Thank Goodness It's Monday #370

MORE ON R-E-S-P-E-C-T

AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU AND ME 

Go ahead, sing it. I know you want to:

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Take Care – TCB. Oh --  

[Now, with the back-up singers ]

(Sock it to me, sock it to me,

 sock it to me, sock it to me)

 A little respect

(Sock it to me, sock it to me,

 sock it to me, sock it to me)

 Whoa, babe (Just a little bit)

 A little respect (Just a little bit)

For those who have just joined us: Last Monday’s message (TGIM #369) was titled “Get The Respect You Expect.” And when I handed it over for proofreading before publishing, (You don’t? You should. It may still be imperfect but far less than relying on a single set of author eyes) just a glimpse of that headline brought the comment –

 “Oh. Rodney Dangerfield?”

My reply: “No, Aretha and Otis,” and then I delivered the above chorus complete with creaky dance steps. (Sorry you missed it.)

But all that’s by way of pointing out: 

The line after the R-E-S-P-E-C-T spelling lesson -- and before the “Sock it to me’s” -- is often misquoted as – 

"Take OUT -- TCP"

or something similar.

Do/did you sing “Take OUT -- TCP”? And if you did, what did you think it meant?

Don’t feel too bad. “Take OUT -- TCP” is just a mishearing of the extraordinarily popular Aretha Franklin version.

But it does lead us toward a TGIM Takeaway or two.

First, let’s set the record (or 8-track tape, or cassette, of CD, or digital download;  pick the music delivery system of your generation) straight.

Spelling R-E-S-P-E-C-T and TCB are not present in the original Otis Redding versions. (He wrote it and had the first successful recording.) They were included in some of his later performances after Aretha’s breakout success with the song. There even seems to be some confusion over who first used TCB in the song.

And even “back in the day” (= mid 1960s) published sheet music which included the lyrics had the incorrect TCP line in them. 

TCB is an abbreviation which stands for Taking Care (of) Business -- widely used in African-American culture in the 1960s and spreading more broadly in the 1970s.

("TCB in a flash" later became a motto and signature phrase for Elvis Presley and his so-called Memphis Mafia.)

So in the song’s earliest days, TCB was somewhat less well-known which, in turn, provides a possible explanation for why it was not recognized by those who transcribed Franklin's words for sheet music.

Good story. And a fitting coda to a TGIM message about keeping promises. 

Want that R-E-S-P-E-C-T? 

TAKE CARE

B & P

Take Care of Business

AND

Take Care of Promises

Since we reviewed some TCP strategies last week, let’s move on to TCB today.

Do you Take Care -- TCB? 

Taking Care of Business isn’t just “work.” It’s tackling every day with a healthy dose of gonna-get-it-done attitude. Almost a personal philosophy, TCB is about – 

“Doing what one is meant to do;

coping with life as it is.”

Do you do that? Every day?

Take Care -- TCB describes an energy, fervor and inspiration that people exude when they take on the day with enthusiasm – like the performances of Aretha or Otis, the “business” they’re famous for. 

Enthusiasm is associated with zeal, focus and enjoyment. It spurs us to act immediately. It gives the extra energy to get through times of difficulty. It comes to pass when you believe in your mission and yourself. And –

It’s contagious.  Indifference turns off people, but enthusiasm is magnetic. If you have zest and enthusiasm you will attract zest and enthusiasm. 

TGIM Takeaway: The end result of coupling Taking-Care-of-Business enthusiasm with Taking-Care-of-Promises promise keeping is –

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: People don’t necessarily follow or implement the best ideas but they are attracted by ... are supportive of ... and tend to view more favorably, the folks who project enthusiasm, dynamism and positive energy. 

TGIM TCB/TCP IDEA IN ACTION: Couple your great ideas with enthusiasm and promises kept and you and those who you influence can soar to stratospheric success. 

Sock it to me!

Sock it to me!

(Just a little bit.) 

Geoff Steck   
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com

P. S. Since we’re in a Monday musical mode, let me put one more TCB musical moment in your mental playlist for the week. A decade after Otis, Randy Bachman penned the Bachman-Turner Overdrive big hit, “Taking Care of Business.” It’s opening lines, suitable for an August-in-NJ Monday morning: 

You get up every morning

 From your alarm clock's warning

 Take the 8:15 into the city

 There's a whistle up above

 And people pushin', people shovin'

 And the girls who try to look pretty 

And if your train's on time

 You can get to work by nine

 And start your slaving job to get your pay

 If you ever get annoyed

 Look at me I'm self-employed

 I love to work at nothing all day

And I'll be...

Taking care of business, every day

Taking care of business, every way

I've been taking care of business, it's all mine

Taking care of business. and working overtime

 Work out 

P.P.S. This Thursday – August 23, 2012 -- you can TCB and TCP and hone your sales skills and empower you on your way to amazing outcomes at: 

Business Breakthrough III

Attend … Build Skills … Network with likeminded go-getters

Get on board NOW, HERE 

(Sponsorship opportunities still available. Inquire Immediately.) 

I’ll be there.

If you are as well, maybe we can entice Eric to lead a Golden Oldies sing-along.