While visiting a prospect at the Manx Electricity Authority (MEA) on the Isle of Man (IoM)

The IoM self-governing British Crown dependency in the Irish Sea

Famous for its Celtic and Viking heritage, rugged landscapes, and the world-renowned Isle of Man TT motorcycle race

The prospect kindly picked me up from the airport, and on the way to his office, he suddenly said, “Say hello to the fairies” 

I was taken aback until he explained the tradition

He pointed out the Fairy Bridge, a small bridge over the Santon Burn (a river)

Local superstition holds that anyone crossing must greet the fairies, failure to do so is said to bring bad luck

From that day on, every time we crossed the bridge together, we made sure to say hello to the fairies

Conclusion: What started as a surprising cultural quirk became a memorable ritual

It reminded me that business isn’t just about meetings and contracts, it’s also about shared experiences and respecting traditions that connect us