Over the course of a few weeks, neighbor after neighbor started power washing then sealing their driveways. Each driveway took days to complete the multi-step process. Clearly each homeowner thought the effort was worth it because one after another the process started anew.

That’s the thing about trends. It just takes one person to start. And when others see or hear about it and think it is a good idea, they follow. The challenge in making sure people see the benefit to them. Once they do, they’ll join in.

Every now and then, tile showers need to be sealed and have grout issues addressed. It’s that time. That meant showering in my guest bath. Instead of the roomy, tiled shower with glass doors, the guest bath is the standard fiberglass tub/shower with a shower curtain that blows into you. Yikes! What a different experience. And one I had forgotten because it had been so long.

Leadership can be the same way. We forget how tedious doing some jobs can be. Or how the experience with customers and co-workers changes along the way. It’s worth periodically going back to that experience to understand what people across the organization experience every day.

When I first moved to my new house, a newspaper showed up once a week. I was so busy at the time, I never opened it. A decade later, the paper was still showing up and I finally got a chance to open it and read it. What a delight. It highlights life and activities in town, has serious coverage of business and governmental affairs, and a robust dialogue in the letters to the editor section. And it is funded entirely by donations and ads. Every week it shows up and offers value.

There’s something to be said for showing up. People are busy or distracted and it might take a bit to get noticed. But it will happen if you keep showing up.

My dog has an uncanny knack for finding the absolute best spot to see everything. In the backyard, she’s found a spot where she can see the front, the entire backyard, the door to the house as well as the park behind because she is on the high ground. She’s strategically positioned.

Astute people in business do the same. They position the business in a place where they can see customers, competitors and the market. And customers see them. They strategically position.

Are you strategically positioned? When was the last time you checked your view?

A long time store announced it was closing. The owner just needs a break to recharge and come back with a different focus. So, a few friends and I went to have a glass of champagne on the patio. And while we were sitting there enjoying the day, a non-stop line of people bought pastries, deserts, chocolates, cheese and a variety of other items from the vending machine. For the people sitting on the patio with champagne, it was a champagne bar. But for people at the vending machines, it was a high end pastry and tapas shop.

That’s the thing about business. Depending upon what you do, some customers may view you entirely differently than others.