Month: July 2025

Yesterday, I wrote about “all the extras” (dot #4680) that people add to their offerings — giant aquariums, Ferris wheels, rock walls, etc. It has become an entire industry of companies taking care of all these supplements. There are decorating companies, plant parents, amusement ride mechanics, and aquarium services, just to name a few. I wonder if those costs were considered when the extra was added.

When proposing something that requires ongoing attention, whether it be a pet, plant, or position, factor in the energy and expense required to maintain it. Sometimes the initial cost is the cheapest part.

It is no longer enough for major outdoor retailers to offer a good selection and fair prices. Rather, it seems that they are all trying to outdo themselves by offering experiences in addition to merchandise. Some stores feature a rock climbing wall, whereas Scheel’s provides a giant aquarium, a life-size Paul Bunyan for photos, and a Ferris wheel in the middle of the sales floor.

I wonder what the ROI on all these extras really is. Do you go there to shop or to play? Could prices be lower if they didn’t have all the entertainment to support?

When you’re tempted to do “more” — add entertainment, provide promotional items, host extraneous events, decorate to the nines, or go over the top with anything, pause for a moment and think of this story from Good to Great.

Regular readers know I often quote Jim Collins’ masterpiece, and Scheel’s has reminded me of this. A high school cross-country team stopped doing all the things outside of running. “When the head coach took over the program, she found herself burdened with expectations to do “fun programs” and “rah-rah stuff” to motivate the kids and keep them interested: parties, special trips, shopping adventures to Nike outlets, and inspirational speeches. She quickly put an end to nearly all that distracting (and time consuming) activity. ‘This program will be built on the idea that running is fun, racing is fun, improving is fun, and winning is fun,’ she said.” The result was triple the number of runners and state championships.

You’ll go further if you stop wasting your energy on the extraneous and focus on doing your core better than anyone.

Source: Good to Great by Jim Collins, 2001, p. 206-207

A shower curtain can serve as an analogy for organizational effectiveness.

There is (usually) an outer-facing layer — the side that is focused on appearances and presentation to the consumer. Then there is the inner (plastic) layer — the one that prevents water from soaking through the decorative curtain, representing the back-of-the-house functions or the infrastructure required to make the public version functional.

I think, like a shower curtain, you need both components to be most effective. Decorating can be fun, but without the support behind it, the ultimate aim isn’t achieved. Shower curtains that just look pretty don’t keep the floors dry, and basic plastic liners aren’t visually appealing. You need form and function, even with something as simple as a shower curtain.

If clothes get a tear or need repairs, people often donate them to thrift shops instead of doing the mending themselves.

To enhance the value of these torn clothes and keep them out of the landfill, a church thrift store in Boston has developed a sewing circle where women come together for community — and mending. The group makes donated articles whole again and gains camaraderie in the process. What a wonderful idea!

Sitting at home mending others’ clothes sounds like drudgery, but doing it in a communal space changes the whole dynamic. Is there a change you could make to accomplish your undesirable work in a desirable way?