How To Make Cheese

Here at Play, eating cheese is a weekly occurrence. At some point during the work week, Christine spoils us with a beautiful cheese board covered with cheddar, stilton, and everyone’s favorite, brie. As often as we savor this popular food, rarely do we consider its origins. Many people would be surprised to find out that cheese was, in fact, an accidental discovery. Legends tell that in 6000 BC in Mesopotamia, a nomad was preparing for his travel through the dessert and stocked his saddlebag with sheep’s milk. During the trek, the heat of the sun, the release of enzymes from the saddlebag, and the jostling movement from his horse caused the milk to curdle. What a surprise when he opened the sack, put the curdled milk to his tongue, and tasted a savory substance that would later become a billion dollar industry.

This is a good reminder that when conditions are right, one’s current product can naturally evolve into something completely surprising, unique, or different. In the case of the sojourning Arab, he didn’t actually set out to discover cheese. It naturally occurred because the conditions were favorable. What conditions does your organization have--or not have-- in place so that new products or innovations result? A combination of a stimulating culture, an opportunistic environment, and flexible mechanisms that favor and flavor creativity may just give birth to delectable ideas.