 Winter Vacation |
What I did on my winter vacation. Laying on the beach, allowing the sun to melt away my frustration over copy-cat competitors--and the tequila to dissolve the synapses in my brain--I became philosophical. I was struck by the notion that though copying a successful product is often described as the sincerest form of flattery, in reality "me-too" means "me-not-too-clever-or-creative-enough-to-come-up-with-something-on-my-own." A classic example in our electrical markets, which many of you may not be old enough to remember, was provided by Greenlee Tool. Envious of Ideal Industries' success with Yellow 77®, they actually introduced a knock-off product named "Green 88". This brilliant marketing maneuver left their highly trained sales force with nothing but the powerful sales pitch that, "Yeah, but ours is green!" Not surprisingly, Green 88 no longer exists. Sales is tedious enough trying to sell the same thing over and over, but when the product is the same as everyone else's, it's enough to fry your brain. Luckily for you, Polywater SPY Lube is unique--as are most Polywater products. The secret agent theme (like the RBG rubber chicken theme) may be silly, but our existence on Earth should be more than "Life's a sale and then you die." Let's have some fun out there selling new and unique stuff with a fresh approach (10% commissions are very existential as well). Then, shortly before hitting the worm in the bottle, this gem of wisdom occurred to me: whatever you're now doing, no matter how unpleasant, meaningless, or unproductive it may seem in your personal or professional life, you should smile and try to enjoy it. In the future you'll look back and realize you were living the "good ol' days." Moments later I was face down on the beach, gargling the high tide. |
