I hope you were fortunate to have this story as a part of your childhood.  Fresh in my mind this week has been the version I used to read to my kids at bedtime - on repeat for probably about a year.  In our version, the characters were portrayed by animals - the grumpy badger, the kind but shy bunny, etc.  

What I love about the story is the transition the traveler makes, starting the story with nothing but a stone in his pocket, lonely and hungry.  He is hopeful and wise though, and he brings an all but isolated and shut down village together. They learn that together they have more to eat and together they are happier.  The traveler comes to town with just a pot and a stone and inspires every villager to contribute just one ingredient. In the end, the entire village has delicious food to share, and they all feel a LOT less lonely.

I’ve been filling my extra time this week thinking ahead for our community and for the businesses my company serves.  A lot of these business owners have been our partners for years. They’re essentially our neighbors.  

If you’ll bear with me, this is how Stone Soup has inspired some guidelines my team is working on for small businesses:

Have a great attitude

We’re going to hear a lot of no’s right now.  Our customers, like the villagers in the story afraid of famine, are conserving, hoarding, and looking out for their families first.  Your response can make all the difference in bolstering the confidence of your customers. How can this work for you now? Are you able to react quickly to our new world?  Can you let go of certain goals and be fluid? If you can solve a problem, you’ll never be out of work.  Find out what that problem is that you can uniquely solve - and then let the world know now that you’re ready.

Make it magical 

We all need a little faith right now.  Like the magic stone in the pot, make your solutions creative.  If you can make people feel good, they won’t forget you.  Iliad Media can help with fun, smart, and caring creative messaging.

Everyone wants to contribute 

Just because your neighbors, customers and business partners may be quiet right now, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to be part of a solution.  They’ve got their head’s down and their doors closed. It’s up to you to reach out and ask for them to contribute.  Now is a great time to think of outside of the box partnerships.

People will show up in ways you won’t expect

I have a hunch that we have untapped resources in our community, on our block.  We’re a city that has planned The Boise River Festival (RIP), Idaho Gives Day, and Treefort!  Let’s do a little pivot, reach out to those around us, and find those untapped resources.  

We have to rethink the way we communicate, travel, work and do business.  Remember that working together (borrowing a delivery truck instead of buying a new one, or recording our commercials from our cell phones because we can’t get into the studio) is far better than every man for himself.  I believe in our community, and I believe in you.

Kristin Lowman