It was a complete coincidence. My friend Jules Shell happened to be in Paris for a few days while I was there. She is a remarkable human being. She is the co-founder of Foundation Rwanda, an organization that funds the education of children born to the victims of rape during the 1994 Rwandan genocide and links their mothers to psychological & medical services (if you only give to one charity per month, please give to this one next month). Jules and I are always traveling and we never get to see each other, so it was a total treat that we were in the same city at the same time...and that it was Paris was a bonus.
I took Sunday off and spent the day with Jules. We had croissants for breakfast in the gardens of the Palais-Royal, ate the most scrumptious duck confit for lunch, shopped the Marais, licked Berthillon ice cream on Ile St. Louis, had the perfect cup of coffee in a small, secluded square somewhere-we’re-not-sure-where and finally had, what can only be described as, a hilarious dinner in a Japanese restaurant where we drank French wine with our ramen noodles. Twelve hours we spent together that day and it was great. Then last night we went for a late night glass of wine and a crepe in front of the Eiffel Tower. We laughed and laughed the whole time.
This morning I awoke to an email from Jules.
Totally loved our time together. Straight out of a woody Allen film- the most romantic trip ever among friends. Ah Paris... Everyone should go once with Simon Sinek.
I love Jules’s desire to want to share what we had with lots of people so that lots of people can have as much fun as we had. The problem is, if everyone got to go to Paris once with Simon Sinek or Jules Shell, it would no longer be special for the few that do.
There is something special about small. Small is intimate, spontaneous and intense. Small is...well...small is special. If lots of people experience something special, it is no longer small and, in turn, ceases to be special. Good, yes. Fantastic, even. But not special.
The Pacific ocean was special when few people ever got to see it. Now, it's not so special. Chocolate was special when only a few people ate it. Now, it’s not so special (though there is still some special chocolate out there – like Vosges bacon truffles – but very few people have tried them).
If you stumble upon something special, keep it small. Though you may want to share it with lots of people, which is a good thing, remember that in so doing, what originally made it special will quickly dissipate. But if you do choose to share something special with lots of people, then just make sure you always keep another thing available that only a few special people will get to experience. That way there will always be something special about what you do.
This is as true in relationships as it is in business. When we treat people as numbers, they will never feel special. When we treat them as individuals, they will. Sending a mass email to the company isn't special. Roaming the halls and saying hello to everyone is.
The reason humans like feeling special is because feeling special is human.
Yes, its true. You must to care of everybody individuality anytime in any situations. This is the way to success.
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Posted by: Scarfbuy | 05/28/2012 at 09:13 AM
The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want, and if they cannot find them, make them. ( Bernard Shaw )
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Lying disguises our mortality, our inadequacies, our fears and anxieties, our loneliness in the midst of the crowd. We yearn for the comfort of familiar lies to create a more amenable reality. （Howards Mel, USAwriter）
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The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want, and if they cannot find them, make them. ( Bernard Shaw )
Posted by: Nike Jordan Shoes | 10/25/2011 at 04:56 AM
Lying disguises our mortality, our inadequacies, our fears and anxieties, our loneliness in the midst of the crowd. We yearn for the comfort of familiar lies to create a more amenable reality. （Howards Mel, USAwriter）
Posted by: Womens Sandals | 09/23/2011 at 03:39 AM
The thing is-the thing is that THE most exciting thing about a special ecperience or place is sharing it with someone else. Sure, if you share it with everyone-even personally and in intimate settings-it will lose its specialness through repetition or marketization.
Posted by: Jeff_pdx | 07/28/2011 at 09:47 PM
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Posted by: Account Deleted | 07/18/2011 at 05:30 AM
Hi Simon,
Even in business when the customers are few, they get special attention. Shopping malls might not give the personnel touch we receive in a small shop.
There seems to be a space for small businesses for ever as long as we value some thing special.
Your story induces this thinking and thank you.
Posted by: Venkat S | 07/11/2011 at 08:51 AM
I love such stories. Thank you for sharing Simon.
P.S. My two favourite movies show simple humane stories of how simple, normal actions, deepen relations. All the magic in them comes from unspoken, but felt part. "Once" and "Garden State" I'd recommend watching to almost anyone.
Posted by: Marek | 07/07/2011 at 09:18 AM
you are right on. Over the years I had many people suggest to take callmom4resources.com to the next level and start making money. "Get out of the weeds" was a common mantra. People are not "business" and should not be franchised. I do however re-create my model for communities that have a need and want to serve(for free)and don't mind paying the bills with money earned for caring for Alzheimer patients.
Love what I am doing!!!
Posted by: Gerda G | 07/06/2011 at 11:29 AM
I really love that stuff from Vosges. I'm here in Chicago (their home market) and love going to their chocolate shop on Armitage in the city. And that Mo's Bacon Bar is the best. They do one as well with a chili and another with a yellow curry that are equally to die for. Oh, and the sea salt and almonds. I guess they don't have a bad one in the lot. Thanks for the writings. Love it.
Posted by: Scott | 07/06/2011 at 10:24 AM
Thank you, for sharing this small, though special, post Simon. It comes - as these things always do - just at the right moment.
Posted by: Faranak | 07/05/2011 at 04:16 PM