A few years ago when corporate America was emphasizing excellence in the workplace a story was circulating about a widower who had for years been eating at the same restaurant. On this particular night, he sat down at his usual table and his waiter, as usual, put before him, as usual, a bowl of chicken soup.

As he started leaving, Mr. Smith called out, “Waiter!”

“What?” said the waiter.

“Please taste this soup,” said Mr. Smith.

The waiter frowned. “It’s the chicken soup you always have,” said the waiter.

“Taste it,” said Mr. Smith.

“Listen, Mr. Smith, in all the years you have eaten here, did you ever once have a bad bowl of chicken soup?” asked the waiter.

“Waiter taste the soup!” said Mr. Smith.

“All right, all right, Mr. Smith, I’ll taste it . . . So, where’s the spoon?”

“Aha!”…