Lately, all I’ve been hearing about is Pokemon Go. People wandering around like zombies, staring at their screens- and I’m the uncool one sitting here at my laptop and writing? I feel like I’ve time-travelled back to the late 90’s, the way so many people my age are out to “Catch ‘em all”. It got me thinking about another old craze that I couldn’t get into…
Come with me now, back to the mid 90’s. Paul Keating is PM, flannelette is in fashion (hang on…), Oasis and a guy called Hootie (with his Blowfish) are getting major airtime on the radio, only a handful of people you know have internet access and the most valuable stock owned by your average Primary School kid is their collection of basketball cards. But personally? I don’t get the hype about them. If you dig basketball you’d buy a ball or the jersey of your favourite players or wear your teams’ cap. I’ve got a ball and a hoop above the back patio at home, myself. But why throw away money on glossy pieces of cardboard with player pictures on them? This is an early case of me feeling “different” from my peers. I’m never ostracised for not embracing the fad- I just don’t understand the fuss...
Come with me now, back to the mid 90’s. Paul Keating is PM, flannelette is in fashion (hang on…), Oasis and a guy called Hootie (with his Blowfish) are getting major airtime on the radio, only a handful of people you know have internet access and the most valuable stock owned by your average Primary School kid is their collection of basketball cards. But personally? I don’t get the hype about them. If you dig basketball you’d buy a ball or the jersey of your favourite players or wear your teams’ cap. I’ve got a ball and a hoop above the back patio at home, myself. But why throw away money on glossy pieces of cardboard with player pictures on them? This is an early case of me feeling “different” from my peers. I’m never ostracised for not embracing the fad- I just don’t understand the fuss...
...Then my Scout group plans to hold a special “Collectors Night” where we all bring in something that we collect. I imagine that (like at school) I’ll be one of the only kids who doesn’t care about having Shaquille O’Neal, John Stockton or Vince Carter’s image on pieces of glossy cardboard. But I’m 9 years old and slightly worried that if I bring my collection of model cars- a collection I take great pride in- that the guys will think I’m weird or “a baby”. I don’t lose sleep over this scenario, but lamenting how “everybody else will have basketball cards” is enough for Mum to actually go and get me a pack of cards to take along. Should I pretend to care about basketball cards and blend in? Or should I take my big plastic container of model cars to Collectors Night and risk standing out? In the end, I decide to take my modest and freshly bought pack of cards along...
But I only have these as back-up. I figure taking something different- something like my crate full of model cars- might actually be worth the risk?
So there I am at our Scout Collection Night, with my big plastic container of Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Micro Machines and Burago models. And they turn out to be a hit. I get into a discussion about Formula 1 with one of the Scout leaders, the other guys all go through my collection and admire the condition I’ve kept some of these cars in. Even Scott (who has the biggest collection of basketball cards in our Scout group) checks out my haul with genuine interest. In the end, I don’t even need to get my basketball cards out. My crate of cars ends up being the biggest and most keenly examined collection on the night...
That night was over 20 years ago so the exact details have been erased by time, but I still recall my pleasant feeling of surprise at how popular my collection turned out to be. It felt like I was in a strange dream where everybody found my collection as interesting as I did- except that it was really happening.
The older I’ve grown, the less I’ve felt the need to “blend in with the crowd” for the sake of it. Still, as a young business owner sometimes I wonder if doing it “my way” is worth the risk? But in a world where people tip-toe carefully and allow the fear of rejection to straightjacket their true expression and flair, we crave people who dare to stand out with spotlights, fluros and fireworks. Don’t hold back from sharing your real passion with people. Let it shine through in your marketing, your branding and your interactions with them all. If you want to be that bright light who attracts leads, you’ve gotta be somebody who stands out from the masses of beige. And the key to this is daring to be authentic about what you love. Not everybody will be your “type”, but people will take notice of you- and respect your authenticity. Not only will you breathe more easily knowing you don’t have to pretend- but next time your leads are ready to spend big on someone who sells or does what you do? It’ll be your name that flashes into their mind. Not bad when it equals money in the bank, huh?
If you'd love to be 100% authentic with your leads (no tricks, no smoke-and mirrors, no bullshit) and command top dollar in the process, then let's arrange a consultation. It's free, so get in while slots are still available. That's if you're the rare type who'll dare to be different...
In the words of W. Clement Stone, "Do it now":
[email protected]
But I only have these as back-up. I figure taking something different- something like my crate full of model cars- might actually be worth the risk?
So there I am at our Scout Collection Night, with my big plastic container of Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Micro Machines and Burago models. And they turn out to be a hit. I get into a discussion about Formula 1 with one of the Scout leaders, the other guys all go through my collection and admire the condition I’ve kept some of these cars in. Even Scott (who has the biggest collection of basketball cards in our Scout group) checks out my haul with genuine interest. In the end, I don’t even need to get my basketball cards out. My crate of cars ends up being the biggest and most keenly examined collection on the night...
That night was over 20 years ago so the exact details have been erased by time, but I still recall my pleasant feeling of surprise at how popular my collection turned out to be. It felt like I was in a strange dream where everybody found my collection as interesting as I did- except that it was really happening.
The older I’ve grown, the less I’ve felt the need to “blend in with the crowd” for the sake of it. Still, as a young business owner sometimes I wonder if doing it “my way” is worth the risk? But in a world where people tip-toe carefully and allow the fear of rejection to straightjacket their true expression and flair, we crave people who dare to stand out with spotlights, fluros and fireworks. Don’t hold back from sharing your real passion with people. Let it shine through in your marketing, your branding and your interactions with them all. If you want to be that bright light who attracts leads, you’ve gotta be somebody who stands out from the masses of beige. And the key to this is daring to be authentic about what you love. Not everybody will be your “type”, but people will take notice of you- and respect your authenticity. Not only will you breathe more easily knowing you don’t have to pretend- but next time your leads are ready to spend big on someone who sells or does what you do? It’ll be your name that flashes into their mind. Not bad when it equals money in the bank, huh?
If you'd love to be 100% authentic with your leads (no tricks, no smoke-and mirrors, no bullshit) and command top dollar in the process, then let's arrange a consultation. It's free, so get in while slots are still available. That's if you're the rare type who'll dare to be different...
In the words of W. Clement Stone, "Do it now":
[email protected]