When I ran my creative agencies, the building that clients visited was 3,500 square feet. That’s the footprint of a four bedroomed house. So quite big. Within it, there were four meeting areas. And within each meeting area – was a toyshop.
Well, not a toyshop exactly. But shelves of still-boxed, brand new, still in their point-of-sale ‘stands’, nostalgic, quality toys. Marbles. Bags of toy soldiers. Bouncy balls. Little hurdy-gurdys. Hairy scary jumping spiders. Paddle ball games. Clockwork chattering teeth. Bubbles. Finger monsters. Fortune telling fish. You get the picture.
Now, this next bit was true of almost every high-flying, big-brained business leader that visited us. They did three things. First, they ‘woooahed’ at seeing their childhood toys. Second, they were super happy to be in a free toyshop. They could take home what they wanted. Third, they became that little more childlike.
You see, I think that the best thinkers are children. They’re relaxed and unguarded. Open to adventure and fun. And that’s how I wanted key senior decision makers to be and feel as we chatted.
When an MD becomes an MD, she doesn’t stop being a woman. And when a little girl becomes a woman, I do think that it’s nice when someone helps her, from time to time, to feel and think like a little girl again.