Riding the Bus of Our Life--a Muse

 

                                       

                                                              The Hot Dog Vendor

(With special thanks to them, this story is from a book given to me years ago by Dino and Giovanna Cortopassi, owners of Stanislaus Food Products in California)

Once upon a time, there was a young immigrant—hungry for opportunity and willing to work for it.
Each morning, he walked into the city looking for work. Each night, he walked home empty-handed... and hungry.

One evening, as he walked home, stomach growling, he thought, “What I wouldn’t give for a good hot dog.”
Then an idea struck him: Why not sell hot dogs... right here... to people like him—travelers looking for something good to eat?

But not just any hot dogs. No. His hot dogs would be the very best.
The kind people would come back for—again and again.

He saved every penny he could.
Finally, he bought a second-hand cart, a small stove, six of the finest hot dogs he could find, six fresh buns, and the best condiments money could buy.

On day one—he sold out.
The next day, he doubled his inventory. And guess what? Those same customers came back—this time, bringing friends.

And just like that… the business grew.

Years passed. He got married, had a family, upgraded from a cart to a storefront, and even sent his son off to college.

When his son returned, the father proudly asked,
"So, what did you learn in school?"

“Dad,” the son said, “don’t you read the papers? A recession is coming. Business is going to get tough. We need to cut costs.”

The father had always focused on quality—but he figured his son had learned something important in school.
So they made changes.

First, they bought cheaper hot dogs. They didn’t taste quite as good—but they looked the same.
Then, they bought cheaper buns. Still looked fine… but not as fresh.
Next, they slashed prices.

And what happened?

Little by little... the regulars stopped coming.
Week by week… sales dropped.

So the son cut corners even more—cheaper condiments this time.
Eventually, business dried up.

The son left to work for a big national chain.
And the father? He shook his head and thought, “Good thing my son was smart enough to predict this downturn.”

But truthfully...
He missed the days when people lined up for his hot dogs—because they were the best.

So, he sold the stand…
To another hard-working young immigrant—with a fresh idea.

“What if I sold great hot dogs... right here... to people who love good food?”

And of course, he thought,
They’d have to be the very best… so people would come back... day after day after day.