Water molecules are created from the bonding of electrons from an oxygen molecule to electrons of two hydrogen molecules (H2O).
Oxygen wants hydrogen to make water.
Hydrogen wants and needs oxygen to make water.
If the bond is done in one way, it creates water.
If the bond is done differently, it creates hydrogen peroxide.
Humans need water to survive.
Hydrogen peroxide can be poison.
Bonds require interdependence.
Customers need products.
Businesses fulfills needs of the customers.
If the bond is formed properly under the right conditions, a loyal customer will be the result.
If there is no bond, the customer bounces around until she finds another business to bond to.
Businesses need loyal customers to survive.
Disloyal customers are the hardest to please and the most expensive to market to.
Poor attempts at bonding creates poison.
Done the right way, a bond will create magic.
Enterprises existence is based on creating the right covalent bonds.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Monday, October 5, 2015
Marketing 101
There are two ways to deliver marketing.
The first way is to scream from the mountaintops, hoping someone, anyone will hear you. If enough people are looking for that product at that exact time, they may come to see you. You may get a sale out of it.
If you want attention, all you need to do is interact with lots of people. Someone is bound to be in the market at that particular time. But screaming isn't always the best way to get attention. I learned with my kids that whispering can have the exact same effect.
The second way is to deliver such a memorable story that potential customers think about you long after they hear the message. They don't have to be "in-market" to buy. But one day when they are, the message will still resonate enough for them to check you out. You'll get traffic and maybe even a sale.
Mass Media talks to everyone. If the message is poorly crafted, you will only talk AT customers who are "in-market" to buy when they hear the commercial. If the message is clear and remarkable, you talk WITH all customers who will someday be "in-market" to buy.
Talking AT people will be effective if you time it right. Talking WITH people will be always be effective.
The media doesn't matter as much as the message. Have a clear message and business will take care of itself.
The same thing works with dating. If you want a date, get a girl to laugh. She'll remember you for weeks.
The first way is to scream from the mountaintops, hoping someone, anyone will hear you. If enough people are looking for that product at that exact time, they may come to see you. You may get a sale out of it.
If you want attention, all you need to do is interact with lots of people. Someone is bound to be in the market at that particular time. But screaming isn't always the best way to get attention. I learned with my kids that whispering can have the exact same effect.
The second way is to deliver such a memorable story that potential customers think about you long after they hear the message. They don't have to be "in-market" to buy. But one day when they are, the message will still resonate enough for them to check you out. You'll get traffic and maybe even a sale.
Mass Media talks to everyone. If the message is poorly crafted, you will only talk AT customers who are "in-market" to buy when they hear the commercial. If the message is clear and remarkable, you talk WITH all customers who will someday be "in-market" to buy.
Talking AT people will be effective if you time it right. Talking WITH people will be always be effective.
The media doesn't matter as much as the message. Have a clear message and business will take care of itself.
The same thing works with dating. If you want a date, get a girl to laugh. She'll remember you for weeks.
Friday, October 2, 2015
You're so smart you have two brains
The brain is made of two hemispheres. In fact, they are very much two separate brains.
The left hemisphere is responsible for analytics, and logic. It breaks problems down into component parts. We learn and understand science, mathematics and reasoning in this part of the brain.
The right hemisphere is responsible for creativity. It's where we learn how to dance, sing, play a musical instrument, draw, paint and create stories. This area of our brain takes illogical pieces and puts them together to create.
In grade one, we all loved to draw and paint. Research has proved that all children at this age think of themselves as creative.
By grade ten, less than ten percent of them still feel creative.
What happens in nine short years?
Puberty probably plays a role as children try to conform. Creativity requires people to be a bit weird. Weird is not cool in high school.
I believe the suppression of our creativity has a lot to do with the educational system. As children progress through the system, creative classes which require right brain processes are replaced with logical, left brain analysis.
Art and music classes are reduced to one day per week, replaced with mathematics, sciences, history and social studies. By the time our children get into high school, these creative classes are abolished entirely.
Imagine a child quitting school in grade three. Her reading would be basic. Her ability to calculate simple math problems would be slow. She would know nothing about history or science unless she went out on her own to discover it.
That's what the system has done to the creative learning of our children. It has stunted it. It's still there. Unexercised, fat, and unhealthy, the right brain has gotten lazy.
The only way out of this rut is to exercise the brain to be creative again.
If you haven't tapped into your creativity lately, you're only using one of your brains. What a shame to have your other brain taking up so much space and not paying rent.
Women tap into the creative right brain more often than men. Intuition is the ability to see patterns in illogical events to know the logical result.
Don't mess with a woman's intuition.
The left hemisphere is responsible for analytics, and logic. It breaks problems down into component parts. We learn and understand science, mathematics and reasoning in this part of the brain.
The right hemisphere is responsible for creativity. It's where we learn how to dance, sing, play a musical instrument, draw, paint and create stories. This area of our brain takes illogical pieces and puts them together to create.
In grade one, we all loved to draw and paint. Research has proved that all children at this age think of themselves as creative.
By grade ten, less than ten percent of them still feel creative.
What happens in nine short years?
Puberty probably plays a role as children try to conform. Creativity requires people to be a bit weird. Weird is not cool in high school.
I believe the suppression of our creativity has a lot to do with the educational system. As children progress through the system, creative classes which require right brain processes are replaced with logical, left brain analysis.
Art and music classes are reduced to one day per week, replaced with mathematics, sciences, history and social studies. By the time our children get into high school, these creative classes are abolished entirely.
Imagine a child quitting school in grade three. Her reading would be basic. Her ability to calculate simple math problems would be slow. She would know nothing about history or science unless she went out on her own to discover it.
That's what the system has done to the creative learning of our children. It has stunted it. It's still there. Unexercised, fat, and unhealthy, the right brain has gotten lazy.
The only way out of this rut is to exercise the brain to be creative again.
If you haven't tapped into your creativity lately, you're only using one of your brains. What a shame to have your other brain taking up so much space and not paying rent.
Women tap into the creative right brain more often than men. Intuition is the ability to see patterns in illogical events to know the logical result.
Don't mess with a woman's intuition.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
My first love
She was 18 years old when I first met her. 18 years old, 3 months and 26 days and I loved her the moment I saw her. Don't tell me love at first sight doesn't exist because I'm living proof you're wrong.
She was tired and in pain. But she glowed, somewhat relieved. I didn't want to hurt her, but there was no other choice. It was a life and death situation. I chose life and in the process I hurt this precious woman so much that she didn't feel the pain anymore. All she felt was love for me, and I for her.
Today is her birthday. 18 years, 3 months and 26 days older than me. Happy birthday mom! I love you.
She was a child when she got married. Quickly got pregnant and had her first child before her 19th birthday. She wasn't allowed to drink, but she made decisions that forced her to quickly become an adult.
My mom has always been 18 years, 3 months and 26 days older than me, but for some reason, I have always seen her as old.
She isn't old. She's just older than me.
When I was 10 years old, she was still in her twenties, full of piss and vinegar, but I saw her as old.
When I got married at 25 years old, she was the same age I am now. And I thought she was old.
And today at she has brushed past the 60 and into a set of numbers she hasn't seen since she was a mid-teenager. She is now a dyslexic 16 year old, moving toward senior citizenship.
She's not old, even though I have always seen her as old.
Perspective only gives one opinion. That opinion is based on experience. And that experience is personal. The perspective we have is based on our own experiences. My mom looked old to me just like I look to my children.
She's a vibrant, funny, loving mother and I wouldn't trade her for anything. She's 18 years, 3 months and 26 days older than me. I love her more today than I did so many years ago.
Happy Birthday Mom! Hope you have a great dyslexic sweet sixteen birthday.
She was tired and in pain. But she glowed, somewhat relieved. I didn't want to hurt her, but there was no other choice. It was a life and death situation. I chose life and in the process I hurt this precious woman so much that she didn't feel the pain anymore. All she felt was love for me, and I for her.
Today is her birthday. 18 years, 3 months and 26 days older than me. Happy birthday mom! I love you.
She was a child when she got married. Quickly got pregnant and had her first child before her 19th birthday. She wasn't allowed to drink, but she made decisions that forced her to quickly become an adult.
My mom has always been 18 years, 3 months and 26 days older than me, but for some reason, I have always seen her as old.
She isn't old. She's just older than me.
When I was 10 years old, she was still in her twenties, full of piss and vinegar, but I saw her as old.
When I got married at 25 years old, she was the same age I am now. And I thought she was old.
And today at she has brushed past the 60 and into a set of numbers she hasn't seen since she was a mid-teenager. She is now a dyslexic 16 year old, moving toward senior citizenship.
She's not old, even though I have always seen her as old.
Perspective only gives one opinion. That opinion is based on experience. And that experience is personal. The perspective we have is based on our own experiences. My mom looked old to me just like I look to my children.
She's a vibrant, funny, loving mother and I wouldn't trade her for anything. She's 18 years, 3 months and 26 days older than me. I love her more today than I did so many years ago.
Happy Birthday Mom! Hope you have a great dyslexic sweet sixteen birthday.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Get your motor running...
My lawnmower got fixed.
In a prior post called "Squirrel Dicks", I wrote about issues getting someone to take responsibility for a blown engine on my mower.
After much run around, the dealer encouraged me to bring the mower in for them to take a look at it. They were the most help. They convinced the engine manufacturer to extend the warranty based on a malfunction. The manufacturer supplied a new motor free of charge.
The original quote to replace the motor was $3500. The actual cost was $860 for delivery and labour. Although I would have liked to pay nothing, I am extremely happy to "save" $2640.
I'm now a huge fan of the dealer. Even though they took $860 of my money and I drove an hour to drop off and pick up the mower, I feel like they wrapped their arms around me and protected me from the monsters who weren't taking responsibility for my misfortune.
Isn't that all we want as customers?
When things go well, it's easy to please a customer. In a marriage, things are easy as long as there is no conflict.
But anyone who's been married long enough knows it takes a lot of work to preserve, maintain and grow the love that binds the relationship.
When things go badly as they inevitably will, the two parties show their true intentions based on what they do.
Relationships are hard work.
This dealer has my business for future purchases because they took care of me.
I don't feel like a cheap whore they are just trying to fuck!
They value our relationship. And so do I.
In a prior post called "Squirrel Dicks", I wrote about issues getting someone to take responsibility for a blown engine on my mower.
After much run around, the dealer encouraged me to bring the mower in for them to take a look at it. They were the most help. They convinced the engine manufacturer to extend the warranty based on a malfunction. The manufacturer supplied a new motor free of charge.
The original quote to replace the motor was $3500. The actual cost was $860 for delivery and labour. Although I would have liked to pay nothing, I am extremely happy to "save" $2640.
I'm now a huge fan of the dealer. Even though they took $860 of my money and I drove an hour to drop off and pick up the mower, I feel like they wrapped their arms around me and protected me from the monsters who weren't taking responsibility for my misfortune.
Isn't that all we want as customers?
When things go well, it's easy to please a customer. In a marriage, things are easy as long as there is no conflict.
But anyone who's been married long enough knows it takes a lot of work to preserve, maintain and grow the love that binds the relationship.
When things go badly as they inevitably will, the two parties show their true intentions based on what they do.
Relationships are hard work.
This dealer has my business for future purchases because they took care of me.
I don't feel like a cheap whore they are just trying to fuck!
They value our relationship. And so do I.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Lessons from playing softball
The first time I played softball I was 6 years old. Dad brought me to a field with a bunch of kids I barely knew. There must have been 40 kids on the field. And so the love affair began.
In my teenage years, I managed my own team, played all positions and organized games against other kids. In a time when the parents didn't get overly involved, we kids organized the games with kids from other towns and got the parents to drive us to the town.
We were good. That's all we did in the summer. Played softball and went swimming. The core guys played together well into our late twenties. We were all friends. We weren't the best defensive team in the world but we were a great hitting team. Our success came from our ability to hit well.
Over the years, friends moved away and the team disbanded but my love of the game continues.
Now at 42, the game is slipping away from me. I feel that the old girl doesn't love me the same way anymore. Hitting is getting harder. Running hurts. Throwing is a chore.
But there's one thing I've learned in my softball old age that has become a life lesson.
"The harder I try to succeed, the further I move away from the goal".
I'm not talking about work ethic. I'm talking stress. When I go to bat and really want to get a hit, it seems like there's an anxiousness at the plate. The handle of the bat gets choked instead of gripped. The bat doesn't feel like an extension of my arms. My feet get heavy and don't move easily into the swing. My arms become tense. My eyes widen and at the same time, stop watching the ball connect to the choked bat. When stressed, I try to do too much. And ultimately, fail at my goal of getting on base.
I succeed when I don't allow myself to be stressed. If I tell myself that I'm a good hitter and I laugh at the plate, my chances of success raise exponentially.
Last night, our softball team was losing for a third straight game to a good team. When all looked lost, the coach said, let's have some fun. His words were right, but how can you tell someone to have fun. Fun is not a widget. It's an emotion. The emotion has to come from within. It took a few guys to break the mood with stupid remarks and gestures. But when we came around, we won the game and then won the next game too.
When the team loosened up, the game became easier.
Life is exactly the same way. We are taught to pursue our dreams. To be persistent. To not let go. But the harder I chase my dreams, the faster they run away from me. Learning from softball, I have to loosen up, have fun, relax, and laugh. Then and only then, am I be in a position to hit the ball where I want it to go.
In my teenage years, I managed my own team, played all positions and organized games against other kids. In a time when the parents didn't get overly involved, we kids organized the games with kids from other towns and got the parents to drive us to the town.
We were good. That's all we did in the summer. Played softball and went swimming. The core guys played together well into our late twenties. We were all friends. We weren't the best defensive team in the world but we were a great hitting team. Our success came from our ability to hit well.
Over the years, friends moved away and the team disbanded but my love of the game continues.
Now at 42, the game is slipping away from me. I feel that the old girl doesn't love me the same way anymore. Hitting is getting harder. Running hurts. Throwing is a chore.
But there's one thing I've learned in my softball old age that has become a life lesson.
"The harder I try to succeed, the further I move away from the goal".
I'm not talking about work ethic. I'm talking stress. When I go to bat and really want to get a hit, it seems like there's an anxiousness at the plate. The handle of the bat gets choked instead of gripped. The bat doesn't feel like an extension of my arms. My feet get heavy and don't move easily into the swing. My arms become tense. My eyes widen and at the same time, stop watching the ball connect to the choked bat. When stressed, I try to do too much. And ultimately, fail at my goal of getting on base.
I succeed when I don't allow myself to be stressed. If I tell myself that I'm a good hitter and I laugh at the plate, my chances of success raise exponentially.
Last night, our softball team was losing for a third straight game to a good team. When all looked lost, the coach said, let's have some fun. His words were right, but how can you tell someone to have fun. Fun is not a widget. It's an emotion. The emotion has to come from within. It took a few guys to break the mood with stupid remarks and gestures. But when we came around, we won the game and then won the next game too.
When the team loosened up, the game became easier.
Life is exactly the same way. We are taught to pursue our dreams. To be persistent. To not let go. But the harder I chase my dreams, the faster they run away from me. Learning from softball, I have to loosen up, have fun, relax, and laugh. Then and only then, am I be in a position to hit the ball where I want it to go.
Monday, September 28, 2015
A famous Canadian is full of shit
I was sitting in a marketing class in Texas when a famous Canadian business professor’s name was mentioned with his famous line, “The medium is the message”.
We are taught to accept absoluteness. We are taught not to think for ourselves. Despite what educational institutions think they promote, they really promote conformity.
The instructor was demonstrating how the medium was the medium and the message was the message. The two should never be used in a way that Marshall McLuhan had used them.
Bravely, I raised my hand and asked if the instructor thought McLuhan was wrong. He responded adamantly with a sonic boom. “I’m saying Marshall McLuhan was full of shit."
It has taken me two years to figure out why the famous line was accurate at the time and why it isn’t anymore.
Using television as an example, in a time when not every company could afford to pay for television advertising, it displayed strength. The more television advertising it paid for, the stronger a company looked. The medium had a message of strength. So in fact the medium was the message.
As mass media got fragmented, being on TV didn't carry the same weight. With specialty channels, regional broadcasting and niche markets, television advertising has become quite affordable. Strength is no longer an attribute associated to a company advertising on television.
What’s more important, the right message on the wrong medium or the wrong message on the right medium?
Medium is less important than message. If you have the wrong message on the right medium, you'll talk to your target audience but they won't care. If you have the right message on the wrong medium, someone will not only care. They will remember you.
The right message is what you have to strive for. Always hoping that you hit the golden trifecta by using the right message on the right medium at the right time.
McLuhan was partially right when he came up with his phrase. But it wasn’t a universal truth like Einstein’s theory of relativitiy. With time he has been proven wrong. I have to agree with my Texas teacher. He’s full of shit in 2015.
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