Beyond the Clicks: A Different Way to Think About Business

I listened to a great podcast the other day featuring Simon Sinek of the Optimism Company — great business name, by the way. The episode is about a New York restaurateur, Will Guidara, who talks about the concept of “unreasonable hospitality.”

​It’s an easy listen — two people who are clearly friends, sharing a few laughs while talking in a grounded way about things that matter. There’s a thread about AI running through it, but it also serves as a useful reminder that the clicks and “likes” we chase on social media may not be as important as we sometimes think.

AI is everywhere at the moment. And there’s a fair amount of concern about how it might change our lives — especially for those of us working in professions where AI could, in theory, do what we do, and possibly more efficiently.
​
The podcast brings the focus back to the human side of business. In a world where automation is becoming increasingly capable, the real point of difference may simply be care. Eleven Madison Park is an exceptional restaurant in a city where great food is the norm. But what sets it apart is its commitment to going beyond expectations in service — creating a genuinely memorable human experience.

​It got me thinking about where we spend our time. Perhaps there’s less value in perfecting social media posts, and more in putting that energy into the quality of what we offer and the way we look after our customers.
​
And if we did that, then maybe — just maybe — the goodwill created through those experiences would naturally lead to the kind of business growth we’re all looking for.