Risk-taking and coffee bean roasting

Tonight while eating dinner I read about a very successful business-person who owns upscale restaurants all over the country.  He is driven by detail, and so intent on providing his customers with the best experience from conception to conclusion he has started a separate company to roast coffee beans specifically for each location.  Waiters then personally grind and brew each cup of coffee, and they are enjoyed as if it were a fine glass of wine, or exquisite piece of chocolate.  That's some attention to detail.  That seems like a very risky proposition that enough people care quite that much to pay what must be a handful for a very good cup of coffee.  But this person cares.  He is passionate, and driven and willing to invest in his meticulous vision.  This is risk-taking on an expensive, you could lose a lot of money level.

It made me think about practice today.  I challenged the team specifically to take risks to get better. They did just that.  These players are pushing each other to new levels of performance.  Details have become significant.  With risks have come failures, and then suddenly, another jump in ability.  We won't lose any money with our risk-taking.  We will only gain confidence, greater ability, and ultimately experience success.  One delicious coffee bean at a time.