As The Prop Turns…A BLOG

As a former stockbroker, I have taken pride in my “perceived” understanding of business models. I spent years at a desk reading about companies, managements and economics. Now that I am “in the sea” of commerce directly, the lens through which I see these topics has changed. Let it be known that there are no “rosy” tones in my lens anymore. The acid wash of pure commerce cuts clearly through the hot air, myths and untruths that Wall Street actors are so adept at applying. No longer a theoretical businessman, I am now purely and simply a warrior of commerce.

With that out of my system, here I sit and write whilst compressors, grinders, blowers and workers toil at their tasks. The compressors, god bless them, never complain except for the occasional squeeling belt or clack from lack of lubrication. The grinders whirrr along so long as they have current flowing across their everwaning brushes. The workers toil so long as they have customers to help and lest not forget the sangria of the entire system, pay, mula daniro.

The very real estate that I am sitting on right now, this valuable land, owned by all, controlled by few, allows us to carry on with our daily labors.  Many(99%) of the occupants of our “great reef” have little or no comprehension of the burden’s this real estate bears upon me.  We can start with the land itself, abused and tortured since it was exposed and shaped shortly after the Kennedy dynasty ended.  Having not washed into the sea, it still “holds us up” and allows us to perform our duties but at significant costs to all involved.  These costs both direct and latent acrete over time to points of  incalculable measure.  The operator’s and customer’s combined greed, environmental disrespect and plain ignorance have added to these costs.

Slowly over time, many “sharecroppers” have attempted to mold things in their own vision with little or no capital with no great affect at all. Buildings were erected, torn down and subsequantly rebuilt. Piers, docks and cranes were lovingly planned and installed with minimal budgets and yet if you add up all the costs for improvements that were capitalized on these tiny family owned balance sheets, the totals would be in the millions of current US dollars. All of this, to “eek” out a living on the waterfront. To serve the customer better.

Ah yes, the customer. The single most important part of  this equation. Boat yards are funny places when it comes to observing the customer/proprietor relationship. This relationship is unique in that I know of no other business model that gives the customer so much flexibility ie; the ability to stand “in the work area, “under” heavy loads, and “on” yard equipment. I don’t know many restaurant owners who allow their patrons to ” cook” their own dinner in the kitchen, Worse yet, hire their own chef to prepare their meals in the proprietors kitchen! If I went to my local Jiffy Lube and asked the manager if I could change my own oil with the oil I brought along, he would ask me what the hell I was smoking!

So I vent!    Looking out my window to survey et al, I see strange cooks in my kitchen and customers lugging their own oil under the rack. But who am I to complain you ask? True, so true. After all, I am the caretaker and I can change the rules.  The model needs changing, but the changes I am contemplating will surely disrupt the space time continuom as it pertains to age old traditions at the water’s edge. 

So change is in the air along with wood, paint dust and the sound of commerce plugging along ever so slowly here on these not so virgin grounds.

Signing off!