We usually end the summer with an ice cream social at Herb’s and Sarah’s house, friends who love great food and enjoy the challenge of coming up with new and novel flavors. There are four or five of us in the group who annually spend days pouring over recipes, mixing, freezing and packaging our newest creations.
I don’t think I did very well this year – the Ouzo Sorbet didn’t set (too much alcohol), and the Lemon Garlic Sorbet would have been nicer between the appetizer and the main course than it was for dessert. The Caramel Ice Cream tasted great, but there was nothing terribly inventive about it. The Raspberry was a little sweet. Only my Champagne with Roses was particularly subtle and truly refreshing. And there was some stiff competition — Green Pepper Ice Cream was surprisingly delicious.
But in previous years, I walked away confident I had won with such flavors as Pomegranate Sorbet and Tibetan Goji Berry. Sarah pointed out to me this year, as she does each year, that our friendly ice cream social isn’t a competition. I snorted quietly, then answered: “You know who thinks this isn’t a competition? Losers!”
How often I’ve sat in meetings with clients, marveling as they detail their plans for new products or services as though no one else exists in their segment. As though they own their customers’ attentions and loyalty as a birthright. As though we all sit home waiting at the edge of our seats for announcements so we can rush out and buy. In life and in business there is always competition. I am already thinking about flavors for next summer.
