A Pig and a Chicken are walking down the road. The Chicken says, "Hey Pig, I was thinking we should open a restaurant!". Pig replies, "Hm, maybe, what would we call it?". The Chicken responds, "How about 'ham-n-eggs'?".
The Pig thinks for a moment and says, "No thanks. I'd be committed, but you'd only be involved!"
This weekend I was reminded of this important leadership lesson about commitment when my daughter and her friend decided to set up a lemonade stand. Not completely sold on the idea, I quickly realized that I was no match for two very determined and enterprising nine-year old girls. I threw up a few barriers - we don't have any lemonade (you can go buy some), it's over 100 degrees outside (people will be hot and thirsty, so they'll want our lemonade), we don't have a lemonade sign (we'll make flyers) - but I finally succumbed to the pressure and decided to play along. Who am I to crush their entrepreneurial spirit? Did I mention that it was over 100 degrees?
So we (how and why is this now my project?) were underway - I was procuring the lemonade and they were busy creating marketing material (see the beautiful flyer to the left). We set up shop at the end of the block, set out a couple of chairs, poured a few glasses of lemonade and waited for the masses. Did I mention that it was over 100 degrees?
About five minutes in, I did a gut check to see if they were still "in it to win it" and I could already sense the defeat in one of them. My daughter, however, gave me the thumb's up.
They didn't last 30 minutes.
Did I mention that it was over 100 degrees?
After we closed up shop and walked back to the house, I taught my daughter about the Chicken and the Pig. Her first reaction was, "but it was her idea!" (referring to her friend). Not the point. I was really trying to teach her about commitment and let her know that I was proud of her for sticking with the project, despite my early objections, the heat and the fact that they only sold two glasses of lemonade. I gave them an early out and she chose to see it through.
The money quote of the day was when I asked her what she learned and she replied, "it's a lot of hard work running your own business!" Mission. Accomplished.
Think about yourself and the kind of leader you are. Are you involved, interested or lukewarm? Or are you committed, engaged or on fire?
Be the Pig! PS - thanks to some "angel investors" in our neighborhood, the girls made $15 but only sold two cups of $.25 lemonade.Not necessarily a lesson in reality, but it sure made their day!