Old-school business lessons from the butcher, the baker ...

Old-school business lessons from the butcher, the baker ...Old-school business lessons from the butcher, the baker ...I was once chatting with the owner of a local bakery when she confided something unexpected. She said she probably knew more about her clients than any other merchant in the area. As someone baking for a close-knit community, she knew when someone was celebrating, or someone was mourning she knew when someone was eating their feelings, or even when someone was being passive/aggressive by intentionally not ordering their spouses favorite baked goods, and later claiming the bakery was sold out. In other words, my local baker knew pretty much everything going on in other peoples lives, even when they were completely unaware theyd been noticed.Wouldnt these be excellent skills for someone working in a competitive environment? Paying attention to things some might think unessential only to realize youre the one who suddenly has an edge over the competition?Follow Ladders o n FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIn that vein, here are some more old-school business lessons from unexpected role models. And no. I dont know any candlestick makers, so well skip that one.The Butcher A cut apartIm mostly vegetarian, so Im probably not the person to discuss the finer points of fine cuts of beef, but there is an art to cutting to perfection. Some cuts of meat rise above the rest and are priced accordingly, while others are given funny names and priced to sell. A talented butcher can understand that a fine cut one way or another produces a superior product or something that people just cant stomach.In the work environment, sometimes you might feel like youre serving up the same old thing day after day after day. So, how can you make your work stand out? Look at what youre producing with a critical eye from time to time. Has your work become something less than fascinating? Try se asoning it or marinating it or adding a bit more flavor so that people are interested once again.Or, you can take the Instant Pot approach. In case youre unfamiliar, the Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that seems to magically transform even cheap cuts of meat into tasty treats. Metaphorically speaking, maybe you have a work colleague who is the perfect editor for documents and can help you transform the same old report into a feast of words.The Contractor Managing all the moving parts and partnersHoward Molen, owner of HFM Builders and a service pro on the HomeAdvisor network takes tremendous pride in his work. In my nearly 40 years as a business owner of HFM Builders and general contractor, Ive learned that you have to juggle competing interests while still staying truthful and loyal to yourself, your employees and your customers.Molen believes that its important to do the right thing as you work with clients during one of the most stressful time in their lives, renovati ng their homes.That seems to be one side of the contractor experience, but what about the part where youre the one controlling all the moving pieces?Molen says As you work to keep everyone from plumbers to electricians to clients on budget and on track, you have to enjoy working with people, be a good listener and be able to compromise when needed. Once youve signed on to a project, youre committed to drafting and executing a plan, being on time, and taking pride in your work. You are creating a beautiful, finished product that enhances peoples lives.There are a lot of old-school takeaways there. From trying to stay truthful and loyal to both yourself and your clients and employees, to managing stressful situations, to keeping to a budget and timeline. If you find that your projects start to sag at some point, it might be helpful to create a plan similar to building or renovating a home. At least this way youll see all of the players, the budget and the timing.The Jeweler An issue o f trustWhen most of us make a significant purchase, its usually with someone with a great reputation or someone we already know and trust.Rordan Shane, President of National jewelry chain Shane Co. Its not always about what you sell when it comes to building a successful business. My family has been in the jewelry business for 90 years and our signature product, the diamond, represents something much bigger than its carat size. It is an object that represents emotions love, honor and a promise.If youre selling a product that anyone can theoretically buy anywhere, you need to create a bond or value proposition to ensure your clients loyalty.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from nesthkchen Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people