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The perils of diversification
Two Irishmen, Paddy and Mick, decide to open a pub. But bizarrely, it is a complete disaster. For reasons they simply cannot fathom, they have no customers. The pub is a failure. They are staring financial ruin in the face.
"Mick," says Paddy, with an air of desperation, "I think we should close the pub and open a brothel."
"Don't be ridiculous, Paddy," says Mick. "If we can't sell beer, we'll never sell soup."
OMG. Is this a Bernard Manning tribute? I thought Irish "jokes" had died out in the 1970's. Is it really the work of the editors as claimed above the posting? Does this befit a serious publication?
Posted by :Ash Mehta | July 20, 2007 1:04 PM
Sorry you didn't like it. I thought the joke worked on a number of levels.
First, it reminded me of the countless instances when companies have sought to expand into markets they didn't really understand, and made a total hash of it as a result.
Second, it reminded me of how expansion can be used as an extra, attention-diverting spinning plate to take shareholders' minds off the fact that there is a problem in the core business.
And third, it brought to mind examples of companies where management resource gets focused on the Big New Thing while the core business gets neglected.
Of course, if you prefer to see it as a simple Irish joke, then I suppose I could have turned it into a self-deprecating Canadian joke (featuring Monty and Pierre, perhaps) - but that would have bored people long before they reached the punchline.
Posted by :Andrew Sawers | July 20, 2007 1:38 PM
Andrew, I agree the tale possibly works on all three levels you state. But if it's that good why the need to bring in the Irish aspect? How does any racial/national or other identification add to the tale?
Posted by :Ash Mehta | July 20, 2007 2:15 PM
For goodness' sake, it's just a joke! It's not a Harvard Business School case study. It's not a doctorate critique of the on-licence industry in Eire. I could have made it about two non-nation-specific guys called Bob and Kevin but then would everyone I know called Bob and Kevin get the hump? Or have I already offended every pub landlord in the country for suggesting they can't sell beer properly and so ought to live off of immoral earnings instead?
Posted by :Andrew Sawers | July 20, 2007 3:20 PM