Walking through one of the narrow streets in Hong Kong’s Central District last month with my husband and daughter, we were stopped by a long line spilling out of a tiny noodle house.
It was no bigger than what we’d call a “hole-in-the-wall” in the U.S. Peeking through the window, we saw customers eating shoulder to shoulder at communal tables. The exterior was plastered with Michelin ratings from several consecutive years. Impressive.
Intrigued, we went in.
The waiter seated us at a small table. The décor was basic — nothing fancy. And the menu? Possibly the shortest I’ve ever seen.
Soup noodles or dry noodles.
Three topping options: king prawn wonton, fish balls, or beef slices.
One vegetable: steamed Chinese broccoli.
That was it.
All three of us ordered soup noodles with king prawn wontons, plus one plate of vegetables to share.
Within five minutes, the bowls arrived. We took our first bites.
Wow.
It was, without question, the best king prawn wonton noodle I’ve ever had.
Inspiration
This noodle house is the opposite of flashy — yet it deeply delights its customers. They’ve kept things simple and perfected what they offer.
It reminded me that:
Focus enables mastery.
Simplicity allows repeatability.
Less really is more.
Reflections
As the year is still finding its rhythm, where might greater focus and simplicity help you achieve better outcomes?
Is your strategy simple enough that people across your organization can articulate it — consistently — in under a minute?
Are your customer experiences focused enough to truly wow your ideal clients?
And in your personal life, what’s one small simplification that could make a meaningful difference?
What becomes possible if we choose to keep it simple — and focused?
