Where do you go for holidays when you already live in one of the world’s most divine locations? Recently in Tuscany on the first leg of a dreamy overseas trip, I couldn’t help but ask this question. How could I not? This tiny region in central Italy is less than a third of Tasmania’s size, yet overflows with medieval villages, olive groves and vineyards. What’s more, it’s the birthplace to a stack of those names everyone knows — Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Dante, Botticelli … need I go on?
As for culinary delights, I had the idea for an article that linked Tuscan staples to small business while eating lunch on the terrace of a rustic country villa. Sigh … for you, dear reader, I over-indulged in each of the following four:
Pecorino Toscano
Tuscans are proud of this sheep’s milk cheese, which is eaten at any of three stages — fresh, medium-aged or mature. From soft and delicate to firm and sharp, the cheese changes with time, but no stage is considered superior. Each one is simply different. The same goes for your business. Nothing in our world is static, so understand that the flavour and character of what you do will also change. It’s not better or worse. The point is to accept change, and use it to grow and refine your business.
Olive Oil
Known as “liquid gold”, Tuscan olive oil is said to be the best, and considering every single olive is picked by hand, that’s no mean feat (especially when you realise it takes about 1,250 olives to make a litre!). In our mechanised world, people long for the personal touch, so let your humanity show. It takes time to hand-write “thank you” notes, have a meeting over coffee, or engage in real conversations with your customers, but the reward is a better quality product or service and a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Chianti
One of the best known Italian wines, chianti is a lush, fruity red produced only in Tuscany. Its high acid content makes it an incredibly flexible drop that can be paired with many foods. The obvious business parallel is to be flexible, because you never know what challenges, changes and chances lie ahead. Acid, however, has strange properties. The same thing that ensures flexibility also purifies and preserves. Think of a rusted metal garden bench, for example, acid removes the rust and, thus, restores beauty and usefulness. Does anything in your business need refurbishing?
Wild Boar
Wild boar, or cinghiale, takes me straight back to childhood (I immediately picture Asterix and Obelix biffing Roman legionaries and then feasting on whole, spit-roasted pigs)! Unfortunately, cooking wild boar isn’t that easy in real life, at least in Tuscany (from where many of those above-mentioned victims probably hailed). Wild boar may be delicious, but it requires complicated preparation, a long list of ingredients and slow cooking to get the most tender results. The same could be said of starting a business. Like wild boars, the forest is full of raw ideas, but it takes planning and patience to realise their full potential. Think of something you can do to add more flavour to your business; revisit your business plan, enroll in a short course or access the federal government’s business portal.
