Lessons from the fruit stand

Since moving to Yangon, I have started shopping at a local fruit and veggie stand.  It is a colorful place full of visual stimulation; stacked pineapples, hanging bananas, and lined-up citrus of all kinds.  The prices are low and the selection is great.  The vendors constantly manage the stock while also being tenacious sellers. All of this goes on for well over 12 hours a day. This got me thinking...

Besides worrying if these people actually get any sleep, I have noticed their approach to selling fruit is not much different to my old job running a support services contract.  These vendors mind the store and have to constantly be thinking about the next sale.

Good project managers must do the same thing. You have to mind the operational elements of the project, while thinking about how you will win the next task order/contract. If you don't, then your product rots and you don't get the next sale.