MattMunnell.com

(I wrote this years ago but current events brought it back to mind and I thought I would share again with slight edits)

I want to tell you a story about three men — Tege, Tesfa, and Manny.

Three very different lives. Two businessmen from Ethiopia. One baseball player from the U.S. All three successful in their own ways – at least for a while. But only two of them built something that lasted.

Main Story

Let’s start with Tege and Tesfa.

Sadly, Tesfa passed a couple of years ago. But for decades he ran a little shop that sold just about everything – food, clothes, hardware, and probably a few things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them on his shelf. His shop did well. Really well. He raised a family, built a future, and became one of those people in town everyone trusts.

Tege is from a different generation – probably around 50, in his prime. He owns multiple businesses. When you talk to him, he’s calm, confident, and funny. Life’s good, and it shows.

Now here’s what’s fascinating: both of these men from totally different eras, different markets, different economies gave me the exact same answer when I asked why they were successful.

One word.

Respect.

When I pushed for more, they just smiled. It’s simple, they said.

Respect those who work for you, and they’ll treat the business like it’s their own.
Respect those you do business with, and they’ll give you fair deals.
Respect those who buy from you, and they’ll keep coming back.

Simple. Profound. True.

Respect people.

And they mean it. These two men live in an area that, by our standards, would be considered very poor. But they are rich – not just financially, but in peace of mind, relationships, and trust.

Other shops around them rise and fall, but Tesfa stayed in business for 50 years. Tege is thriving in one of the toughest business environments imaginable.

And it all circles back to respect.

Here’s an example: every evening, one of Tege’s workers brings him the daily cash receipts – in a cloth bag. No registers, no electronic tracking. Just trust. I asked him if he had any idea how much should be in the bag.

He laughed and said, “Nope.”

“Are you worried?” I asked.

Again, “Nope.”

He explained that when you give respect, you don’t have to worry because the people who work for you treat your business like it’s their own.

That bag often holds between $5,000 and $20,000. And he never counts it.

Wow.

Then there’s Manny.

You probably remember Manny Ramirez – one of the best right-handed hitters Major League Baseball ever saw. The man could hit. But…he had issues. Not with the bat – that part was art – but with everything else.

“Manny being Manny” became a phrase. A shrug. A warning label.

He didn’t respect the game.
He didn’t respect his teammates.
He didn’t respect his gift.

And eventually, no matter how many home runs he hit, teams got tired of “Manny being Manny.” He was traded away again and again because talent alone can’t fix a culture.

So here’s the question – do you have Manny’s in your business…in your life (a “Manny” as your President)?

Or do you have a Tesfa or a Tege?

I’m sure we all have both. And maybe sometimes, if we’re honest, we are both.

But I was reminded of this as we listen to people defend our President – “it’s just Trump being Trump.”

Respect isn’t a policy. It’s a practice.
It’s not a slogan. It’s how you show up.

And here’s the truth – your culture, our culture, can’t afford “Manny being Manny” anymore. No matter how good someone’s results are, if they drain the team, break trust, or disrespect others, they’ll cost you more than they contribute.

So today’s question are we demanding respect, or allowing Manny’s?

Because one will help us grow. The other will slowly burn us down.

Quote of the Day:

“Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.”

One Win:
Remembering that simple truth from Ethiopia – respect builds everything that lasts.

One Question:
Who’s carrying your cloth bag tonight – and do they trust you as much as you trust them?