photo credit: Pocheco

This story has been around since the recession of the 1980s.  If you were old enough back then you will remember that people thought they were lucky to get a mortgage rate of 17%.  This story is a good reminder that we can choose not to participate in this recession.

The Hot Dog Vendor

“On the side of a road lived a man who sold hot dogs. He was an uncommon man. This man was hard of hearing and so he could not to listen to his radio. He also had difficulty with his vision so he could not read the newspaper or for that matter watch TV. But he did know how to sell….hot dogs….great hot dogs.

He set up signs about his great hot dogs and pitched them by the highway. He also stood by the side of the road and announced and asked people, ‘Hey Mister…Ms., do you want to buy great hot dogs?’

The beauty is that crowds formed just to buy from this man. So, he had to increase the meat and bun order to take care of the loads of people. Imagine he had to buy a bigger hot dog stand. Business was certainly booming.

His son even came home from college to help him out with his business. It was at this point that his son said, ‘Dad, haven’t you heard we’re in a bad economic recession. The job market is horrid, and our country is in really dire straits.’ The father was surprised but thought….’Geez, my son has been to university, and he listens to the radio, reads newspaper, and watches TV. The kid should know. ‘

So, the father then decides to cut down his meat and bun order. He traded his big hot dog stand for a smaller one, and proceeded to reduce his advertisement on the highway. Instantly sales dropped like lead. Reflecting on this situation, he turns to his son and says, ‘You’re right son. We’re definitely in the middle of a big recession.’”

In the last few months I’ve become much more careful about what I put in my head.  “You become like what you focus your eyes upon.”– Bill Johnson, pastor.  Another great quote:

If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you are right.