TNF #031: Did you bring some cookies?

Welcome Professionals…

…yesterday, I have been a judge in the jury of Business@School. This is a pro-bono initiative from the Boston Consulting Group, teaching highschool kids at the age of 14 about business. Three groups of students presented their business business plan for a new commercial idea they had worked out. An interesting and fun event. The striking experience I want to share with you relates to the cookies.

One group had the idea of founding a cookie gift service. They would prepare a jar with all cookie ingredients and a recipe that can be purchased as a gift and will be delivered to the recipient. Now comes the interesting element: At the end of the presentation they presented one jar with the ingredients and one jar with the freshly made cookies. They offered a cookie to each of the jury members. What a difference this made!

Up to this point, it had just been a usual business case presentation. The moment we tasted the cookies, the relationship between the jury and the presenting team was taken to a new level. The presentation received a new dimension, a sensual attachment.

The same was true earlier this week, when I met the partner of an IT consultancy. Instead of describing his product portfolio, he pulled out a little booklet that was so small, he was carrying it in his suit pocket all the time. I immediately had a deeper connection to his offering than before.

We usually present our concepts and talk about them the consulting-way. We shall think of means to add a bit more flavour and sensual product experience to it. It will make a great difference!

Enjoy your cookies!

Malte

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