Tomatoes might be a staple of Italian cuisine now, but there were none in all of Europe until the 16th century. Spanish explorers brought them home from their travels to Central and South America.
One of the largest producers of rubber today? Malaysia. But it had no rubber trees until seeds were smuggled out of Brazil in the 19th century.
Bananas—they’re one of the major crops in Ecuador. But they weren’t even there until 16th century Portuguese sailors brought them from Africa.
You see, everything that will make you successful is not always within your domain. Sometimes you have to reach out to far-away places.
How can you cross-fertilize your business with an ingredient from someone else?
Who has a product, a service, a talent, a seed, an idea, a campaign, a system, a crop that…when integrated into your complementary environment…produces a perfect marriage and spectacular business?
Who has your tomato?
Go forth and do great things,
Martha Hanlon and Chris Williams