Savor the Success - Business Network for women entrepreneurs

A cute, yellow duck waddles up to a large round sphere with bright orange, red, and yellow spots encircling it and asks a very good question:

" 'Oh my, what is that?' Duck quacked. 'That's a silly question,' Goose honked. 'It is a big egg, of course."

Whoa! Be careful Goose not to jump to conclusions so quickly! Goose and Duck learn a valuable lesson in the story Duck and Goose by Tad Hills.

In business, cohesive goals, ideas, and manners of doing "things" remain vital to success. However, sometimes the people inside an organization closest to the product or idea don't see a problem or even why an idea is not successful.

Consider Duck and Goose. They convince each other that the large round object they find is an egg. Meanwhile, a little blue bird hanging out on a branch above the ruckus shouts, "My, that's quite a beauty you have." Little blue bird looks from a different perspective and sees what his little fine feathered friends on the ground clearly covet.

Similar people can breed similarity. For instance, a vice-president of a skin care company may suggest a green packaging idea for a new organic skin care line. Others inside the company may agree, "Surely, that green background augments the ‘natural' look."

All and all that proposal may work, but let's say that company wants to launch an ocean scented cream. (Can you tell I'm dreaming of beach days!) Someone outside the company says --"Consider blue instead--what the company really wants to convey is the feeling of being near water."  The decision makers inside the company must be careful not to say--no way--we are the experts here--we know what we are all about--green must be the color.

Duck and Goose decide to manage the egg by being quiet, sitting on it to keep it warm, and discussing what they are going to teach the baby once it hatches.

The hatching time finally arrives. Duck and Goose are frantic with excitement.

" ‘Excuse me, a little voice called out. Duck stopped. In all the exciting confusion he had failed to notice the blue bird kicking their egg. ‘Can I play, too?' she asked. ‘Play? This is no time for play!' yelled Duck. ‘THIS IS NO TIME FOR GAMES!' yelled Goose. ‘I was only trying to get your attention,' said the little bird."

Duck and Goose become irate at the little blue bird.  " ‘Oh my, I am sorry,' apologized the blue bird. ‘I had no idea. I just thought that maybe I could play with your ball. It really is a nice one,' she added, and then she flew away."

Well, Duck and Goose suddenly realize how silly they acted. They had convinced themselves that they had been caring for an egg--not a pretty ball.

In my own business, it took a tiny voice to help me realize the error in one of my designs.

I had been thinking about whales and a fun phrase that I could attach to my whale idea. I labored for weeks over the perfect saying. I did not pay as careful attention to the drawing of the whale itself.

I did create my blue whale, waves, and my saying "Little squirt-Big Dreams." I loved it. I lined up the writing the way I wanted and printed it for my focus group. Everyone loved it. The group consisted of all adults. Since I felt I had a winner, I printed it on some shirts, and off I went to shows.

I didn't understand why people weren't buying my cute whale though.

Then, at home a week later my little girl saw the shirt on the kitchen table. "Mommy," she asked. "That whale is sad."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

She hopped up on the bench and put her nose right over it. "He's not smiling, Mommy. Why is he not smiling? He looks so sad."

Bingo. Who would buy a sad whale with big dreams!

I went back to my design and stroked a smile onto my whale. And, guess what? I sell that one now--a catalogue is even looking at it for inclusion.

Don't discount outside voices or inside voices no matter how tiny, soft, and quiet they might be!