Success in a used bookstore might be said to arrive when the number of books that go out the door surpasses the number that come in. I'm just not sure if that day ever arrives. So I've learned to define it a little differently.
Success is when someone comes in wanting a specific book and you know you have it and you actually find it.
Success is when someone brings in books to donate and there's not a single set of encyclopedias or any Reader's Digest abridged editions to be seen.
Real success is when you accept that this won't happen often.
Success is when the hairdresser who works next door comes over because he can't think of the name of a book that has a word like "fool" in the title, written by someone whose name might start with "T," and you manage to come up with "Confederacy of Dunces."
Success is when a woman with a cane holds on to a free standing bookcase for support and they both remain standing.
Success is when the little boy who stops by after school for a free piece of gum tells you he's going to buy a book tomorrow and comes in the next day with a dollar. "What book can I buy?" he wants to know. And because it's your store, you can tell him that his dollar will buy any book he wants.
Success is when the elderly Asian man, who speaks very little English but checks the free books outside every day on his walk, finally ventures in.
Real success is when he starts coming in regularly and chats a bit.
Success is when the two little girls who come in every day bring you a plastic bracelet, a Wonder Woman keychain and two handmade paper stars when they move away.
Success is when someone comes in and wants to buy eight copies each of "Our Bodies, Ourselves," "The Purpose Driven Life" and "The Da Vinci Code."
Success is when the conservatively dressed woman who wanted a recommendation raves about the book you recommeneded and doesn't seem to have minded the bit of extraneous sex that you were worried about.
Success is when someone brings a stack of books to the checkout, finds out you don't take credit cards and goes out to their car to hunt for a check..
Real success is when they find a check.
Success is a day when not a single check writer has to ask what the name of the store is.
Success is when someone tells you that they're not liking their "Nook" all that well.
Success is when someone from out of town says that they wish they had a store like this back home.
Real success is when someone local says they're glad to have a store like this in town.
Success is when a man comes in, having just arrived on a plane where he left the book he was reading with one chapter remaining. You find the book and show him to a chair where he can finish it.
Success is when you overhear a three year old little girl tell her mom that she loves this library.
Success is when someone comes in and asks if you have any old sets of encyclopedias. Yes, in fact, you do.
Real success is when they're also looking for some excellent condition Reader's Digest abridged volumes.
Success is a day when you take in the rather minimal amount of money that you set as a daily goal.
It doesn't always happen, even on successful days.
Success is when someone comes in wanting a specific book and you know you have it and you actually find it.
Success is when someone brings in books to donate and there's not a single set of encyclopedias or any Reader's Digest abridged editions to be seen.
Real success is when you accept that this won't happen often.
Success is when the hairdresser who works next door comes over because he can't think of the name of a book that has a word like "fool" in the title, written by someone whose name might start with "T," and you manage to come up with "Confederacy of Dunces."
Success is when a woman with a cane holds on to a free standing bookcase for support and they both remain standing.
Success is when the little boy who stops by after school for a free piece of gum tells you he's going to buy a book tomorrow and comes in the next day with a dollar. "What book can I buy?" he wants to know. And because it's your store, you can tell him that his dollar will buy any book he wants.
Success is when the elderly Asian man, who speaks very little English but checks the free books outside every day on his walk, finally ventures in.
Real success is when he starts coming in regularly and chats a bit.
Success is when the two little girls who come in every day bring you a plastic bracelet, a Wonder Woman keychain and two handmade paper stars when they move away.
Success is when someone comes in and wants to buy eight copies each of "Our Bodies, Ourselves," "The Purpose Driven Life" and "The Da Vinci Code."
Success is when the conservatively dressed woman who wanted a recommendation raves about the book you recommeneded and doesn't seem to have minded the bit of extraneous sex that you were worried about.
Success is when someone brings a stack of books to the checkout, finds out you don't take credit cards and goes out to their car to hunt for a check..
Real success is when they find a check.
Success is a day when not a single check writer has to ask what the name of the store is.
Success is when someone tells you that they're not liking their "Nook" all that well.
Success is when someone from out of town says that they wish they had a store like this back home.
Real success is when someone local says they're glad to have a store like this in town.
Success is when a man comes in, having just arrived on a plane where he left the book he was reading with one chapter remaining. You find the book and show him to a chair where he can finish it.
Success is when you overhear a three year old little girl tell her mom that she loves this library.
Success is when someone comes in and asks if you have any old sets of encyclopedias. Yes, in fact, you do.
Real success is when they're also looking for some excellent condition Reader's Digest abridged volumes.
Success is a day when you take in the rather minimal amount of money that you set as a daily goal.
It doesn't always happen, even on successful days.