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I remember being told this parable by a University Professor and being amazed at the power of suggestion being able to relate to the impact headlines had on my own thinking. I have never forgotten it and have repeated it hundreds of times since to colleagues and clients. The bottom line is knowing your business, knowing your customers and making decisions based on all of the variables. Not the headlines.
The Hot Dog Stand Parable
There once was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs from his hot dog stand. In fact, he sold very good hot dogs. He put up highway signs telling people how good his hot dogs tasted. He stood by the side of the road and called out, “Buy a hot dog, mister?” And people bought his hot dogs. The Simple Adventure of Eating a Good Hot Dog
They bought so many hot dogs, the man increased his meat and bun orders. He even moved into a larger premises. He bought a bigger stove so he could meet his customers’ demands. And finally, he brought his son home from college to help out in the family business.
But something happened. His son said: “Father, do you not watch television, or learn anything from the newspapers? Do you not know we are heading for a recession? The European situation is unstable, and the domestic economy is getting worse.” And the father thought: “My son is a smart boy. He has been to college. He ought to know what he is talking about.” Time to Close the Hot Dog Stand without Learning a Thing
So the man cut down his meat and bun orders, took down his highway signs, and moved out of the larger premises.
His sales fell almost overnight. “You are right son,” said the father. “We certainly are in a serious recession.” (Author Unknown)
Has your business/career/life been impacted over the last 12 months by the "Recession?" Has it been positive or negative? If you could do the last 12 months over again. What would you do differently?
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
Michael Palmer, Life Coach
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