Day 63 of Embracing The Wonders of Life – A Scoop of Memory

When I grew up in Utrecht, summer had an unwritten rule: you had to go to Venezia. Not once, but often. Venezia was not just an ice cream specialist; it was a ritual. A destination. On warm days, you would head towards the Neude, knowing that there—exactly where you expected it—you would find the shop. And if not there, then surely the stand along the famous Oude Gracht canal. Reliable. Familiar. Comforting.

The shop itself is no longer there, but Venezia still lives on. In memories, in stories, and in moments like the one captured in this picture: the bright red stand, the striped poles, the quiet confidence of a brand that does not need to shout. It simply is. Like Bakkerij Wammes (as mentioned in an earlier post), Venezia was a beacon in the city. A fixed point around which summers revolved.

What makes a place almost synonymous with ice cream? It is not one brilliant idea or a single summer of success. It is quality—never compromised. It is dedication—showing up every day, again and again. And it is consistency—doing the same thing well, for years, even generations. If you get those three right, people will not just remember you; they will trust you. And trust, once earned, can outlive buildings, locations, and even time itself.

That lesson travels far beyond ice cream.

Thought leadership works in exactly the same way. You do not become a thought leader by one viral post or a single keynote. You earn it by consistently sharing quality thinking, by dedicating time to your craft, and by showing up—even when the results are not immediate. Just like Venezia did, year after year.
The world is full of noise. What it needs more of are beacons.

So here is a simple suggestion: ask yourself what you want to be remembered for. Then commit to doing that one thing with quality, dedication, and consistency. Every day. Over time, you might just become someone—or something—people seek out every summer of their lives.