Hand or Heart...

Bella, "So this is my business model; where each day five books will be reviewed, at identified book clubs - where little children are my targeted audience, along with serving chiffon cookies. These Book clubs will have a nominal chargeable fee. If any person, including a student - whoever liked what he learnt at the book review, could purchase the same book."

Oliver, "Bella, you never fail to impress me- it seems nice. So, how much profit margin are you expecting from this business model?"

Bella replied, " to begin with, say at least 35%." Oliver asked, "Alright, Bella, let us see what Jackson has gotten for us?"

Jackson said, "Why don't you try my first batch of Lavender Cheese Cake? Tell me, how much do I bake well?"

Dahlia was stupefied to see Jackson's baking come alive, and she said, "Jackson - these are amazing!! Why don't you set up a shop outside this building, and you will get at least 150-200 customers a day - just like me!! So how are you planning to get the return on investment?"

"Well, I am calling it - Jacks' Cheesecake - JCC School of Innovation -inspiring people to create their flavoured cheesecake based on the tactics I share with them. The people enrolled on my innovation school will have a target to sell a minimum of 25 cakes each. The innovation school will partner with nearby event management companies, corporates and schools apart from the chain of restaurants and hotels. Just tell me, who wouldn't be like or be inspired to try the flavour of cheesecake they like? And yes, if the person completes his selling target - accolades are already waiting before he knows!

Oliver asked Jackson, "Seems challenging to me. Do you have enough time to get it all kickstarted before Monday?" Jackson said gracefully, "Oliver, isn't Passion all about that? You make it work somehow - hopefully, I will have to find a way too!"

Oliver replied, "I admire your spirit. Good luck with everything! Over to you, Dahlia, show us what you've got."

Dahlia projected the map of Europe before everyone. One by one, she depicted the countries she would visit. Dahlia added further, "Starting from Norway, Sweden to ending at Romania and Turkey, covering 20 countries across the European waters. In each country I visit, I will learn about the best foods and connect with the famous chain of restaurante - I will write a food review as a VP of Media and Marketing of Chiffon Cookies as it will help us penetrate the European markets and learn about their culture will help us customize our Cookies for Europeans. So the business model I am proposing is for food and travel blogging Online."

Oliver asked, "Dahlia - this seems nice for the firm, and if you even manage to visit 20 countries, how are you planning to get the return on investment?"

Dahlia said, "a kind of platform that is like a one-stop solution for solo travellers worldwide. Interested people will register and pay a fee - to learn the tips and tricks to travel to a particular country. You might think; that the data is already available on the internet, so what is so good about it? Let me tell you; it is scattered in pieces - making the audience more confused and distracted - resulting in trustworthiness amongst various online travel sites."

Oliver asked, " Dahlia - Let me sum up this to you. You will travel all 20 countries while running a travel blog and writing food reviews for the best locale foods - helping us customize Chiffon as per European taste and lifestyle. Now - this depends on your landing page and how you intend to attract your target audience -i.e., Solo travellers." Dahlia interrupted Oliver and said, " That is part one, and another thing that I might try is - in case I manage to find a local supplier for popular local food - I might even sell them at the tourist attractions that I visit - along with giving away a free Chiffon Cookie; marketing our product and getting real-time feedback at the same time."

Oliver said to her, "Dahlia, this seems too vague - considering the shortage of time, I hope you can fine-tune it - before it's late. If you need anything - you know where to find me. Alright, guys, I think you are good to go - but Dahlia - you need to work on it. Lets the best business rise - with nothing but only Passion." Oliver left with a smirk on his face.

After the meeting, while Dahlia was leaving her workplace, Cleopatra caught her red-handed and asked, "So how was the business proposal meet for your passion project?" Dahlia seemed disappointed - she said, " I dunno Cleo, the idea was to work on your passion project - suddenly seems to me if I am supposed to enjoy travelling to the European countries and learn its culture - or focus my attention on getting the return on investment within three months. What if I am enjoying what I do and not able to get the returns I desire? Maybe I need to think of something that I haven't put my mind to - something out of the box to make it work on its own for achieving those crazy magic numbers."

Cleo asked Dahlia, "What are you thinking? How are you going to do it differently? Dahlia, you have less time to even think about it. You start to pack your stuff by now - as you will be gone for the next three months. Time is ticking too fast, Dahlia!!"

"Cleo - My grandmother used to say, every problem has a solution. If, in this case, the time is my problem. So, it is my solution. But how can I make it serve my purpose?" Dahlia asked Cleopatra.

Cleopatra was checking her phone to get some idea over social media when she asked Dahlia, "By the way, how are you planning to travel from one country to another? How are you going to maximize your time during the transit? Have you ever been on a cruise, travelling from one country to another?"

"What do you mean cruise? How is it ever going to help me get $50,000 returns?" Dahlia was perplexed.

Cleopatra was struck - by a lightning bolt and said, "Dahlia, this is it! You will get on a cruise - travel country to another on a cruise - once you have finished spending your time in Norway. Girl, Europe's culture is all about art and museums - why not leverage it?"

Dahlia was still - immersed in her anxiety about choosing her travel dreams and doing it for money. Just because she owed it to Oliver, she couldn't leave him halfway when both were on the verge of getting what they had been grinding for these many years. Dahlia asked Cleo, "what do you mean by leveraging the culture of fine arts and museums?"

Cleo said, "Dahlia, sometimes life gives you lemons, but it doesn't mean you have to make the lemonade using only the same method you are familiar with; what I mean to say is, sometimes, to solve a problem, having one answer is not enough- sometimes you need more than one answers -given the situation, it will always feel right irrespective of the direction it takes you to!"

Dahlia exclaimed, "Cleo! What has gotten into you? You sound like Socrates from centuries ago!"

Cleo said, " Hear me out, you will travel on a cruise meeting multiple people from different nationalist - clicking photographs, which you get paid for, and once you get down on each country, you can exhibit in the nearby popular art galleries or museums - which you get paid for again. It is the third gig - that you can experiment with too! In your case, you cannot have one business model that - you can rely upon to get those numbers multiplying over the $50,000 investment."

Dahlia was impressed, "Cleo, I still cannot believe it, is that coming from you? Since when did you become smart? I think I realize what you mean to say - leveraging Europe, for what it's best known, can only help you make money - just like selling their most popular local food items! Cleo, I love you for shining some light over me. I think I might be onto something! Worst than this, I better get my packed - Monday it is - gotta kickstart, and let's be in touch while I am away; I need updates of what's happening here."

Cleo said, "Sure. And don't forget what your heart says to do - but do not leave your mind stranded. Having the right balance of everything is the key! Forget the money - for a while and focus on your travel dreams, girl - you will eventually get the hack for finding the right way to multiply your Euros."

Dahlia said, "You are right. Following my heart will help me find a way somehow. Anyways, I love you, Cleo, and see you soon! I hope it goes all well as I have imagined."

Cleo replied, "It will be amazing, trust me. And yes, remember, your flight leaves tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Have a safe journey, full of love and adventures!"