The Domino Effect
I just came back from my trip to Japan and the situation in the US has drastically changed since I left.
One basic yet fundamental premise leadership presses upon is "control what you can control".
You've read everything about coronavirus and WFH so I'll write something else: The Domino Effect.
During my trip to Japan there was a little boutique hotel in Kyoto called Hotel Mume. 8 rooms total. When we arrived, we were the only guests checked in, everyone else had canceled due to the pandemic. Did they sulk and waver? No, they focused on the One Thing that made them so successful to appear on the New York Times "36 Hours" Kyoto edition - customer service. They went out of their way to ensure we had the best experience not only room accommodations but cultural experiences around Kyoto. During our stay, we had the best hotel staff, an engaging conversation with the hotel owner daily, the best-arranged dinner suggestion each night, and the best wagyu dinner reservation.
What does this have to do with The Domino Effect?
Because they focused on the One Thing they were known for. For that, that solidified a positive experience for myself and my wife. Now my wife will write an extremely positive review for them on TripAdvisor and thousands of followers on LinkedIn will know who they are.
What a linear progression can now become a geometric progression!
How does this relate to you or your company's success?
As you sit at home, you're bombarded with news coverages, social media feeds, maybe even cute furry animals. There is chaos in the world and even in your micro-environment.
Just remember you can control what you can control by doing a few small things:
- That ONE personalized email can lead to a new meeting.
- That ONE LinkedIn comment can lead to a business relationship.
- That ONE video meeting can lead to an opportunity.
- That ONE Slack message can lead to product enhancement.
- That ONE phone call can lead to a business agreement.
Each small action can take you to new heights.
Find your lead domino and whack away until it falls.
As for Hotel Mume, they've been around for over 11 years. They've experienced economic downturns twice before: when they first opened and during the Great Recession. Both times they've bounced back. I have no doubt that they will bounce back because they kept whacking small delights towards their guests.
What small actions can you take that you can control?
You can find their accommodations at https://www.hotelmume.com/main.html