My Poor Brain

I found myself reading Seth Godin’s blog when he was constantly referenced by Matt Mason and Bob Lefsetz: two people I read on a daily basis. Seth’s blog, and all his books, seem to concentrate on marketing which is something I never thought I would be reading. But the guy is intelligent, and I love to hear smart people talk (in this case, read). I may not be able to apply his knowledge to the business and marketing world, but his words expand beyond to much more. His words expand to the life of a 20 year old college student who is headed to the land of the unknown, and needs all the advice he can get.

Seth Godin’s recent entry, “You Get What You Pay For”, is one of those entries that gives knowledge that I can take anywhere. Since he has perfected the art of “less is more”, I will quote the whole entry:

If you don’t want spam in your inbox, never respond, never buy anything. Not even if it’s a good deal.

If you don’t like TV commercials featuring loud aggressive announcers, don’t buy what they’re selling. Ever.

If you don’t want people ringing your door asking for donations, don’t give, no matter what.

If you think politics is too nasty and not focused enough on creating value, then don’t donate to a candidate that’s nasty, even if you agree (and even better, call or write and tell them why).

If you don’t like bait and switch marketing, where promises don’t match the product, don’t buy it.

If you don’t like snarky, angry blogs, don’t read them.

If you deplore the lousy service at big chains or certain airlines, don’t shop there, even if it’s cheaper.

There’s a new asymmetry, with loud consumers able to connect and actually have an impact.

We’re all hypocrites, and we get what we pay for. The market is astonishingly quick at responding to what consumers do (and incredibly slow at reacting to what we say).

See what I mean about the whole marketing take on things? No worries, he is a genius, I promise.

I am now going to continue with the if/then formula that Seth Godin has gone with on this particular entry.

Here it goes:

If you don’t want to pay five dollars per gallon of gas, then don’t drive 85 on the highways. The more gas you burn away, the more gas you buy, the more they win.

If you can’t NOT answer your cell phone, then don’t go to the movies.

If you don’t like to be disrespected, then stop calling people “dumb-ass”.

If you don’t like spit in your food, then don’t yell at the waitress about the undercooked steak that was cooked by the COOK.

If you don’t want to be hated by your customers, then stop suing/arresting them.

If you don’t like herpes, then stop having sex.

If you don’t like lazy people, then get off your ass.

If you like your nightlife, then don’t have kids.

If you think you know everything, then don’t ask anyone for help.

If you help people out, then people will help you out.

If people tell you your big dreams are stupid, then pursue those dreams. They are the people that allow you to succeed.

If you love someone, then don’t give up on them.

If you love life, then life will love you back.