The Pigeon That Beat The Internet
Sep 05, 2025
A few years ago, a South African IT company ran a bizarre but fascinating experiment.
They wanted to prove a point about how painfully slow their internet speeds had become. So, they strapped a 4GB memory stick to the leg of a carrier pigeon named Winston… and sent him on a 60-mile journey to deliver the data the old-fashioned way.
At the same time, they started uploading the same 4GB of data through their broadband connection.
Which would be faster? The pigeon flying 60 miles, or the landline internet connection?
It turns out the pigeon won. Winston arrived in just over an hour.
The broadband transfer? Still crawling. Only about 4% complete.
Let that sink in.
The bird beat the broadband.
While it makes for a clever headline… I think it also makes for a profound metaphor.
In our world, it’s easy to fall for flash.
· Grab the latest sales funnel template!
· Buy the flashiest CRM system!
· Use the trendiest AI scheduling app!
But sometimes, flash isn’t fast.
In fact, sometimes, it slows us down.
Here’s why this matters for influence and success:
In a noisy world full of automation, the people who win are the ones who build actual relationships.
It’s not always the person with the biggest budget.
Or the fanciest funnel.
Or the best logo.
It’s the one who knows how to connect — intentionally, authentically, and consistently.
• That follow-up call you make after a great conversation
• That introduction you send just because you thought of someone
• That thank-you note you mail instead of text
These things don’t scale like an email blast.
But they stick in people’s minds in ways no marketing funnel ever could.
In my book The Influence Mindset, I teach that people don’t choose or reject you — they choose or reject their perception of you.
And here’s the kicker:
That perception is most effectively built…offline…via meaningful conversations, intentional phone calls, and even as people refer you to their friends.
To be clear, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a CRM. I love mine.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t automate repetitive tasks. Efficiency matters.
But let’s not confuse automation for influence.
Let’s not confuse reach for relationship.
Let’s not confuse flash for follow-through.
Because here’s the thing: Sometimes, the pigeon still wins.
And when it comes to influencing people to choose you… you don’t always need the newest tool.
You just need old fashioned connection.
Winston the pigeon reminds us that sometimes, the oldest methods are still the fastest route to trust.
Let’s fly like that.
— Christian Hansen
Author of The Influence Mindset for Sales Acceleration
CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the 2X #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com
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