A recent dining experience reminded me of this. At the end of the day, no matter how elegantly
adorned or elaborately presented, food is never considered “good” unless the taste is satisfactory or better. Most people will choose substance over form.
My point here is that quite often, in food as in life, the most valuable and substantial components lie beneath the surface. Stripped down of distractions and insulation. Nudo. This concept resonates so much with me that I’ve had to acknowledge its significance in my career.
I’ll come back to this.
On the subject of food, I invoke the image of a perfectly infused cappuccino, topped with steaming, light-as-air foam. This is just one reason I prefer a cappuccino over a latté; I rather enjoy having to make my way through the frothy topping to reach the rich, complex flavour of espresso. And each one is a little different, isn’t it?
This digging through the froth is analogous to my mission, both professionally and personally. Much of what I do is getting to the heart of something; the inspiration of an idea, the inner workings of innovation, and the essence of a person or business. I enjoy telling the story - the unique story - and helping to unveil a truism. This usually involves looking beyond the obvious surface, past the outer wrapping and layers of “fat” to truly understand. You could say I am something of an emotional archaeologist. I think connecting with the authenticity of a person, place or thing is fascinating and exciting.
As such, I find it difficult to thrive in business environments or work with people who aren’t real and talk a lot of blah-blah. Jargon, clichés, acronyms, niceties, and other ‘verbal froth’ don’t impress me much. Authenticity, transparency, and respect are important. Maybe that sets the bar high. And so be it.
I’m always looking for the substance. I’m up for the challenge of de-frothing to uncover what’s meaningful and memorable. Those with the courage and passion to explore beneath the hype inspire me. I hope my life’s work will allow me to fulfill this curiosity.
