Word of Mouth

Greetings.  There are three types of people in the world.  Those who absolutely adore breakfast and think it's the most important meal of the day, those who don't like breakfast, and those who aren't sure if they like breakfast or not.  I'm probably somewhere in the middle.  Sure I'd like a perfect bowl of oatmeal and some fresh fruit to start the day, but some days seem to have a mind of their own and the only recourse is a bar of some sort–grabbed and eaten on the run.  The challenge is to find a bar that's actually healthy and tastes great because some of the offerings found at our favorite stores are loaded with junk or taste like sawdust.  

So in my never-ending quest to scan the globe in search of new ideas, inspiration, genius, and now 190 nutritious and portable calories, I happened to stumble upon Carman's "Classic Fruit Muesli Bar."  It's a product made in Australia by a young entrepreneur named Carolyn Creswell who's turned her passion for muesli into a growing international business.  And I have to tell you that these bars–along with their equally delicious "Apricot and Almond" siblings–are fantastic!  In fact, I've already told over a dozen friends, relatives, colleagues, customers, and partial (as opposed to total) strangers about them.  Now I don't typically promote products on this blog, but I decided to do this to make an even bigger point about the power of word of mouth.  The power of creating something so unique, healthful, and "delicious" that it stands out from the crowd and inspires people to tell everyone they know (and don't know) about it.  Which begs the vital question:  "Do your products, services, and solutions inspire customers to spread the word?"  And, if not, "Why not?"  

Because the value of word of mouth is key to the success of any business.

As a side note, many of you are probably asking:  "What in the world is 'muesli' anyway and how did it ever find its way onto anyone's breakfast table?"  The short answer is that muesli is an uncooked breakfast cereal that combines rolled oats or another whole grain, fruit, nuts, seeds, and spices.  It is exceedingly popular in Europe, parts of the U.S., I'm assuming Australia, and with everyone who works at your local health food store.  It was invented around 1900 by a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner who used muesli as part of the treatment for his hospitalized patients.  And it's not that hard to make your own special blend by following one of the many recipes found on the web or in healthy living and eating magazines.  Though making a fantastic muesli bar is another story.   

We win in business and in life when we create a meaningful buzz about the things we have to offer.  And when we incite those around us to sing our praises.  Maybe it's time to take a different look at the potential of your products, services, and experiences.

Cheers!