A new guy was sitting in for Michael at the farmer’s market.
He had eggplants and no intention of letting anyone leave without one.
Many people bought eggplants that day. That’s the thing about the eggplant — it has to be sold. But for those who like it, they’re glad someone cared enough to insist they try it.
Candy, on the other hand, sells itself.
A few weeks ago, we took our kids to Savannah, Georgia for the day. As we were browsing the touristy shops on River Street, we found ourselves lured into Savannah’s Candy Kitchen by the sweet aroma of fresh praline. (Below is a picture from inside the store.)
No one had to sell my kids on anything. Quite the opposite — I had to sell them on choosing just one thing each.
If you were given a choice to sell candy or eggplant, which would you choose to sell?
Most would choose to sell candy.
But the problem with candy is that there are a lot of options. The competition is crushing. Just think of how many chocolate bars there are, for example.
Eggplant, on the other hand, has little competition. It’s at its best between July and October. And it comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, with your best tasting options most likely available from local sources.
I’ve found that worthwhile things like healthcare, nonprofits and ministries are like eggplants. They need someone who cares deeply about them to sell them.
If you struggle to get the word out about what you do — to get people to pay attention and take action — then you might be like that guy at the farmer’s market selling eggplants.
Don’t give up. Let your deep care inspire trust in those you have the privilege to serve.
Because those who choose to follow your lead will be glad they did. And they’ll thank you for caring enough to sell them on it.
(This little essay was inspired by a person who bought eggplant that day at the farmer’s market. The eggplant photo is by Rich Renomeron. And the photo of Savannah’s Candy Kitchen is by mwms1916.)