"Mr. Bean will arrive in a few minutes", I was told as I arrived at the cocoa farm.
That was great, as it gave me a chance to rest a bit on such a hot day.
A few happy people were tasting chocolate at the table near mine, under the shade of cocoa trees.
True to their word, Mr. Bean approached my table after greeting those around him. With a serious face, he invited me to follow him. This must be the Vietnamese style, I reassured myself as I had just arrived in the country.
He reminded me of one of my dad’s friends and, in an attempt to build a connection, I told him I grew up on a farm and that my parents would have loved to be there to learn more about cocoa and chocolate production. Perhaps this helped him open up to me. He showed me in detail the plantation and the machines he built with his own hands to produce chocolate, offered me cocoa and chocolate in all forms, including an excellent cider made from cocoa. He also explained me how he trades cocoa internationally and how he learned English by spending time with Americans during the war.
The most moving story he shared with me was about a turning point in his life. His father, who used to travel for work, came back from Myanmar one day with a fruit that was still unknown in Vietnam. His father advised his children to learn about it as he believed it had great potential. That fruit was a cocoa pod, and this is how Mr. Bean started the business that allowed him to raise his family. Now only one of his granddaughters has shawn interest in continuing the family business. I couldn't tell from his eyes whether he was happy about it or not, but he seemed at peace regardless of the future.
He had transformed his father's intuition into a thriving enterprise through curiosity, ingenuity, and dedication. His genuine and humble way of sharing his creation from scratch near the Mekong Delta with people from all over the world warmed my heart.
Mr. Bean's story is a testament to the power of following one's intuition, harnessing dedication, and cultivating ingenuity. These are the very principles I bring to my coaching practice.
Just as Mr. Bean turned a simple cocoa pod into a thriving business, you too can transform your life and career by tapping into your unique strengths and passions.
Are you ready to follow your intuitions with ingenuity and dedication?
Did you spend time working on the plantation? We went to a small cocoa farm a few years ago and it was a fascinating process. I absolutely love reading about your adventures! Sarah