Janet couldn’t open any of the jars of jam she’d made for the market.
She put up a sign offering a free jar to anyone who could open two.
By lunchtime, several strong customers had succeeded.
Her husband asked why she was now taking the sign down….
Janet made twenty-four jars of jam. Her husband, Pete, helped by tightening the lids.
He believed in doing a job properly.
On market morning, Janet tried to open the sample jar. It wouldn’t move.
Pete used a cloth. Then he used two cloths. The jar remained a sealed statement of his workmanship.
Janet put a sign on the stall.
OPEN TWO JARS. WIN ONE.
The man from the cheese stall accepted the challenge. He opened two and took one as his prize.
Three customers tried after him. Only one succeeded.
That customer demonstrated his technique to his brother, who wanted to prove he could do it too.
Soon there was a little crowd.
Janet asked each successful opener to let her check the jar left for sale before gently replacing its lid.
Gently, she added.
Pete said she was giving away the profits.
Janet said the cheese stall was doing very well out of the entertainment.
At noon, she counted the open jars. Then she removed the sign and put up her normal prices.
Pete asked whether she’d run out of prizes.
No.
Then why stop the competition?
Janet handed him the jar she’d wanted for samples.
Because they’ve fixed every lid you tightened.
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