New Ways to Slay the Dragon

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of restaurants, retail and service providers, there was a business trying to attract more customers.  The competition was strong and not easily defeated. Their training was old school, tried and true.

First, they canvassed the existing clientele looking for clues on how to be more appealing.  After all, this type of survey was a “best practice” of some of the most successful companies.

Results were analyzed and changes were made but the difference in revenue was hardly noticeable.  The business owner pondered the next move.

And When My Mind is Wandering

A successful businessman I know had a ritual.  Several times a week he would pick up a favourite cigar, one he could savour for an hour or more.  Then with an empty notepad and a pencil, he would sit in his preferred chair on his sundeck or in his den, and let his mind go wandering.  No phone calls, no meetings, no interruptions of any kind.  From those smoky sessions came ideas.  Today his business thrives and so does he and his family.  He no longer smokes cigars but I’m sure he has an endless supply of empty notepads, sharpened pencils and preferred chairs.