When I was a child, one of my favorite activities was to go down to our local Carvel for ice cream. Back then, your flavor choices were limited to chocolate or vanilla, although you could jazz up your selection with an assortment of sprinkles, nuts or sauces. It still brings a smile to my face thinking of the twinkle in my Dad's eye as he ordered a CMP - a chocolate, marshmallow and peanut sundae.
What a difference a generation makes. By the time my own children were old enough to enjoy an evening of ice cream on the town, the choices for frozen dessert had exploded. Carvel is now considered downright old-school; compared to the allure of freshly-churned real Italian gelato, chocolate dipped waffle cones and sorbet made from organic fruit offered up by dozens of competing venues. Even our local ice cream truck has eschewed popsicles in favor of ginger and hazelnut artisan ice cream.
Just as our consumption of ice cream has been revolutionized by changing times and the influences of a global economy, so too has the world of work evolved. In a recent NY Times op-ed column, Thomas Friedman emphasizes the need for all workers to step up their game.
Friedman writes, "Just being an average accountant, lawyer, contractor or assembly-line worker is not the ticket it used to be. As Daniel Pink, the author of "A Whole New Mind," puts it: In a world in which more and more average work can be done by a computer, robot or talented foreigner faster, cheaper "and just as well," vanilla doesn't cut it anymore. It's all about what chocolate sauce, whipped cream and cherry you can put on top."
Finding your niche, customizing your service, and putting your own unique stamp on your work is a critical skill for anyone looking to build a lifestyle career. Don't look to be all things to all people. Think about ways you can sell your expertise in a way that hasn't been done before.
Here are some examples of enterprising moms who did just that in order to sell their food products. They took a basic concept and added their own unique twist to their services -- turning plain vanilla into a delicious new treat:
Heidis Heavenly Cookies: Lots of people sell cookies. But the beautiful packaging turns Heidi's cookies into something really special. Heidi started the business when her husband lost his job and she needed to find a way to make an income from home. Today she enjoys a thriving business and the satisfaction that comes from knowing how happy her cookies make her lucky customers feel.
Challah Connection: Jane Moritz has captured the power of the internet to help people send kosher food and holiday treats to their loved ones. Started as a small local challah delivery service, Jane has grown her business to be the online leader for Kosher gifts.
The Lollipop Book Club: At a time when local bookstores are struggling to survive, Karen Gallagher came up with a unique way to make ordering books a really "sweet" experience. What grandparent wouldn't love to order a gift that would make their favorite youngster smarter and really happy at the same time?
Now, what about you? I'd love to hear your thoughts on ways you can slice, dice and repackage your expertise into delicious new offerings.
Great post, Nancy!
I love the connection with ice cream - and I have fond memories of vanilla Carvel ice cream cakes with chocolate crunchies - still my favorite.
And thanks for the valuable reminder that we each need to highlight the uniqueness that we bring to the table.
Posted by: Gilda Bonanno | October 22, 2009 at 10:39 PM