As we embark on the journey that is 2020, I wanted to start my blogging year with a story that was told to me a number of years ago.

The story involves a group of school students who, during one of their classes, were asked to make a list of what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. These didn’t have to be the Seven Ancient Wonders but just the Seven Wonders as they thought of them.

Their lists were combined and while there was some disagreement about what ‘wonders’ should be included on their collective list, the following seven got the most votes:

• 1. The Great Pyramids in Egypt
• 2. The Taj Mahal
• 3. The Grand Canyon
• 4 The Panama Canal
• 5 The Empire State Building
• 6 The Basilica of St. Peter in Rome; and
• 7 The Great Wall of China

However, while gathering the lists and tallying the votes, the students’ teacher noticed that one quiet member of the class had not turned in her paper. As a result, she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, ‘Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.’

The teacher said, ‘Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.’

The girl hesitated, then read, ‘I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

• 1 To touch
• 2 To taste
• 3 To see
• 4 To hear

She hesitated a little, and then added:

• 5 To feel
• 6 To laugh; and….
• 7 To love

Once the girl had finished reading out her list, the class was so silent you could have heard a pin drop.

Her list not only acts as a gentle reminder that the most wondrous and precious things are often right in front of us but also that not everyone shares the same perspective. Sometimes the simple things that go unsaid, go unacknowledged or are taken for granted are often the most important.

We should bear this in mind when we think about our customers, our colleagues, our partners and our suppliers.

What is really important to them? Do you share the same perspective? Is there anything that goes unsaid? What do we or they take for granted?

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Note: A version of this story was posted on this blog back in 2010 (link)

Thanks to Valerie Everett for the image.