”Eist le fuaim na habhainn agus geobhaidh tu iasc”

Contributor : 

Gilliane Quinn de Schonen

Author :Ferghal Quinn, my Father

This was the favourite phrase of my father Feargal Quinn.  He was an inspirational business leader, founder of Superquinn, champion of customer service and independent senator in the Seanad for over 20 years.  But most of all, he was a positive and amazing father.

He used this phrase, which means ‘listen to the sound of the river if you want to catch a fish’, as a metaphor for the importance of listening to your customer if you want to find your market.  He spoke this in conferences all around the world and in his book “Crowning the Customer” which was translated into over 40 languages as a tool for customer service.  It was so associated with him that we even wrote it on his gravestone!