1978.
“The Gambler” — Kenny Rogers. Great song.
Things were a little tough back then.
What does the song really tell us?
Why are we talking about it?
Well, if you’re watching this — you’ve got some choices to make.
What are you going to do?
Are you going to keep the company open — or are you going to close it?
If you are staying open — how are you going to operate?
A lot of decisions.
So, let’s go and look at what Kenny’s got to say —
On a warm summer’s evening
On a train bound for nowhere —
I met up with the gambler.
We were both too tired to sleep.
Bet you’ve had a few nights like that.
So, we took turns a-starin’
Out the window at the darkness
The boredom overtook us
And he began to speak.
He said, “Son, I’ve made a life
Out of readin’ people’s faces
Knowin’ what the cards were
By the way they held their eyes
So, if you don’t mind my sayin’
I can see you’re out of aces
For a taste of your whiskey
I’ll give you some advice.”
Ready for some advice?
So, I handed him my bottle
And he drank down my last swallow
Then he bummed a cigarette
And asked me for a light
And the night got deathly quiet
And his face lost all expression.
He said, “If you’re going to play the game
Boy, you gotta learn to play it right.”
Time to decide — you gonna play the game. You keeping the business open? Or, you shutting it down?
We told you in other videos: Get the advice. But make the decision. If you’re going to stay open — stay open. If you’re going to close it down, get the advice — how to close it down.
You’ve heard this chorus:
You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em
You’ve got to know when to fold ‘em
You got to know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s done.
There is some advice for a business. Think about it.
Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser
And the best that you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep.
Isn’t that true about every business?
You can make it, or you can lose it. Every business can. But you got to know what you’re doing, and you got to keep your focus and you’ve got to make it work.
So, there’s some real, solid advice.
From “The Gambler,” Kenny Rogers, 1978. You know we love music. We love the song. We love Kenny Rogers. Absolutely amazing song and some great advice.
Keep your focus. Keep going.
Or, if you decide the hand’s not worth holding, fold ‘em, walk away and go into a new line of work. Open a new business, get a job or retire. That’s just fine. But make a decision.
SmallBizReorg. We’re here to help.
