A hot, sunny afternoon at our campsite. Almost everyone joined us on this trip.
My parents
My siblings
Their spouses
A gaggle of teenagers (they were with me)
A handful of pups
We were camping outside a theme park in New York. Why?
The once-in-a-lifetime moment to take the whole family to see Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan in concert. Better get your tickets, folks. The runway on this duo is getting shorter by the day.
It’s the day after the concert. Everyone is a bit scattered. Hiding in air-conditioned cabins or trailers, off at the theme park…on some dizzying ride. Me? I’m just back from a run and a shower (no small accomplishment at a campground). I make myself an iced coffee. Yes, you could call it glamping.
Now what? Read a book. Crochet something beautiful. Both are favourite pastimes. Both solo activities. Neither a good idea for the annual full family trip with the people I love who are also spread between two countries and a couple of provinces.
Then I had it!!! I packed an old jigsaw puzzle in the camper. My mom is a puzzle fanatic. She gives me her odd castaways. This one, saved in a Ziploc bag with the cardboard picture cut from the box. Were all the pieces still in there? Who knows!
The best part? The entire puzzle is nothing more than candy wrappers. 550 pieces of Reese’s, Milk Duds, Milky Ways and more. A far cry from those puzzles with a trio of white fluffy cats or thousands of buttons in various shades that take weeks to finish.
This puzzle promises some pretty immediate gratification.
So…I clean the picnic table and get started. There are only two of us at the campsite when I start.
“Hey, Keith (my brother-in-law), when was the last time you did a puzzle?”
Keith sits down.
Send a photo of the table and a pile of pieces to the family group chat. “Any takers?”
My son Simon and his girlfriend, Alex, sit down.
My sister, Michele
My daughter, Molly
It’s getting frantic.
And before you know it, there’s no room for me at the table.
And that’s amazing.
Mission accomplished. Everyone in!!
I’m in the camper when they finish. I know this because the cheers were loud!! Every piece accounted for…thanks, Mom!
The Puzzle Principle of Experience Design
In this case, if you build it, they will come.
At least, that’s what I found out after the fact.
I wasn’t being strategic when I got the puzzle out.
I just wanted to do something simple, fun, and semi-social.
Turns out, that’s the strategy.
Because the same principles apply when we’re designing experiences — for customers, clients, or colleagues.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in what we want to offer.
What we think people need.
What we assume will impress them.
But the real magic happens when we create space for people to gather around something they care about and then let them take the lead.
The perfect puzzle moment reminds us:
- People show up for things that feel inviting.
No pressure. No performance. Just a chance to join in. - The invitation matters.
Pitch it too hard, and it feels like a sales job.
Keep it casual and inclusive, and people lean in. - The setup matters.
Clear the clutter. Make it easy to engage. One puzzle, a clean picnic table, a few empty seats.
Add a bag of chips and you’re golden. - Simple beats spectacular.
A 550-piece candy wrapper puzzle sparked more connection than any big, complicated plan would have. Don’t underestimate low-friction fun.
So the next time you’re crafting an offer, ask:
- Would someone pause their scroll or their day to join this?
- Does it feel like there’s room for them?
- Are you making it easy to say yes?
- Are you letting it be about them and not you?
Who knows? Maybe you’ll get all the right people, they stick around for a while and they come back for more.
The next puzzle: cereal boxes. An afternoon full of Wheaties, Cheerios and Lucky Charms…just for fun.
Because sometimes, the best thing you can do is set the table…then step aside.
That’s all folks…
New to One Thing Thursdays?
Each week, I share something I’m learning, living, or working out in real time. It’s part storytelling, part reflection. I hope there’s something in it for you too.
Mary
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