One of the perks of my day job is that vendors occasionally stop by to drum up sales with the age-old tactic of “if I bring food, people will show up.” This could mean a coffee cart (no thanks, I don’t drink coffee), a smoothie bar (well, a fruit-flavored-cold-sugary-drink, at least), or an omelet bar (my favorite).
Every few weeks, one of these portable breakfast cooks shows up and starts flipping omelets. Most times, the omelets are fine. Good ingredients, made to order, served hot, and free (at least for us). But occasionally, my favorite omelet chef makes an appearance.
She wears a chef’s jacket. Her ingredients always seem a little higher quality and maybe a little fresher. She pays attention to each omelet and, you know what? They taste better!
In Seth Godin‘s latest book, Linchpin*, he proposes that the factory model of interchangeable products (and people) with it’s relentless focus on driving down costs is being replaced by a new model where “artists” generate the real value by making visceral connections and taking actions that move people.
Those cooks who show up, follow the recipe, pour their eggs out of a carton, and play it safe… they’re factory workers. They’re competing for pennies – making their product (and the experience) cheaper and interchangeable. They’ll be replaced as soon as someone comes along and offers the same product for “just a little bit less.”
But the omelet chef, the one who makes custom breakfasts for her guests… well, she’s an artist. She’s given a gift – above and beyond the cost of the eggs or price of her time – a better meal, a real connection, a beautiful experience. Who are you going to call the next time you’re catering a breakfast?
What do you think?
Are you a factory worker, or an artist?
What are you doing to bring your art to your work today?
*Not an affiliate link. Thanks, Colorado.
