Photo by Ruth Bourke on Unsplash Centralize the Promise, Decentralize the Expression What Big Boy can teach us about products, people, branding, and growth A recent video about the rise and decline of Big Boy presents the company’s history through four things it did exceptionally well—and one structural decision that eventually weakened everything it had built. It is an entertaining piece of restaurant history, but it is also a useful business case study. The lesson is not simply that centralization is good and decentralization is bad. The more important question is this: As a business grows, what must remain under central control, and what should be adapted locally? 1. Build a product people can recognize and remember Big Boy began with a distinctive product: the double-decker hamburger. Its importance was not merely that it was bigger. It looked substantial, felt special, and delivered a memorable experience without destroying the restaurant’s profit margin. That is an...
The Kobayashi Maru and You: What Do You Do When There Is No Winning Move? Have you ever faced a situation where every option seemed wrong? Star Trek fans know the Kobayashi Maru as the famous "no-win scenario" at Starfleet Academy. Captain James T. Kirk became legendary by refusing to accept the premise of the test. But what if the real lesson isn't about cheating the simulation? In this reflection, I explore determination versus stubbornness, humility versus pride, and the wisdom to know when to stand firm, when to yield, and when to rethink the problem altogether. Inspired by a conversation with my wife, this episode asks whether some of life's greatest victories come not from winning arguments—but from becoming wiser people. Read the complete article (including bonus reflections): https://tomsims.substack.com/p/the-kobayashi-maru-and-you Connect with me: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tomsims Website: https://pastortom.blog Bible Chats: https://biblechatonline.com If ...