You know, it’s funny how some things just… keep going, against all odds. I’m talking about this one particular venture, what I always called the “his and her bar” in my head, and believe it or not, it’s still in business. And my “practice” with them, well, that was a lesson in itself.
So, this wasn’t a sleek, modern operation by any stretch. It was this little, kinda cluttered shop run by this older couple. “His” way of doing things was often completely opposite to “her” way. He’d be all about one system, she’d have another. I got involved a few years back, not officially, but I was younger, full of what I thought were brilliant ideas, you know? I’d just finished some online course on “business efficiency” or something equally useless in the real world.
My “practice” started pretty informally. I’d go in there, see the delightful chaos, and I’d gently suggest things. “Maybe a shared digital inventory?” I’d chirp. “Or a consistent pricing strategy?” They’d just smile and nod. He’d say something like, “Oh, we’ve got our ways, sonny,” and she’d offer me a biscuit. It was maddening. Their “system” was a mix of:
- Sticky notes everywhere, for everything.
- Pricing that seemed to change based on the weather, or their mood.
- An inventory system that involved one of them shouting, “Are we out of the blue ones?”
- Marketing that was basically just them chatting to whoever walked in.
Honestly, I gave them six months, tops. I remember thinking, “This is a case study in how NOT to run a business.” I was so sure. I even made notes, part of my “practice” in applying my newfound “knowledge.” I was going to write about their inevitable failure as a learning experience for others, and pat myself on the back for seeing it coming.
But here’s the kicker. I drove past their place the other day. And there it was. Lights on, a few people inside, the same slightly lopsided sign. Still. In. Business. Years later! All my smart predictions, all my well-meaning advice, completely upended. It was like they were running on pure stubbornness and… well, whatever magic they had.
It really made me stop and think. Maybe all that “efficiency” and “modern strategy” isn’t the only way. Maybe sometimes, just knowing your customers, being genuinely yourselves, and having that weird, almost telepathic (or sometimes outright argumentative) “his and her” dynamic is enough. My whole “practice” of trying to analyze and predict their downfall? Utterly wrong. And you know what? I’m kinda glad. It’s a good reminder that the world doesn’t always run on spreadsheets and theories. Sometimes, it just… runs.
