“To succeed we must stop being so goddamn normal. In a winner-takes-all world, normal equals nothing.”
[K Nordstrom & J Ridderstrale, Funky Business]
Normal is everywhere. Wherever we look we see a thousand shades of grey and another thousand shades of beige. Just lots of dull, “me-too”, boring, look-alike, tired, safe businesses all too frightened to do anything other than look like the rest. And my word is it boring!
People are fed up with characterless products and services designed by a generation of graphic artists and marketers with little sense of the concept of the word ‘unique’. These products either look for some gimmicky characteristic to differentiate themselves or, more usually, they rely on the follower strategy, copying the class leader.
Please note, in a team of huskies it is only the dog at the front that has a good view.
Are you happy being a follower?
[K Nordstrom & J Ridderstrale, Funky Business]
Normal is everywhere. Wherever we look we see a thousand shades of grey and another thousand shades of beige. Just lots of dull, “me-too”, boring, look-alike, tired, safe businesses all too frightened to do anything other than look like the rest. And my word is it boring!
- In a room full of grey accountants how do I know which one to buy from?
- In a supermarket with 50 different varieties of toilet paper/toothpaste/washing powder which will I choose?
People are fed up with characterless products and services designed by a generation of graphic artists and marketers with little sense of the concept of the word ‘unique’. These products either look for some gimmicky characteristic to differentiate themselves or, more usually, they rely on the follower strategy, copying the class leader.
Please note, in a team of huskies it is only the dog at the front that has a good view.
Are you happy being a follower?
13 comments:
Another desire for ordinary people to behave as if they are extraordinary. I think, Mr C that you are missing the point. WE ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE!!!!
It is startimg to fee llike we are in this male world with lots of male images: be strong, be fast, be first, be rich. Not sure whatthe subplot is here?
Popycock
Sorry - not the article but Ms Sue Walton
No intention to be overly-male/macho.
RC
Wise words but the question is HOW??
P.S. Don't see how gender has anything to do with this... 'Success' does not discriminate!
Robert, I agree. It seems the world is engaged in a race to mediocrity, where the blandest wins. Trouble is, I wouldn't want that prize.
The future of smart business is in being outstanding and the very best way to be outstanding is by providing great value. When you do that, everyone wins!
The word to use is REMARKABLE
I agree that the HOW question is the issue. It is difficult to generalise but I do think and feel that we have the capacity to be so much more effective than we are at the moment. Thisis partly about have a greater clarity about what we do and don't want but also about greater commitment (=speed) to what we are doing.
This applies to professional service firms especially.
Too right
Spot on Robert. Be a linchpin, not a cog.
Yep - I agree re linchpins...
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