What Does the Wedding Profession Have To Do With Saving The Planet?
by Larry Williams
At first glance, this has all the makings of a good joke. Unfortunately there is no punch line and for many, there is nothing funny about it. I believe everyone can probably empathize with the plight of many social conditions that exist within our society and yes, our planet. But with so many of us focusing so intently upon our businesses and customers . . . why do some people in our industry continue to spam one another with non-business related e-mails that are annoying and distracting? Sadly, the internet has made it possible to “Save the planet and taint your reputation” all with one click of the mouse.
We’ve all experienced it . . . the chain letter that comes directly from Bill Gates that all but guarantees a sum of $48,982 to those who participate by forwarding his e-mail. Trust me on this one . . . Mr. Gates not only already has your e-mail address, but could probably make your mortgage payment, notify your next of kin and shampoo your dog with one phone call. From greenhouse emissions to Greenpeace . . . we are constantly innundated with social-related e-mails that are meant to tug on our heartstrings and get a reaction. In some cases, these e-mails will even elude to “bad luck” if the recipient doesn’t forward it to other people in their address book.
It would almost be comical if it wasn’t so serious. What’s more amazing is that some of these e-mails actually come from members of our own wedding industry. What possesses a wedding professional to be so moved by an endangered animal, global warming or the latest piece of congressional legislation – to assume others in their address book would like this brought to their attention?
These types of e-mails have become as annoying as unwanted telemarketers who now have managed to reach us by cell phone. I suppose I am bringing this up because, quite frankly, nobody ever has! For as long as anyone can remember, there has been an unspoken decorum associated with professional business that has respected privacy and the unwanted mixture of business and pleasure. Such previously respected values have all but gone-out-the-window with the advent of e-mail. It is bad enough to receive these annoying e-mails from annonymous sources . . . but when these e-mails come from the very people you respect within the wedding industry – it can leave a tainted perception of their dedication, your privacy and their ability to be a trusted confidant who has your best interests at heart.
This is not to say that valuable business-related information should not be relayed to the people in your address book. To the contrary, I often find it refreshing to receive e-mails that pertain to business. However, when I receive e-mails with photographs of potato chips and cows spots that resemble popular products, religous prayer requests for Britney Spears little sister or the latest manner in which I might protect the endangered spotted grey owl whose habitat is being systematically compromised by the illegal butchering of the rain forest in South America . . . then I can only honestly say “enough is enough!”
I truly believe it is possible for your reputation to be adversely affected by engaging in this sort of activity. The next time you have an urge to “save the planet” by passing along an e-mail to everyone in your address book, please carefully consider your fellow colleagues. This doesn’t mean that they do not care about social issues. But business is business and distractions of this kind are no different than rushing to your telephone only to find that the person on the other end of the line is actually a telemarketer – and a recording, at that! Here’s a novel approach . . . if you have trouble telling someone “no” to this type of behavior – “copy and paste” this page to them. Maybe they’ll get the hint.
Save your reputation – carefully evaluate what you are about to do, before you hit SEND!
