by
Rosemary O’Neill
When I was in fifth grade, my mom sent me to school with my lunch in one of those silver ice cream bags from the grocery store. I was already âthe new kid,â so this cemented me as âSilver Bag.â It started as a put-down, but grew into a term of endearment. I was weird, but weird-good.
As a new person encounters you and your business, do they think youâre weird? Do you allow them to see your weirdness?
It can be a secret weapon that throws people off-guard, especially in a purchasing situation. When people approach a new company, or new business contact, they try to put it in a bucket theyâre familiar with. If you refuse to be categorized easily, their brains will keep processing you, trying to put a button in you.
Seth Godinâs book âWe Are All Weird,â seems almost contradictory…if everyoneâs weird, how does weirdness get recognized? And yet we are in a time now where off-beat is celebrated. How else to explain the rise of Nyan Cat?
One of the defining characteristics of Instagram is that you can do odd things to your photographs. They are also weird because they donât have a web component—it is strictly a mobile application (weâll see if Facebook removes some of that weirdness, I hope not).
Most businesses actively try to suppress their weirdness; I say âlet it out!â Your target audience will have a much easier time finding you if they can see and relate to your particular brand of strange.
_____
_____
Thank you, Rosemary!
You’re irresistible!
ME “Liz” Strauss
