I’ve seen the World’s Largest Ball of Twine.
I know. You’re totally jealous.
This took place on Monday. I had just finished speaking at Beloit HS to amazing Kansas StuCo leaders and headed through Cawker City on my way to the next stop in the Kansas tour. The student leaders informed me not to touch the ball of twine (as other “traditions” take place with the twine), but that it would definitely be a site on my drive.
I laughed as most would when I first saw the ball of twine, but then I saw a sign that had me thinking.
It was a simple sign, nothing much. The paint was chipped and you could see the wear and tear of the weather, but it did acknowledge Frank Stoeber for beginning the twine ball in 1953.
At the bottom, a simple equation:
Thrift + Patience = Success
Such a simple concept, but such a great idea as well. I think patience is something we often lack while pursuing our goals. We want instant success.
The twine ball is quite huge and it took decades for it to reach its current size. It continues to grow each year as community members add more twine to it.
As much as I mocked the twine ball on the drive towards it, I couldn’t help but feel a bit happy for Frank and this thing he created.
An hour or so after I left the twine ball, I stopped in Osborne, Kansas at a Pizza Hut.
I haven’t been a fan of pizza hut since the days when they had the Back to the Future Sunglasses promotion (yes, it was THAT long ago), but there didn’t seem anywhere else to eat nearby, so it seemed like the best option.
Again a sign caught my eye, particularly the Team Mission: “To be the first choice for every pizza occasion by always providing 100% customer satisfaction.”
Surprisingly, this Pizza Hut in the middle of vast Kansas land, did exactly that. It was the cleanest Pizza Hut I’ve ever visited. The service was quick and incredibly friendly. I watched the waitress visit with the locals and share familiar stories. the whole experience was actually one of the best I’ve had in a restaurant in quite some time.
And it was at a Pizza Hut? In Kansas?
There was a pride I noticed in that twine ball and that same pride existed in that Pizza Hut. The owner and manager obviously had a vision of what that Pizza Hut could be.
They saw the possibility, and regardless of how others might initially judge, they seemed to know that they could achieve it.
And they did.
They had the patience to experience success.
And they also had the drive. They began something new. Perhaps a little bit like how Frank Stoeber did in 1953. He created a reason for people to visit Cawker City, and this Pizza Hut group created a reason for you to go their restaurant.
What are you creating? How’s your patience doing?
Is your organization the “first choice” because you provide that level of service?
It was a simple drive through Kansas for me. A ball of twine and a Pizza Hut, but they both have me thinking about how I’m approaching my days. I hope they might do the same for you as well : )