Go back in history far enough and you reach a time when groups, tribes were self-sufficient: hunter-gatherers eating meat and berries.
As civilisation advanced, goods started to be traded between groups on a barter basis. Most of the goods were still consumed by the people that produced them. They had a desire to create good quality produce, both for their own consumption and for their trade.
The growth of trade and commerce led to the invention of an advanced bartering system – money. Most people still consumed their own produce and traded the surplus. Mistress Goodchild was pleased to sell a few loaves in her village, particularly as everyone knew her loaves were the best.
The Industrial Revolution with its focus on specialising changed Mrs Goodchild’s working life completely. She worked for a baker of course, she like to be involved with bread making. Now though her job involved a small part of the bread making process and some days she didn’t see a loaf at all.
Sometimes she heard stories about how well Bramwells’ Beautiful Bread tasted and sold but she didn’t really feel the bread was hers. Of course, nobody knew her part in the success of Bramwells. But the money was good, and she knew that every tray of risen yeast she produced was worth a farthing. Bramwells always had more yeast than they could use.
Time speeds on and now Ms Goodchild is a Special Promotions Marketing Executive for the CrustRUs brand of MegaBakers plc.
She isn’t actually sure where the bread is made, and she tells everyone she is in Marketing not Bread. Her daily life is focussed on getting the biggest market impact for MegaBaker from its special promotions.
Life is complicated due to all the other promotions and marketing tactics. Ms Goodchild is pleased to say her performance as reported monthly from HQ is very good. Once the effects of the other promotions and marketing are removed from the figures, her numbers increase quarter on quarter.
She is pleased with herself and glad she had that chat with the HQ Statistician who told her precisely how her numbers were calculated. Now she knows how MegaBakers calculates her performance she can ensure her success and the top bonuses that come with it.
Of course, she doesn’t eat MegaBaker’s bread herself, she bakes her own.
As you get bigger, don’t forget to communicate what is happening. Keep the excitement buzzing that was there in the early days of your business.
This is management.
Note: Any similarity with Trade Names or individuals is purely coincidental.