Never in my life did I think I’d learn a life lesson from an ExerSaucer. But I did…and turns out, it’s a doozy.
Twice a year, my wife throws a designer kids consignment sale in the Bay Area. This season’s event was last week and it was awesome! The space she used was amazing…tons of natural light, beautiful hardwood floors, lots of foot traffic. It was nearly perfect – except for the back room.
The back room was dingy, even after we cleaned it. The lighting was gloomy – the paint, uninviting. It wasn’t a room you’d want to hang out in. Jennifer had hoped to not use that portion of the store, but the sale was so big she had no choice. She filled it with high chairs, cribs, rockers…along with 5 almost-new ExerSaucers.
For those of you non-parents, an ExerSaucer is the bouncy, twirly thing you put a kid in when you want to go to the bathroom or take a shower. They’re new parents’ secret weapon; their “in case of emergency” button – and at a certain age, the one thing they’d grab in a fire.
Over the next two days, hundreds of people shopped the sale, buying thousands of items. But through it all, the ExerSaucers remained untouched. I didn’t even see anyone lingering around them. It was so strange to me. I would have thought they’d have been among the first things to go. All these new mommies and no one needs some “me time”? Do you all have nannies? How will you get anything done? I was puzzled, but I began to reconcile myself to the thought that they just weren’t going to sell.
Towards the end of Day 2, the store was beginning to look picked over, so we decided to move things around. We cleared out the back room, pulling everything out into the happy space.
And that’s when it happened.
Not even minutes after we moved the ExerSaucers to their new home, a young couple stopped, looked at each one carefully and chose one to buy. Within thirty minutes, another one sold. And then another – and another. In less than two hours, shoppers had bought all five.
It blew me away. They went from worst to first in the blink of an eye! Really? Why? They were no less valuable or capable – no less good – in that back room. Yet hundreds of shoppers just passed them by. They overlooked them, distracted by what they felt in the ugliness – eager to get back out where it was pretty.
They needed the opportunity to consider them in a different light. And once they did, it made all the difference. They saw the value and they wanted it.
There’s so much to learn here. On the surface, of course it’s a lesson that presentation matters more than we think. If we want to sell something – if we want to sell ourselves, it’s up to us to present well. We can’t expect people to buy in – even if it’s a no brainer – until we do.
But there’s something more valuable here. The thing that has stuck with me is how resigned I was that it was over. Those ExerSaucers weren’t going anywhere. I’d accepted it. I mean, if they were, it would have happened already. There had been plenty of opportunity, but no interest. So I was absolutely shocked to see them succeed so easily after such a small tweak. I mean, I literally picked them up and moved them 20 feet.
But with that one small change, what was unlikely became possible – and what was possible became reality.
Where else could that be true for you and me?
Is our fate sealed, or is life waiting for us to not have our minds quite so made up?
Is it possible that a simple change could have a profound effect?
What if we took a look at things in a different light?
Perhaps our work could be more fulfilling.
And our friendships, more meaningful.
What if our marriages could be saved and even thrive?
What if we could make a great impact on the world around us?
Maybe we already do and just don’t see it.
Is your mind already made up?
Are you convinced of the outcome?
Do you know what you know?
Are you sure?
What might you see were you to take a step to look at things in a different light?
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wow. Just wow! Chance, I missed this when you first posted it – maybe because I don’t have kids and ExerSaucer consequently means nothing to me. But what a great message. So simple and so true.
THANKS, Alice! :) Yeah, there’s a lesson for ALL of us in that ExerSaucer. Glad you found it. Thanks for your kind words.
I spent the past hour arranging for myself Good Friday communion. At first I set it out on the dining room table, but something seemed off. The evening light pouring through the windows overpowered the soft glow of the candles. It looked looked no different than every other night’s meal. So I waited, and I walked. In the end, I took the whole shebang to my room, drew the shades, arranged the wine and bread just so, relit the candles and discovered a different light — an ambience just right for quiet communion. Thanks for the redirection!
I spent the past hour arranging for myself Good Friday communion. At first I set it out on the dining room table, but something seemed off. The evening light pouring through the windows overpowered the soft glow of the candles. It looked looked no different than every other night’s meal. So I waited, and I walked. In the end, I took the whole shebang to my room, drew the shades, arranged the wine and bread just so, relit the candles and discovered a different light — an ambience just right for quiet communion.
You always amaze me with your insight and ability to step back and figure out “stuff” that most people don’t even think about! I agree with your friend…I see a book or something along that line in your future! Thanks again Chance for opening our eyes to the possibilities of proper presentation!! :-)
Thanks, Dee – for faithfully reading and always encouraging.
Within the last few weeks, we made a move about 6 hours from my home town to beautiful Colorado Springs. Talk about a different light. Every moment of every day is filled with wonder and potential that has exceeded my dreams – BY FAR. The Lord demonstrated His knack for saving the best for last when He turned water to wine. In His “new every morning” faithfulness it keeps getting better and better and . . . . . He makes all things new, every day. It’s a different light that emanates from inside where the heart sings. It’s brilliant. So was your story. I pretty much feel like I was just moved out of the dingy back room, not that my home town is that. Just that it was not where we belonged for now. Thanks for sharing.
Colorado Springs is one of the greatest cities in the country!! Happy for you that you’re there. :)
Sharing tomorrow on Happiness Convert!
I wanted to tell you that at the art shows, it is common practice to change your whole booth around during the show. I’m always amazed to see how some of the same people walk by and ‘see’ something that they didn’t before, simply because it’s in a better place. I’m glad you wrote about the underlying spiritual truth going on here :)
That’s the thing that struck me. Over and over again – until “this” was gone, no one noticed “that”. But then it was the star…and then the next thing. It’s as if we were stocking new things throughout the sale. Blew me away to see the constant emerging! …And so it is with us. :) Thanks so much for sharing the post on HC! HEY, EVERYBODY – If you read this, check out Happiness Convert on Facebook. It’s a GREAT page to like. They’re constantly posting great things! One of my favorite things to find in my feed.
Great story. Presentation can be so crucial…in the ‘online world’ we always say, “Content is King!”…but we can never forget that “Presentation is Queen”. ;)
But, I appreciated your reflection on a possible deeper lesson. In my life so far, perseverance and willingness to adapt are critical to long-term success – whatever the endeavor.
“Perseverance and willingness to adapt are critical to long-term success.” LOVE that thought. Very true!