Are you a creative type?
Then you know the thrill of dreaming up big ideas – and the agony when they’re shot down in flames.
Still, we soldier on, in search of that next flash of brilliance. Speaking of…
After exhausting every ramen recipe, we decided to order out. Not restaurant food, but a supply of fresh meals delivered to our home. With everyone cooped up, it’s no wonder why this has become so popular.
A few days later, a heavy box arrived. After removing the meals, we were left with a pile of cardboard, padding, insulation and gel packs (with instructions to cut them open and pour the gooey liquid into my garbage can).
Wait! What?
The food was okay, but I knew there’s a better way. The pre-made meal delivery business is hot and poised to grow. With no-name competitors, it’s ripe for a respected company to step in. A brand with a reputation for quality. So, I drafted a proposal to sell ready-made, gourmet meals from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Sprouts. I pitched my plan for a home-delivery service, minus the waste and shipping cost. It seemed like a natural brand extension and new revenue stream.
But they all passed.
Here’s my take: In some ways, this pandemic is giving us ‘do-over’. A chance to breathe deep before moving forward. To explore opportunities.
As Jerry Garcia taught us, “you can’t go back and you can’t stand still”. If we’ve learned anything from being quarantined, it’s how to adjust our behavior. To try new things, jump off new cliffs and grow wings on the way down.
Now, it’s back to the drawing board.
