Tweaks

It was a program that dealt with disability issues; mainly architectural accessibility and employment considerations related to people with disabilities. We'd lined up some excellent speakers and had great reference material in the guide that would be given to each of the attendees. Our publicity was strong and targeted. The program was sponsored by the City and there was no charge.

Naturally, it flopped.

A few weeks later, we held the same program with only one difference: We charged for admission.

The result? Great success.

We later scrawled "You get what you pay for" on our hands, but that's not the point. Sometimes, you are a mere hairline away from success. There can be an extremely small difference between an effort that works enormously well and one that doesn't. Set-backs give us the chance to find that hairline. The wisdom gained from experience gives us the ability to spot it in the first place.