I’ve spent a good amount of time over the past couple of weeks watching the Republican and Democrat National Conventions. I’ll keep all opinions and preferences out of the discussion, because I don’t want my blog to go near that conversation… it’s often boring, hateful, and filled with predispositions that aren’t worth discussing. That said, this post is less about political ideas, and more about business ideas.
In 2003, Seth Godin wrote a now infamous book entitled: Purple Cow. Below is a summary of the book:
Cows, after you’ve seen one, or two, or ten, are boring. A Purple Cow, though…now that would be something. Purple Cow describes something phenomenal, something counterintuitive and exciting and flat out unbelievable. Every day, consumers come face to face with a lot of boring stuff-a lot of brown cows-but you can bet they won’t forget a Purple Cow. And it’s not a marketing function that you can slap on to your product or service. Purple Cow is inherent. It’s built right in, or it’s not there. Period.
So here is my question: After dozens of speeches, hours of conventions, and endless debates, will either of these candidates/parties/tickets arise and be a Purple Cow? Come November, will we be able to say: “I’m voting for candidate X because he/she brings something unique to the table. Something that no one else does… something that is phenomenal, counterintuitive and exciting”.
I wish we could get past all of the rhetoric, party loyalty, and brown bag speeches. I wish a candidate would stand up and say: “I’m a Purple Cow, and I deserve your vote because I bring this to the table, and no one else does, nor ever has…”
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Obama has already done that, not in those same words (“Hey, I’m a Purple Cow), and it’s pretty evident, especially over the last month. Why else would McCain suddenly claim he’s the candidate for change and scream his difference? Because he saw what was happening…an unforeseen movement led by a lowly community organizer, or as I’ll call him for now on, a “Purple Cow”.
Hey Josh!
Thanks for your comment bro. Good to know you drop by the blog from time to time. I love how the internet shrinks the world… who would’ve thought an old friend who lives in Hawaii could hear/read my thoughts? Hope things are well for you and your beautiful wife!
I enjoy the buzz of politics, especially during November elections. The past few weeks were great, as the country listened to both conventions (both averaging over 30 million viewers a night). There are still debates to come, which will more greatly influence voters than the either of the conventions.
I try not to be a cynic, but I really don’t see a purple cow anywhere. When I think of a “purple cow,” I see an Abraham Lincoln, JFK, Ronald Reagan, and (yes i will say it) Bill Clinton. I’m not saying that I agree with everything these individuals ever did as our nations leader. I am saying they brought complex issues to the table, said “we are going to deal with this”, and never backed down. Over the past few months I have watched both parties flip flop on their views of party financing, wiretap legislation, gun control, Israel, abortion, Iraq, merit pay for teachers, oil drilling, and social security. BOTH parties are doing it. “Changing” their minds. It seems to me to be just another race to the White House with no purple savior in sight.
Outstanding comment Mikey! I too thought it was awesome to see the TV numbers from the conventions. Good to know that people are at least paying attention, and hearing some issue based conversations.
I totally agree on your comments about not seeing a purple cow anywhere. That’s my point! Who knows what will happen over the next couple of months… if nothing else, it will certainly be a heated & historical election. That said… I can’t wait for it to be over!