Welcome to the 21st century, now go home!

Hello to all, Welcome to the 21st century, now go home!
Well here we are the 21st NFSA meeting! Almost 21 years ago, September 1987, I answered an ad while couch surfing in Oxnard, CA. I went to a hotel, not a nice one, filed out an application and got a job. Not only a job, but a traveling job! Not only a traveling job, but a career. John Forbes was running the ad for Mike Sands and we drove to Anaheim, CA, where Mac Halls crew was there. There must have been 80 people in the hotel. I was amazed, dumb founded that so many people all ready knew something I didn’t. I didn’t know anything about the traveling magazine agent, I didn’t know about the NFSA. I didn’t care. I had a Job and I was 18! I had no way of just going on the internet, to find out anything. I didn’t care. I was an agent and that was cool with me. Later I became a working car handler. Later I became a manager. Later I became a company owner. I still didn’t care! I was making more money than I had ever dreamed. Somebody and few other somebody’s told me about the NFSA. I still didn’t care! What have they ever done for me, right? I was making money! Why should I care? I didn’t trust the guys on the NFSA board. Another 16 years went by, I still didn’t care. I was making money just doing my own thing. What did I care all you guys and gals didn’t do anything for me and I didn’t even care to talk to you. The NFSA never did anything for me. I was making money and that’s all that mattered. The NFSA never fought my battles, right.

That was a long time ago. We have watched a new world evolve around us. We have cell phones, lap tops, web sites, email and, the internet the worst, gift to the Traveling Sales Industry. The world got a lot smaller overnight. I still didn’t care, because I didn’t understand. I didn’t have a crystal ball I couldn’t see the future. Some of you are feeling the same way. Some of you are going to give up. Hey, what do you care, you have one leg in and one leg out. Some of you just need to give up and maybe get a nice web page on myspace.com (aka wab-space.com). Sound harsh, right.

Sandy Hall and Don Ficsh convinced me I should become a member. They showed me what we can do in numbers, they opened my eyes. They told me I could make an impact on the industry that I have grown to love. I met great people like Dan Smith, Ellen Buckly, Nathan Edwards, Don Scott and many others. People I had only heard of. I got to re-know people I already knew like Vinni Pitts, Bob Cecile, Karen Roberts, Dawn Russo, all great people and many others. I got to see what was going on in the industry. I was able to learn from people like you reading this. I was inspired to learn more about myself. It’s really a shame that it took so long. Maybe I could have been a stronger leader had I only took a minute understand that this Industry, the Traveling Sales Industry, was a lot bigger than me.

So many over the years have created such a conflict for themselves. They just continue to find the escape goat, so they can say “see there, that’s reason I not going to the next NFSA meeting” or “they didn’t like my actions so I’m going to resign, I’m going to show them!” Your not going to show anybody nothing, your going to be just like me, didn’t care, I’m making money. Your going to sit there and put an end to a great era. You’re the one who is going to put an end to a great association so that you can prove to everybody you were right!

Get smart people, you mean nothing to the world weather your in business or out of business. Some bad people want you out of business. Your helping them, help you out of business. The only voice in this Industry you have, your going riddle it full of holes, just so you can say “see I told you so” What a pitiful attitude. United we stand, divided we fall……… you know the rest of the story.

Just some thoughts for you…………………..Welcome to the 21st century, now go home!

Or maybe I will see you at the next NFSA meeting or not it’s your choice.

Have Fun,
Charlie Key
http://www.MyTraveJob.com
http://www.NFSA.com

PS don’t like my comments, email me prove me wrong. If do you understand what I’m saying bring somebody and still prove me wrong.