“The Great American Beer Festival has come a long was since its humble beginnings in 1982 as an offshoot of the 4th annual National Homebrew and Microbrewery Conference. Nevertheless, if the name is any indication, its aspirations were great, and over 30 years, the events has grown from 800 attendees to 49,000 and from a 5,000 square foot festival hall to one closer to 300,000 square feet.”

- Brewers Association media info, ala GABF

Two GABF goer's that'd agree its a 'great' festival!

Great aspirations can yield poor overblown unplanned failure. Great aspirations need to have some thought behind them. Because great aspirations can also create smashing success.

The GABF is a premium example of thoughtfulness – not that any of the progenitors of the event could have foreseen its success. With sound decision making as part of the process, aspirations can be come realities.

Cheers to the Brewers Association, the brewers, the beer community, sponsors, vendors, workers, volunteer army and attendees – they all make this truly remarkable festival tick tock every year.

Are you making your decisions on purpose  or are they incidental? Or worse, by default?

Operating any household or business, organization or entity requires thoughtful action. Thoughtful as in thinking things through. Being full of thoughts on the issues at hand.

When you simply rely on or allow default, when you don’t address the issues as they need to be, you are defaulting on way more than that one decision. You’re defaulting on yourself, your colleagues, your beer, your customers and your expectations.

Would you brand your business “Default Widgets: The One To Fall Back On”? Did you open your business to just meet the bare minimum?

Is something ‘that’ll do’ good enough for you? Or do you purposefully strive for better?

People everywhere – including your present and potential customers – want and deserve more.