We are spending Christmas in California, so only minimal decoration is required at our Texas abode. I go to Home Depot and find a cheap seat of flashing icicle lights and a handy lighted collapsible star – all very tacky, but they will suffice. I come home and decorate in 2 minutes or less.

The next day I see my neighbor. “Nice decorations,” he says. Oh, no he has noticed my pathetic effort. Now I get defensive about my decorations. “Well,” I say. “I am planning on changing them around a bit!” “The star?” he asks. Oh no, he has noticed, the tacky collapsible star, which, even as we speak, is starting to collapse.

Later that day, I run into him again. His car is full of gorgeous Christmas pieces of every shape and kind. (He tells me that I inspired him! What to go gorgeous?) I ooh and ah over his purchases. An hour or so later, I drive by his house which is now covered – almost literally – by fabulous silver wreaths. There are 6 on his front door and more on the multiple balcony doors. I am awestruck by their brilliance and with the nonchalance he has utilized to create this masterpiece.

I call my husband. Tomorrow we go shopping I say. And shop we do – now we have multiple wreaths and for good measure a small Christmas tree in a pot on our front doorstep (with lights and baubles). At first we only bought one wreath, but another look at our neighbor’s display required an additional trip to the store for a second one.

Our neighbor passes by. “Oh” he says, “that looks great.” “Do you have a spotlight on the wreaths?” My blood runs cold. “A spotlight?” I ask sweetly. “We are planning on it”, I say.

I call my husband. Tomorrow we are shopping again.

Merry Christmas

PS: There is a business lesson to be learned here - first mover advantage is not always an advantage!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive