The Bakery Plan

Beth had never felt so uncertain about a business decision. She and her friend Leo had been planning to open a bakery for two years, and now, with the lease ready to sign, they disagreed about almost everything. Not only did they want different locations, but they also had different ideas about prices.

“It isn’t the rent that worries me,” Leo said. “It’s the fact that you never listen.” Beth looked at the contract. “What I want is a place people can find easily,” she replied. “And it was you who suggested the cheaper street in the first place.”

They had two options: a large shop on the main road and a smaller one near the university. Neither was perfect. Both were expensive, but the second was far cheaper than the first. “The more we argue, the less likely we are to agree,” Leo sighed. “We’re not as different as we think,” Beth said. “We both want the same thing.”

She had just finished speaking when the phone rang. It was the owner of the main-road shop, who offered a three-month discount. “We must not sign today under any circumstances,” Beth said. “Only after we have compared the numbers will I decide.” Leo nodded.

They spent the evening with a spreadsheet. By midnight, neither of them was angry any more. What surprised them was how similar their figures were. In the end, it was the smaller shop that won, because it offered more than they had expected: lower costs, steady students and a big window for the bread.