Sharing Success
Bert and Ernie sit in matching overstuffed armchairs in
the living room of their 123 Sesame Street basement apartment. On the
coffee table between them is a heaping pile of jellybeans, which Ernie
is meticulously dividing into two smaller piles, but the beans can't be
divide evenly. Left with one extra jellybean, Ernie places the glossy
red bean on Bert's pile, but realizes that that's not fair, and eats
the bean himself so that the two piles are even.
Ernie's behavior is the perfect example that human nature is inherently selfish unless otherwise taught. Sharing is not an instinct that we are born with, and there is no particular age when we magically become unselfish. The importance of sharing goes far beyond jellybeans and Sesame Street. Sharing is one of the most important lessons we learn as children. Our ability to compromise, cooperate, and communicate as adults, determines how successful we are in our relationships with others.
Knowledge is one of the easiest things we can share that will determine our own level of success. It's a simple concept, but it continues to baffle some people. In a world where secrets are carefully guarded, the floral industry has proven that sharing can be the key to personal success, as well as the success of the industry as a whole.
The Canadian floral industry has enjoyed a great deal of success by sharing knowledge. Take design shows for instance. Experienced floral designers willingly show off the techniques and ''trade' secrets that have led to their own success, while a captive audience quickly jots down notes and takes numerous photographs. Floral workshops are another prime example. A small group of florists and a well-known designer enjoy an intimate session where hands-on demonstrations are presented and mimicked. The knowledge and passion shared at these events can help to ensure you have the competitive edge you need when you return to your flower shop.
This issue of Canadian Florist is filled with fabulous examples of the Canadian floral industry sharing their success with fellow florists from across Canada and around the world. Blooming Together (page 24) describes the passion, talent, and friendship shared at the 23rd World Flower Council Summit held in Ottawa and Gatineau this past May with florist from 17 different countries. The 2006 Wedding Show 'Three Men & A Wedding' (Coast to Coast on page 9) was an incredible evening filled with fantastic designs, insightful techniques, and playful banter between Neville, Joel Marc and Paul.
Marianne Suess' shares the techniques she learnt at the floral workshop she attended with international designer Andreas Verheijen (page 32), and you'll find a recap of Flowers Canada 60th Anniversary Celebration (page 28), which was a memorable event where knowledge was shared between recent graduates and veteran florists.
Your fellow florists are your greatest assets when dealing with challenges you'll undoubtedly face in the future. The success of the industry is directly tied to the success of every flower shop across the country. Of course there will always be some florists who insist on hoarding all the jellybeans for themselves, but those are the people who tend to resist any sort of change, and eventually disappear without leaving their mark on the industry.
So next time you grab a handful of jellybeans, consider sharing a few with your peers. Think of each different colour of jellybean as a new design technique. Trade a green one for a yellow one, and a white one for a black one, and a red one for a pink one. And we haven't even considered Jelly Belly jellybeans, which are available in over 50 different colours. The possibilities are endless.
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