I was sitting in my pew Sunday and our pastor started off Advent by reading the Christmas story from the second chapter of Luke. After the first verse, something clicked and well, this is just how my mind works and I can't control it — and even though I am Baptist I have made an appointment for confession. This Sunday morning thoughts wandered off as he read...

And it came to pass, the IRS sent out a decree from Washington that all should be taxed. (This first occurred when the government first figured they could get away with it.) And all the farmers went to their home dealerships to see if they could avoid the tax.

And farmer Joe went up to his home dealership because it was of his brand lineage to find the avoidance of tax with his espoused wife, Mary, being great with QuickBooks. And while they were there, the day was accomplished that the tractor should be delivered. And they pre-delivered it and then brought forth the newborn tractor and wrapped it in a soft tarp for there was no room for it in the maxed-out machinery shed.

And there were in the same county nosey neighbors keeping watch over their farms by night, and day. And lo, there was a semi with a Lowboy and the glory of the shiny tractor's LED showed upon them and they were Sower afraid. 

And a dealership's salesman following behind stopped and said, "Behold I bring good tidings of great horsepower, which is available to all farmers who qualify for the section 179!"

And suddenly there were light bulbs going off over all their heads and they came with haste and found the tractor wrapped in a tarp out all by itself.

And when they had seen it, they wondered about the things the salesmen had told them.

But the farmer's wife Mary kept all her account savings and pondered them in her heart. 

And the farmers all returned to their own dealerships and accountants glorifying all the possible avoidance of taxes. 

It was at that point my wife, who had noticed my glazed eyes and silly smile, ended the simile or homily that was not apropos for that time in the pastor's sermon with her patented sharp elbow. 

That elbow is usually relegated to a first tiny snore. 

It was then with a feeling of guilt that I took her bible and re-read Luke 2 — while our pastor continued to wax eloquently, and got tickled again — and got The Elbow again.  So, as I have asked many times before, what does this have to do with being in the farm equipment business? I suppose that after over 50 years in the profession we see everything in the light of our labors, right or wrong. 

This Christmas season may each of us try to focus less on the business and more on the family. Yes, we have to work but let us strive to be more giving of our precious time.  Let us be more concerned about our employees' and customer issues and not so involved in market share and sales. Let us give them some gift in the way we were  given the Gift from these passages (that I probably made sacrilege of and hope for forgiveness for). It will not cost us a penny — it will pay, in many ways.  

After all, as my pastor concluded, it worked out pretty well for Mary and Joe.

Told from the perspective of an in-the-trenches owner/operator — Tim Brannon of B&G Equipment, Paris, Tenn. — Equipment Dealer Tips, Tales & Takeaways shares knowledge, experiences and tips/lessons with fellow rural equipment dealerships throughout North America. Covering all aspects required of an equipment dealership general manager, Brannon will inform, entertain and provide a teachable moment for current — and future — leaders within equipment dealerships.

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