Always time for Kool-Aid

If there's one thing I can't pass up in life, it's a kid out front of his house selling lemonade, or Kool-Aid. First of all, that's not me in the picture, although I've always wanted to learn to play the mandolin...

Back to my point. So I have a policy, that if I ever see a kid selling lemonade, I stop, and buy a glass. Always.

I applaud the initiative, the passion, the effort. I love the naivete, the lessons the process teaches, and the pure joy of it all. Nothing makes a kid selling lemonade happier than someone stopping to buy a glass of lemonade. I never did it as a child (that I remember) but I can only imagine the sense of excitement, pride, and accomplishment that they feel when they see that shiny nickel.

Do you, or your employees feel these feelings when your company accomplishes something? Does every transaction bring a wonderful visceral experience? What's preventing that?

Sidebar: One time, my wife and I stopped at a lemonade stand (I will remember this experience my whole life) and upon asking the little girl how much for a glass she promptly replied "Each glass is 25 cents, or free if you don't have any money." How wonderful, how pure. Is your organization just in it for the money? Or because everyone just loves what they do?