This weekend, we said goodbye to Ray Brooks – The voice of Mr Benn.
And if you’ve no idea who that is, congratulations… you’re probably younger than me (47) and your knees still work properly when you stand up.
For the rest of us… ahhh. Saturday mornings, early ’70s/’80s telly, when children’s TV wasn’t a hundred channels of animated chaos but a measured stroll into adventure.
Mr Benn – that’s B-E-N-N, not Bean would pop into a fancy-dress shop, try on a costume, and be whisked away to a magical world where he lived out a little adventure. And then, as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared and he’d be back home again. Job done, no algorithm required.
Now, for my younger readers (and some of my older-but-suspiciously-cooler ones) who still haven’t a Scooby Doo what I’m on about, think of it as the original “immersive role-play”, only without the VR headset and motion sickness.
Here’s why this matters for your business:
The Three Hats (or Costumes) Every Business Owner Needs
When you’re running your own show, you don’t just play one role. If you do, you’ll find yourself stuck in the same scene forever. To grow, you need to channel your inner Mr Benn and switch outfits:
1. The Business Owner Hat – Grounded. Practical. Knows the numbers. This is your “bowler hat” mode, keeping the shop open, the lights on, and the tea fund stocked.
2. The Marketer Hat – This is the adventure hat. You’re stepping into a new world, exploring audiences, crafting campaigns, and seeing what happens when you try something unexpected.
3. The Journalist Hat – Cool, curious, objective. This is where you tell your story – and more importantly, find stories worth telling that make people sit up, lean in, and care.
Switching hats like this keeps your business fresh, relevant, and interesting. Just like Mr Benn, each costume gives you a new perspective – and a new adventure.
So, here’s your mission this week:
Find a moment to step into a different role. See your business through another lens. And if, as if by magic, you discover something new… well, that’s the whole point.
And to Ray Brooks – thank you for narrating some of my happiest childhood memories. May we all find a way to tell stories that last that long.