Bamboo or Oak?

Choosing the right strength

There are a lot of buzz words around when it comes to talking about agility in business. Various world and local events have reminded us that being able to pivot in business will keep us in business.

This comes with the decision process of what to stay firm on and what to create some flexibility around.

Understanding core value, playing to strengths and meeting market demand all become part of the conversation. Who are our customers? This question always brings us back to what we do best. Visitors to the area is the answer to that questions. Hosting visitors is what we do best. It's how the house works best. 

Our new visitor to Hawkes Bay currently is a whole bunch of workmen from all sorts of trades coming to help with the clean-up and rebuild from Gabrielle flying through.  They are a different customer to the international tourists we host. They most certainly have different needs to the sports and school teams we host. They need breakfast earlier, they need a place for their work boots.

The oak is staying with our process. 

Doing what we do best. 

The bamboo is bending what we do to fit with the needs of this new customer,

 as best we can.

 Some things we hold firm, other things we can be flexible on. 

No you can't bring an extra mattress and put it on the floor.  No, we can't add a fridge and a jug and tea and coffee to your room only - we have a perfectly good coffee station for everyone to use. 

We hold firm to our model of a shared house.

Yes, we can provide a place for work boots. Yes, we can make breakfast available at 5am to suit your schedule. And even, yes, we will provide a free upgrade wherever possible. 

Bamboo or oak can be used in all parts of life. We all live to a code of ethic - whether we realize it or not. Our friends will know what is unbending about our values. Jo clearly knows that I will not help her rob a bank. But I would probably help her put dishwashing liquid in a public fountain.

Just as we do in life, we do in business. Understand what your core value is and play to your strengths. Identify what part is Oak and what part is Bamboo. And look for specials on dish washing liquid...