The Road to Hell is Paved with Banana Bread

Authors Dan and Chip Heath like to relate a story about how easy it is to arrive at the wrong conclusion. A friend of theirs worked in an office where a colleague, Ed, had a wife named Melissa, who regularly sent items she had baked to the office to share among the staff. Melissa would send blueberry muffins, pumpkin bread, cranberry scones, banana bread, and much more. Of course, as soon as they hit the lunchroom, they were readily gobbled up. Melissa loved to bake with a low-fat method, and although there were some comments in the lunchroom about the pastries being dry and not nearly as good as the corner baker’s, hey, they were free and soon gone.

At company events, Ed’s colleagues would meet Melissa. Because the only relatable context beyond being Ed’s wife was her baking, they would regularly compliment her and say things like, “Keep sending that banana bread. It’s gone in a flash.” The baked goodies now started to arrive more frequently, and like before, they were always devoured quickly.

And then it happened. One day, Ed came to the office and announced to everyone that Melissa, thrilled by the positive compliments, and empty banana bread tins, had decided to quit her job and start a catering business. It was only then that Ed’s coworkers realized the damage they had done. But how do you tell Melissa that her baking was only average? And that no one liked the low-fat approach? The time for those stark revelations had passed. Shortly after that, Ed started to ask for catering opportunities for his wife’s new business and was baffled by the awkward conversations and lack of enthusiastic responses.

Insight and Application
It is not enough to gather confirming, constructive evidence. We must also gather the de-confirming, destructive evidence. I.e., not only why an idea will work but also in what instances the idea will not work. In the story above, Melissa barrelled ahead with her business idea without seeking both sides of the idea viability coin. The result can only be a very painful entrepreneurial road ahead.

Would you do me a favour? Please follow, clap and share the content if you liked it. Thank you!

This is a story in the new book I’m writing, Leadership Parables, which will feature leadership lessons in highly memorable short story form. But I need your help. If you remember an anecdote that influenced the way you think about business and leadership, tell me about it. If your suggestion is selected, you will receive a copy of the book and credit as a contributor. If you would like to know when the book is released, please add your name here. And, if you have an idea to share, please contact me at kurian@strategypeak.com.

Also, check out my first book, The 7 Essential Stories Charismatic Leaders Tell. Click here: https://amzn.to/2PSHgmB