Columbus and my grandson

A Shortcut, and the Business of Accidents: A Story

Not long ago, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table with my 10-year-old grandson, Nout. He’s full of curiosity but couldn’t care less about business strategies—thankfully. He had to learn about history and the great adventures of Columbus, though, so I saw an opening. I grabbed a crumpled piece of paper and a pen, ready to pull off a classic grandfather move: using a story to sneak in a life lesson.

I started with a map, sketching out the basics: Europe, Africa, and India. “Alright, Nout,” I said, “back in the 1400s, everyone in Europe wanted to get to India. Why? Because India had spices, silk, and other rare stuff that we didn't know down here, like sugar, but wanted to have pretty desperately."

"But here’s the thing—they had to go all the way around Africa to get there.”

I drew a long, squiggly line around Africa, showing how long the journey took. “This route was dangerous. Expensive. Slow. Pirates, storms, and diseases. Anything bad that could happen—happened.”

Nout’s eyes were starting to wander—until I added a few pirates. I drew little pirate ships attacking the traders, then added a giant sea monster for good measure. The journey was now alive with danger, and suddenly, Nout was in.

“Pirates? Monsters?” he asked, sitting up straight. “Why would anyone do that?”

“Because,” I explained, drawing a pile of gold on the map, “there was treasure waiting on the other side. It was business. And business is all about finding the reward that makes the risk worth it.

India had spices, silk, and other rare stuff that we didn't know down here, like sugar, remember, all stuff that the rich people here wanted to have pretty desperately. Like you want that new iPhone, or a new Playstation. See. They bought it over there for not that much money and sold it here for a whole lot more. Because it was exclusive. Buying and selling. That is what we call trade. It could make people filthy rich. The cheaper you buy and the higher you sell the more money you make. You see? And the faster you can bring the goods in, the more money you make. Get it?"

Nout, who is good at math, got it.

The Daredevil Shortcut

“So,” I said, lowering my voice, “some clever folks started thinking: Maybe the world isn’t flat. Maybe it’s round. And if it’s round, why not take a shortcut by sailing west? Go straight to India and skip the dangerous route around Africa.”

“That’s where Columbus comes in. He convinced people to fund his idea—he’d sail west, reach India faster, and make everyone rich. It was a daredevil business move, betting on a shortcut no one had tried.”

Then, I did something that changed the way Nout saw the world—literally.

I took the two ends of that map and folded them together. The map was now on the outside of the fold, and I pointed to Europe on one side and India on the other. “Look,” I said, “if the world is round, suddenly India seems to be in the West!”

Nout’s eyes lit up. “So, that’s what Columbus was thinking?” he asked.

Exactly. And just like that, a simple fold of paper turned a centuries-old mystery into something a 10-year-old could grasp instantly.

Nout leaned in closer. “But did it work?”

“Not exactly,” I said, drawing a rough outline of the Americas. “Instead of finding India, he found something even better—a whole new world.”

The Accidental Discovery that Changed the World

I sketched out little symbols for gold, potatoes, tomatoes, and tobacco on the new land. “They found gold, sure, but also potatoes, tomatoes, and coffee. Things they weren’t even looking for. And this—” I tapped the map, “—changed the world forever. By accident.”

I could see the gears turning in Nout’s mind.

Before I even had to explain it, Nout exclaimed with that spark of realization in his voice, “So just like the spices and silk from India, these new things like tobacco and coffee were making a lot of money because they were normal in America, but rare and super valuable in Europe!”

He didn’t even question it—he just knew. With an exclamation mark in his voice, he nailed the connection between scarcity, demand, and profit. The kid’s a natural.

Nout was fascinated. “They didn’t even know it was there?”

“Nope! They were looking for one thing, and they stumbled onto something bigger. In business, that happens all the time. Sometimes the best discoveries come from accidents—from finding something you weren’t even searching for.”

Where Business Lessons Take Shape

Now, here’s where the story morphed into something bigger. The art of storytelling isn’t just about drawing maps and sketching monsters; it’s about weaving in lessons so they stick—just like this story stuck with Nout.

“You see, Nout,” I said, “Columbus didn’t find what he was looking for, but he found something better. In business, it’s the same. You plan and strategize, but sometimes you stumble on a discovery you didn’t expect. And that’s when real breakthroughs happen.”

“Like finding treasure by accident?” Nout asked.

“Exactly!” I said. “He didn’t just take the usual route. He tried something new. Took a risk. And it paid off. In business, we call that innovation. You can follow the safe path, or you can take a bold shortcut—and sometimes, that shortcut leads to something incredible.”

The Missed Opportunity: Vikings and Information Gaps

“And here’s another thing,” I said, making it even more interesting. “Did you know that the Vikings had actually been to North America long before Columbus?”

Nout’s jaw dropped. “So why didn’t anyone know?”

“Because no one listened,” I explained. “The information was there, but it didn’t spread. In business, it’s the same. Sometimes the answer is already out there, but people don’t pay attention. They ignore the signs, or they don’t pass the information along, and they miss huge opportunities.”

What Businesses Can Learn (Through Storytelling)

Now, here’s the beauty of it: when I was done, Nout didn’t just understand the story of Columbus—he could re-tell it. He talked about the pirates, the sea monsters, the treasure, and the accidental discovery of the New World. He remembered that Columbus didn’t find what he was looking for, but that’s what made it amazing.

And this is the power of storytelling. When it’s done right, the lessons don’t need bullet points. They’re in the story itself.

Here’s how the business lessons play out, wrapped in the narrative:

1. Keep It Simple: Columbus had a simple idea, one he could sketch on a piece of paper. The best business ideas are like that—straightforward, but with huge potential. Don’t overcomplicate things. Sometimes, a clear, bold move is all you need.
2. Be a Daredevil: Columbus didn’t follow the safe route. He took a risk, sailed into the unknown, and changed the world. Businesses today need the same courage. Take calculated risks. Sometimes, it’s the shortcut that leads to the biggest breakthrough.
3. Embrace the Unplanned: Columbus didn’t find India. He found something better—by accident. In business, you won’t always get what you set out for, but sometimes, what you discover instead can be even more valuable. Embrace the unexpected.
4. Mind the Information Gap: The Vikings had already been to North America, but no one paid attention. In business, the best ideas often get overlooked because we don’t listen. Make sure you’re hearing all the signals—and acting on them—before someone else does.

The Story That Sticks

Nout may not care about business—yet—but he can now re-tell the story of Columbus, pirates, sea monsters, and the discovery of a New World. And the beauty of it is, without realizing it, he’s also telling the story of business.

Because what’s the essence of great business? It’s not just charts and numbers. It’s risk, discovery, and the courage to venture into the unknown. It’s understanding that the best opportunities often come from accidents—and that sometimes, what you find is bigger than what you were searching for.

So next time you’re at the edge of your own map, take the risk, listen to the signs, and remember: Columbus didn’t find what he was looking for—but he found something even better.