I've been reading an interesting book called Viral Loop, by Adam L. Penenberg. In a part of the book that doesn't seem to flow with the rest, but perhaps explains the rest of the book better than the rest of the book, Penenberg goes on a tangent about human nature and the societal and human need to be connected with others, and yet be special. It jives with some of my recent thinking about business and life. Here are a few questions to get you thinking:
Why does that 3-9 year old boy or girl that you've never met before come up to you at the park and yell, "Watch what I can do!"?
Who was the most popular girl or boy at your school? Why? Were they actually the most interesting person? Why did almost everyone want to be friends with them?
Why do lunchrooms/cafeterias in every circumstance have tables that are full and tables that are empty? Why do you sit at the table that you do (likely the full one in some circumstances, and the empty one in others)?
Are the most popular movie actors and actresses the best actors/actresses?
Why do some businesses with great ideas fail? And yet why do you know what a Snuggie is?
Why do you like certain people, companies, products, candidates?
Why do combat troops follow certain leaders into battle against all odds?
Why do some sports teams/athletes know they can win no matter what?
Why did you share that funny quip on facebook? Why did you talk about or share that app with your coworker or family member or friend?
Why have or haven't you used the incentive program from work that pays you money if you bring in a new employee?
Why is it hard to sell something you aren't excited about?
Why do you make more noise when someone walks in the room?
Why did you share your food at dinner stating, "This is delicious, try some!"? And why did you equally enthusiastically say, "Ugh! This is disgusting! Here, try some."?
Something awesome, new, wonderful, cool, exciting, hilarious, lame, stupid, thought provoking or touching, just isn't that great without someone to share it with.
Robert Kiyosaki (author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series) talks about having the necessary business skills to succeed and building a BI triangle. He also states that every person and family and business all have a BI triangle that needs to be in balance to be a success.
Penenberg talks about the need for a product to be good, sharable, and easy to use in order to become a viral loop. You have to want to share it, or you won't...even if they pay you.
This is why incentive programs don't work well, but social media does. What matters in the equation is me...or you. How you touch your customer, friend, family member is more important than you or your product--because it includes them.
People repost that stupid facebook message because it makes them feel important and connected. People don't talk to strangers because they don't want to feel stupid (or get mugged). People sit alone at a table because sitting alone makes them feel safer than the chance of being rejected at the big table. People love to watch Brad Pitt because they wish they could bring him home for dinner. They watch Steve Buscemi because he's a great actor and happens to be in the film (how many of you had to look up who Steve is?). That little kid wants you to watch him, because an awesome trick isn't awesome unless someone can see how awesome it is. And because if no one watches him, he'll have to admit that he's not that awesome. Nobody wants that.
They say people can judge if they like a person in less than 5 seconds. The first impression is the most important impression because nobody likes changing their minds--they are usually right (or else they'd inherently be wrong...and once again Nobody wants that!). I think people can judge a business, or a website in the same amount of time. Only the cyber world functions much faster than the real world. This is both a blessing and a curse. You can become a success much faster, or a failure much faster. But you don't have as much time to make adjustments.
So, how do you make your business or yourself a success? You feed the need others have to be special and feel connected (this is often called customer service). You make yourself popular. The only problem is that I don't know the answer to the question: why was that boy/girl in school popular?
I'm convinced I'm going to have to watch all those horrible 90's chick flicks about high school girls becoming popular to understand.
Other thought provoking questions why does Pareto's law hold true in so many instances? Is the reverse also true?
No comments:
Post a Comment