Take the Business Recipe, Make It Yours — Thanksgiving, Travel Advisor Edition

As we head into Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of how many recipes get passed around this time of year. Some we follow exactly and others we can’t help but tweak to make them our own. Business advice works the same way. Everyone has a “recipe” for success, but the best business owners treat advice the way great cooks treat a family recipe: Borrow it, season it, taste-test it and adjust it until it fits your flavor.

The “Good vs. Great” Recipe

Good business owners stick to the same dish every year because it’s familiar.
Great business owners aren’t afraid to try a new sprinkle of seasoning, swap an ingredient or add a new dish to the table.

The magic is in staying curious.

Your Thanksgiving “Taste-Test” Approach to Advice

Next time you’re given a tip, treat it like a holiday side dish:

• Taste it first — Try the idea on a small scale before committing.
• Add your seasoning — Adjust it to your voice, your values and your clients.
• Share what works — Good recipes (and good ideas) get even better when shared.

Simple ways to “test the recipe” in your business:

• Try one new follow-up style for a week and see how clients respond.
• Borrow a question another advisor uses on discovery calls — if it feels stiff, rewrite it with your voice.
• If a supplier shares a tip on a webinar, try it with your next three quotes.

Tiny tweaks lead to big flavor.

Thanksgiving Reflection for Advisors

This season, take a moment to be grateful for:

• The mentors who shared their “secret sauce”
• The fellow advisors who taste-tested ideas so you didn’t have to
• The clients who gave feedback that helped you improve your creations
• The small wins that turned into signature dishes in your business

This week, try asking three people (a client, a peer and a supplier) “What’s one thing you do differently now that you wish you had done sooner?” Pick one of their ideas, test it for seven days and write down what changed. Because just like Thanksgiving dishes, the best ideas grow more delicious each time they’re shared, refined and served up with heart.