(Part 1 in a 3-part series.)
As mentioned before, I like to keep lists—in my head. Gives me something to think about. I have had an evolving Dinner Party List for decades. This list consists of whom I’d like to invite to my house for a sit-down dinner.
This list originally was developed when I used to be athletic—back in my olden triathlon/marathon days. When you train for a long stretch of time, you need to occupy your brain. You don’t want to think about what grueling thing you are doing or listen to your body imploring you to “STOP IT!” At least that’s how it has worked for me. Hence, “The Lists.”
The Dinner Party List had three variations: people alive and well; historical dead people; or a combo of both. For instance:
Cher sitting next to Thomas Jefferson.
George Clooney next to Cleopatra.
Howard Zinn next to Susan B. Anthony.
Jim Morrison next to Edith Piaf.
Howard Hughes (pre-germophobia days) next to Capt. Sully.
Jesus next to Pope Benedict XVI.
Imagine the conversations!
I, of course, would sit next to Mark Twain, and try to rub elbows with him, chanting to myself: “Osmosis! Osmosis!” (in hopes of exchanging artistic cellular material).
Mr. Twain would probably say something like:
“Madame, your physical advances under different circumstances may well be welcomed. As of now they threaten to spoil my garments with soup. So kindly refrain, and perchance upon another encounter, advise me to wear my tomato red suit.”
“Oh, Mr. Clemens, you’re so funny!” I’d say. He’d think the whole thing a charade, a “marvelous curiosity.” I doubt he’d be back…
But he’d still be on my list. Speaking of which, Cher has been on The List since it was invented. I grew up wanting to be her—with her hair, makeup, and hipness, but minus the Sonny part. Cher was and is the essence of cool. I also had Chris Evert on The List for decades—that is until those shenanigans she pulled with Greg Norman. Eeek!
I now have added a new person to The List: Hugh MacLeod. I like the way this guy thinks; his philosophy on life; his humor; his cartoons. I mentioned his book, Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity, in my blog on 10/20/09. (Essential reading for creative people.)
Cartoon #43 by Hugh MacLeod - March 18, 2010
You can clue in to Hugh MacLeod at www.gapingvoid.com. You can subscribe to his daily cartoon, blog, and newsletter. He is highly productive, intelligent, funny, insightful, and a cut-the-crap kind of guy. He espouses doing what you love and forget about the rest.
With his cartoons, he has a “Dilbert” sense about the inane side of corporate America, only written with sharper barbs. I love the “Hug Your Client” cartoon and the text description about how the drawing came to be—as it affirms my business philosophy on always treating customers well.
Here’s what he said about this cartoon:
My mother, in her day, was a very successful education software consultant. “Have you hugged your client today?” was her line, not mine.
She always had about six to ten Blue Chip clients on board. Companies like Shell, Exxon, Coco-Cola, etc.
No matter what kind of day she was having, EVERY DAY she would make some kind of effort to demonstrate to each and every client that… she cared, that this stuff mattered, that she was willing to go the extra mile.
And it worked.
One day, Mom decided to retire. So she sold the company to guys who looked good on paper; but in the end, they didn’t have the “Daily Hug” ethos. They ran the company into the ground within 18 months.
Sometimes we forget the simplest things make the most enormous difference. Why are we in business if not to take care of our customers?
Boy do we think alike—as evidenced by my blog yesterday about my pathetic ex-insurance guy. That’s why Mr. MacLeod is on my dinner party list. And I’ll sit next to him—if Mr. Clemens regrets the invite.
Part 2 on Hugh MacLeod: Commentary on his “Popularity” cartoon.
Part 3 on Hugh MacLeod: His marketing strategy called “Gift Economics.”
