Less is More
http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/articles/428/1/Less-is-More/Page1.html
Jim Stovall
Jim
Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a
published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a
columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa,
OK 74145-9082,
or by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com By Jim Stovall
Published on 01/31/2010
We human beings live with the interesting paradox that we seem to want that which we can’t have and despise that which is readily available to us in abundance. Scarcity becomes attractive, and quantity is ignored. Whether it’s a car, a club, clothing, jewelry, or travel, when we have acquired or experienced things that others have not, we feel the value. On the other hand, if everyone has experienced something, we take it for granted. This can be important to us both personally and professionally.
Winners' Wisdom
We human beings live with the interesting paradox that we seem to want that which we can’t have and despise that which is readily available to us in abundance. Scarcity becomes attractive, and quantity is ignored. Whether it’s a car, a club, clothing, jewelry, or travel, when we have acquired or experienced things that others have not, we feel the value. On the other hand, if everyone has experienced something, we take it for granted. This can be important to us both personally and professionally.
Mark Twain may have demonstrated it best when he used Tom Sawyer to teach us a lesson. “To make a man covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain.”
There are two tried and true adages that come to mind that echo Twain’s thoughts. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Marketers, sales people, and advertisers that bury us in messages may, inadvertently, be devaluing the worth of their product or service in our minds.
When I was a small child, I remember that my mother seemed to divide all of my toys into two groups. Group A was in my toy box, and I was allowed to play with those items regularly. Group B was put into a storage box that was kept on a high shelf. These toys were out of sight and out of mind. Periodically, when I seemed to be getting bored with my current toy selection, she would switch the groups of toys. The Group B toys seemed new and exciting, because I had not played with them in several months.
You may discover that a previously-read book or previously-watched movie can seem like an old friend when you revisit it several years later; however, if you were forced to review that same book or movie weekly, it would become torturous.
In business, we all live by the supply-and-demand equation. It’s important to remember: Scarcity can increase value, and oversupply cheapens everything.
As you go through your day today, remember: The way to get people to try your product or service may be to take it away instead of continually giving it away.
Today’s the day!
Mark Twain may have demonstrated it best when he used Tom Sawyer to teach us a lesson. “To make a man covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain.”
There are two tried and true adages that come to mind that echo Twain’s thoughts. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Marketers, sales people, and advertisers that bury us in messages may, inadvertently, be devaluing the worth of their product or service in our minds.
When I was a small child, I remember that my mother seemed to divide all of my toys into two groups. Group A was in my toy box, and I was allowed to play with those items regularly. Group B was put into a storage box that was kept on a high shelf. These toys were out of sight and out of mind. Periodically, when I seemed to be getting bored with my current toy selection, she would switch the groups of toys. The Group B toys seemed new and exciting, because I had not played with them in several months.
You may discover that a previously-read book or previously-watched movie can seem like an old friend when you revisit it several years later; however, if you were forced to review that same book or movie weekly, it would become torturous.
In business, we all live by the supply-and-demand equation. It’s important to remember: Scarcity can increase value, and oversupply cheapens everything.
As you go through your day today, remember: The way to get people to try your product or service may be to take it away instead of continually giving it away.
Today’s the day!