This week, I have been feeling a little bit like a rock star. We have started working from a very cool co-working space in West End that used to be a night club. I can’t tell you how many times this week I’ve walked onto the stage and been desperate to shout “Check, 1, 2” into the office void. It would be the fulfilment of a life-long dream. But, due to my overwhelming sense of trying to fit in and fear of embarrassment, I have resisted. It make me ponder, what would small business owners do differently if they weren’t bound by convention? Thinking big launched people like Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos into space. But you don’t have to go to that extreme to break free. For example, West End is awash with cafes but there are a couple who have stepped out of the ordinary by offering something that sets them apart. West End Coffee House (or WECH to locals) serves great coffee but is mainly known for it’s delightfully delicious Thai lunch specials. Not the type of fare you would normally associate with a coffee shop, but it’s made them a very popular local icon. Then there’s Who shot the Barista. They have totally embraced the West End vibe of graffiti art by painting their cute cottage with a Tuscan laneway scene. Not only do they make great coffee but also add to the ambiance of the West End city scape with their inspired art. People come for the photo op but return because the coffee is fab. Clever. So, I am challenging you all. In your business, define your super power. What can you do differently from your competitors to make new customers take notice? Me, I’m off to buy a microphone so I can belt out “Khe Sahn” on the office stage on my next visit. Wish me luck.
