Years ago when I wasn't quite as boring as I am today I attended the SHOT Show almost every year . I shot on an archery companies factory staff and every year I walked around in a ridiculous shirt with lots of sewn on patches and gawked at the celebrities, athletes , new goodies , and models in camo skimpy swimwear .
One of the trips was pretty much the same as another , new stuff ...same dead tired feet after a couple days .
I honestly was so wrapped up in archery I didn't notice the gun booths as much except for the Ruger booth . I am a huge fan of the Ruger #1. I was looking at them and over towards the wall at one of the shows was this great big dude ...As big as I am now but taller . Looking both uncomfortable and had kind of an air of authority to him . He made me think of my grandfather a LOT ...It was the only reason he caught my attention. Took me a minute but I realized it was Bill Ruger . No one was talking to him and he appeared to be just fine with that . He was kinda just people watching , and looking at his employees kissing ass and glad handing everyone.
Well my Dumb ass never met a stranger so i walked over introduced myself and shook his hand . He was really nice but kinda gruff i guess you would say . We talked for close to an hour , about just guy stuff.. Shooting , hunting , cars , which bikini model was the hottest . But during our conversation he said 3 things that to this day have always stuck with me .
DONT EVER BE AFRAID TO SPEAK YOUR MIND , BUT BE WILLING TO ADMIT IT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG .
Something only a guy who's Been wrong and Right a lot could relate to .
QUALITY COST MONEY , IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEEDYOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW MUCH QUALITY YOUR CUSTOMER IS WILLING TO PAY FOR .
That one really hits home with what I do for a living ( Quality Control ) and the last one is the one ive always kinda had stuck in my mind .
MY NAME IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE GUN THAT YOU PERSONALLY BOUGHT , PEOPLE DONT GIVE A DAMN HOW GOOD THE REST ARE .
That is the one that best summed up my Dads approach to working on things . A million well done jobs don't mean a damn thing to the guy who's gun you just screwed up .
Anyway My Grandfather been on my mind lately , and so had that conversation... Thought I would share it with you guys .
The other thing he said to me Ive never decided if it was a compliment or not
....After a while during our conversation he looked at me and said ..." DONT MUCH INTIMIDATE YOU DOES IT ?"....and then went right back to talking . .......
Ive never been quite sure sure if he was saying I had balls , or I was too stupid to realize he wanted to be left the hell alone .??? Lol
One of the trips was pretty much the same as another , new stuff ...same dead tired feet after a couple days .
I honestly was so wrapped up in archery I didn't notice the gun booths as much except for the Ruger booth . I am a huge fan of the Ruger #1. I was looking at them and over towards the wall at one of the shows was this great big dude ...As big as I am now but taller . Looking both uncomfortable and had kind of an air of authority to him . He made me think of my grandfather a LOT ...It was the only reason he caught my attention. Took me a minute but I realized it was Bill Ruger . No one was talking to him and he appeared to be just fine with that . He was kinda just people watching , and looking at his employees kissing ass and glad handing everyone.
Well my Dumb ass never met a stranger so i walked over introduced myself and shook his hand . He was really nice but kinda gruff i guess you would say . We talked for close to an hour , about just guy stuff.. Shooting , hunting , cars , which bikini model was the hottest . But during our conversation he said 3 things that to this day have always stuck with me .
DONT EVER BE AFRAID TO SPEAK YOUR MIND , BUT BE WILLING TO ADMIT IT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG .
Something only a guy who's Been wrong and Right a lot could relate to .
QUALITY COST MONEY , IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEEDYOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW MUCH QUALITY YOUR CUSTOMER IS WILLING TO PAY FOR .
That one really hits home with what I do for a living ( Quality Control ) and the last one is the one ive always kinda had stuck in my mind .
MY NAME IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE GUN THAT YOU PERSONALLY BOUGHT , PEOPLE DONT GIVE A DAMN HOW GOOD THE REST ARE .
That is the one that best summed up my Dads approach to working on things . A million well done jobs don't mean a damn thing to the guy who's gun you just screwed up .
Anyway My Grandfather been on my mind lately , and so had that conversation... Thought I would share it with you guys .
The other thing he said to me Ive never decided if it was a compliment or not
....After a while during our conversation he looked at me and said ..." DONT MUCH INTIMIDATE YOU DOES IT ?"....and then went right back to talking . .......Ive never been quite sure sure if he was saying I had balls , or I was too stupid to realize he wanted to be left the hell alone .??? Lol
