I wandered into the small store where I usually buy milk, when the store owner received a call from a customer.
I
wandered
into
the
small
store
where
I
usually
buy
milk
,
when
the
store
owner
received
a
call
from
a
customer
.
The customer and his wife had shopped there several months earlier.
The
customer
and
his
wife
had
shopped
there
several
months
earlier
.
He noticed that his wife really liked one thing in the store, so he wanted to buy it as a surprise.
He
noticed
that
his
wife
really
liked
one
thing
in
the
store
,
so
he
wanted
to
buy
it
as
a
surprise
.
But the customer was in Tennessee, far away from the store which was in Maine.
But
the
customer
was
in
Tennessee
,
far
away
from
the
store
which
was
in
Maine
.
What was more, he had been to the store several months earlier, and it was difficult to believe that the store owner would remember him, or what he was looking for.
What
was
more
,
he
had
been
to
the
store
several
months
earlier
,
and
it
was
difficult
to
believe
that
the
store
owner
would
remember
him
,
or
what
he
was
looking
for
.
The store owner took a few close-up photos with her camera, and e-mailed them to the customer on the computer.
The
store
owner
took
a
few
close-up
photos
with
her
camera
,
and
e-mailed
them
to
the
customer
on
the
computer
.
The customer looked at the photos, and decided which one he wanted.
The
customer
looked
at
the
photos
,
and
decided
which
one
he
wanted
.
They talked and discussed a price over the phone.
They
talked
and
discussed
a
price
over
the
phone
.
She took care of the credit card transaction online, and promised the gift would be shipped out that afternoon.
She
took
care
of
the
credit
card
transaction
online
,
and
promised
the
gift
would
be
shipped
out
that
afternoon
.
The store owner was really smart.
The
store
owner
was
really
smart
.
She was willing to push herself to find new ways to make the transaction actually happen.
She
was
willing
to
push
herself
to
find
new
ways
to
make
the
transaction
actually
happen
.
And it did work.
And
it
did
work
.
However, it was the first time she had ever done it.
However
,
it
was
the
first
time
she
had
ever
done
it
.
I was amazed that the store owner discovered a creative solution that could lead to a new way of doing business.
I
was
amazed
that
the
store
owner
discovered
a
creative
solution
that
could
lead
to
a
new
way
of
doing
business
.
I was impressed by what she did---so easily, but how difficult it is for many of us to make that leap.
I
was
impressed
by
what
she
did
--
-so
easily
,
but
how
difficult
it
is
for
many
of
us
to
make
that
leap
.
I'm not just talking about technology, but about learning how to adapt to change.
I
'm
not
just
talking
about
technology
,
but
about
learning
how
to
adapt
to
change
.
Most people hate or fear change unless they get to know exactly what change needs to be made.
Most
people
hate
or
fear
change
unless
they
get
to
know
exactly
what
change
needs
to
be
made
.
However, we should realize that challenge and opportunity go hand in hand.
However
,
we
should
realize
that
challenge
and
opportunity
go
hand
in
hand
.
I wandered into the small store where I usually buy milk, when the store owner received a call from a customer. The customer and his wife had shopped there several months earlier. He noticed that his wife really liked one thing in the store, so he wanted to buy it as a surprise.  But the customer was in Tennessee, far away from the store which was in Maine. What was more, he had been to the store several months earlier, and it was difficult to believe that the store owner would remember him, or what he was looking for.  The store owner took a few close-up photos with her camera, and e-mailed them to the customer on the computer. The customer looked at the photos, and decided which one he wanted. They talked and discussed a price over the phone. She took care of the credit card transaction online, and promised the gift would be shipped out that afternoon.  The store owner was really smart. She was willing to push herself to find new ways to make the transaction actually happen. And it did work. However, it was the first time she had ever done it.  I was amazed that the store owner discovered a creative solution that could lead to a new way of doing business. I was impressed by what she did---so easily, but how difficult it is for many of us to make that leap. I'm not just talking about technology, but about learning how to adapt to change. Most people hate or fear change unless they get to know exactly what change needs to be made. However, we should realize that challenge and opportunity go hand in hand.