To kill time before a flight out of Orlando recently, I walked through Downtown Disney, a shopping area near the amusement park. As lunchtime approached, one restaurant caught my eye: Earl of Sandwich.
It turned out to be a good place for a quick-serve lunch, but what’s truly interesting about the Earl of Sandwich restaurant is the story behind the name. A prominently posted sign inside the restaurant reads:
The Sandwich Charter
Our family knows about great sandwiches; we invented the sandwich and have been eating sandwiches since 1762. Using 250 years of experience, today we have set up EARL OF SANDWICH to make delicious sandwiches for you.
Our Secret is to bake the bread when you order, roast our meats every morning and use traditional family recipes.
We are a family who loves making sandwiches and sincerely hope you enjoy eating them. —John, 11th Earl of Sandwich
As it turns out, the sandwich, as a food item, really did originate in the restaurant owner’s family back in the 1700s in the English town of Sandwich, Kent.
Back then, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was supposedly the first person to eat meat between two slices of bread. The invention allowed Montagu to eat while simultaneously working (and while gambling, which he apparently enjoyed quite a bit).
Based in Orlando, the Earl of Sandwich restaurant chain now has 28 locations in 11 U.S. states, plus one in France. Most of the locations are inside airports or near tourist attractions.
Stories Are Free … and Priceless
Don’t you just love the story behind this restaurant?
A story is one of the most powerful things a business, organization or individual person can possess. People can be moved by stories. Great accomplishments can be achieved because of an inspiring story.
Let’s face it, sandwich restaurants are a dime a dozen. The food at Earl of Sandwich was good, but so is the food at its competitors. Ultimately, it’s hard to make a sub that is noticeably better than another sub. That’s why the cool historical story behind Earl of Sandwich is valuable.
Set Yourself Apart With Stories
In today’s hypercompetitive environment, you need a differentiating factor. One thing that could set you apart from everyone else just might be a compelling story. The story behind what you do and why you do it could be the difference between success and failure.
Think about the stories your company or you as an individual professional have that might fascinate people on the outside. Make an arsenal of stories you can pull out at any time you need them. Talk to your colleagues as they may have great stories about your organization.
People learn by stories. People can be compelled to action by stories. Any time you are selling something or trying to convince another person of something, your job will be easier if you reduce your message to a memorable story.
Who knows? Your stories might even lead to a brand-new business!
