Business Lessons from Everyday Life
Business wisdom doesn’t always arrive neatly packaged in a Harvard Business Review article. Sometimes it struts into your life, feathers and all, looking like… well, a bantam chicken.
Enter Gert.
Now, my noble intention was simple: give my kids something fun and a crash course in responsibility. What better than a bantam? Low maintenance, cute, and unlikely to demand pocket money. Perfect.
So, we brought home Gert. Within days, I realized we hadn’t just acquired poultry. We’d welcomed a feathery professor of management science into our garden.
Naturally, I had my doubts about his loyalty. Would Gert stay in the yard? Or would he see greener grass elsewhere (classic employee problem)? So, in a moment of “strategic thinking,” I tied his leg to a tree—just temporarily—so he could “adjust.”
Gert was unimpressed. With the eye of a seasoned consultant (“kennersoog,” if you will), he studied the situation, found the weak point, and liberated himself in record time. He didn’t even write a resignation letter. He just strolled off to explore the garden, clucking at my poor attempt at employee retention.
But then… disaster. The neighbor’s dog spotted him. This dog had one clear mission: “eliminate unauthorized poultry.” He gave chase, and I thought this was the end of dear Gert.
Instead, Gert did something extraordinary. With zero notice, he launched into the sky like a feathered rocket, clearing rooftops and vanishing into the distance. Gone. Just like that.
Except—he wasn’t gone. Gert returned later, strutting back as if nothing had happened. (I suspect he popped off for a strategy session with some sparrows and came back with renewed KPIs.)
And here’s the kicker: Gert reminded me of a truth that applies to every small business. Employees—just like chickens—often have far more potential than we give them credit for. Under the right circumstances (or chased by the right dog), they’ll soar to heights you never imagined.
So, next time you look around your office, shop, or workshop, remember: your “chickens” may be capable of flying higher than you think. Create the environment, remove the tethers, and don’t be surprised when they surprise you.
(Though, word of caution: chasing them with metaphorical dogs is not recommended. You might just lose your star bantam forever.)
