In many keynotes and lectures, I relayed this story on how to understand Canadians.
A friend of mine won the Lottery! He now had $24 million to play with. And play he did! He traveled for a couple of years, played a lot of golf, drank a lot of great wine and generally enjoyed the jet-set life of a Playboy. But it wasn’t enough?
My friend was outgoing and a real “people person!”
So he got an idea. He found a wonderful little beach bar on St Maarten and made it his own. As he had no need for income he put up a big sign …
“DRINKS 10¢ “
He just wanted the company and to spend his days chatting with folks and having the time of his life. And he did.
One day a couple of gentlemen from Ohio entered the bar. They were a tad confused and when my friend greeted them they asked. “So all drinks 10¢?”
“Yep!” he answered.
The guys ordered two Tanqueray 10 Martinis… make em “doubles!”
My friend whipped up a couple of perfect drinks and set them on the bar. The guys were absolutely stunned … “This is great!”
My friend announced the tab would be 40¢. And the afternoon took off just like that. Another round was ordered and my friend’s mission was accomplished. Great laughs and stories!
A while later one of the guys noticed two older gentlemen sitting down the end of the bar – not drinking.
He asked my friend, “What’s with those two?”
“Oh, them? They’re from Canada. They’re waiting for Happy Hour.”