched me come in first in jeans, then slacks, then $1500 suits over the years. Driving first a rusty old van, then a VW Passat, then a Jaguar, then a new Mercedes.

She would smile sometimes, and say, 'You look nice tonight. Business good, yes?' and I would always nod and grin.

Why didn't I show her my business? She could have made enough to stave off bankruptcy, or even sell the shop and stay at home. No more 90 hours a week on her feet. 15 hours a week, for 3 or 4 years, and she'd have a beautiful residual income.

When I realized my selfishness, the feeling of guilt was nearly overwhelming. I know you and I can't save the world. But don't we have an obligation to at least show good people that there is 'a better way"?

I wish I had just opened my mouth. Even the pain of hearing the word "NO" can't compare with the guilt of never saying a word.

I would spare you the same...

Until next time,

David Ledoux