May things

Three things I want to share with you this May…

 Remember the old saying “April showers bring May flowers.” I was in the kitchen on Sunday preparing dinner for my extended family. I look out the window and see snow. Lots of snow. Huge-flakes snow coming down and just crushing the flowers. So if pressed flowers are your thing, Mother Nature saved you a step this year, haha!

1. Dumplings, old ladies, and expertise

My husband and I were trying to think of where to take our two boys still living at home for spring break. We landed on New York since neither of these sons had been there before. 

As I was researching places to go and things to do (aka things to eat!) in NYC, I came across this account on Insta: @marcosworldnyc.

He shares his favorite places around the city to eat. One of the posts that caught my eye was one from February 9 that he called “Cheap eats in Chinatown.” Among the recommendations was a little place that sells dumplings — 15 for $5.

Good enough for me. We added it to the itinerary.

Once my boys and I were in Chinatown we found the little shop as described by Marco. As he said, a little woman selling them from her shop, and they were as advertised. Do you know how many times my husband, boys, and I have brought up these dumplings since? Too many to count. 

They were perfection: fresh, hot, steamy, chewy, crispy, savory. Sublime. And yes, $5.

Something that Marco said in his post stays with me. He said “When you see an old lady serving dumplings or serving any kind of food, you get our ass in there and you go get some dumplings.”

There’s stuff to learn here…

About expertise.

And about value.

Marco is pointing out that when you see an “old lady” making food for a living, you know it comes with years of experience. The tricks of the trade. The little differences that make a difference. Are you that for your customers? Be the “old lady serving dumplings.” Be the expert whose reputation precedes her. The one who people just know they can turn to for the real deal.

Regarding value, the 15 dumplings were $5. In NYC she could have charged $10 or $15 and we would not have batted an eye. Still, they were five bucks and instead of buying 1 to sample and be on our way, we bought 3. (Ok, truth: our son spilled one carton just as we’d opened it so it necessitated an extra).  And there was a regular rotation of customers coming to the shop for their carton. 

I’m not saying you need to undercut your business. Charge what you need to charge and charge what you’re worth. It’s not that people enjoy a deal. More importantly, people enjoy a value. When quality, expertise, and value are found in one place, your place,  you’ll be the old lady making dumplings in NYC being sought out by the family from the other side of the country.

2. "Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful." — Jim Carrey

(How’s that for deep stuff from the guy who talks with his bum cheeks!)

3. Writing Down the Bones

Looking for a good book recommendation? Here’s one from my husband: I’ll let Alan put this in his own words:

“I was introduced to the book ‘Writing Down the Bones’ by Natalie Goldberg in one of my many writing courses at the University of Utah. It was one of those ‘I feel changed’ books by the time I put it down. It’s a book about writing by a writing coach and professor, but really, it’s about life, mindfulness, patience, grace, seeing big pictures and savoring details. If you like to write, you’ll find this book a wellspring of love and inspiration. If you don’t write, you just might WANT to start after hearing what Natalie has to say about it.

“Natalie writes ‘We hear about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don’t get stuck in the root. There is the branch, the leaf, the flower—all reaching toward the immense sky. We are many things.’

“I love Writing Down the Bones. Check it out if you’re looking for something pure and encouraging.”