Marketing Genius

It’s important to recognize those people who have a genius quality, even though up to now, it may have gone unnoticed. They have lived throughout history and achieved financial success without the fanfare they deserve. To this day, I don’t know their names because they live in anonymity. Sure, they are wealthy and live a lifestyle far above our understanding, but I believe their achievements are historic and financial recognition is not enough.

The people I honor by this message may be more than one individual because it’s

hard to fathom that one person alone could develop and promote these ideas. It’s likely a consortium of people made contributions to these revolutionary products. 

The first award goes to the individual or group who first marketed bottled

water. Throughout my life, water has been available and always free, but only in more recent times has it been bottled, distributed, and sold worldwide. This marketer has convinced the world that water in a plastic bottle is better, healthier, and worth spending hard-earned dollars on. Honestly, I admit I was a doubter like so many, but then these wise men or women started selling smart water. That’s right, water that would make you smarter. Genius, I say. Who would refuse to spend money on a product to make you smart? No one, I insist.

We learn many things from history. Some shame us, but others inspire us. Genius 

begets genius, I say. It’s possible the second award winner learned a thing or two from the first winner. The second award goes to the promoter of ripped jeans. It’s a fashion thing, but I believe it was a desperate move caused by damaged merchandise. Many of us would have collapsed in a puddle of despair. But, this genius turned a failure into a financial boom, not only recovering their losses but creating a niche market for barely wearable clothing. Due to the demand for ripped jeans, they could now be sold at a premium, and returns for damaged products would be eliminated because any damage to the merchandise made them more valuable. A stroke of genius for sure.

Historians might give inventors like Johannes Gutenberg, Issac Newton and Louis

Pasteur more credit than the individual or groups I’m promoting, and I agree their contributions to society were worthy, but without marketing, would anyone have noticed?

The corset inventor deserves mention because it was marketed under the guise of

beauty while inflicting pain and discomfort for a smaller waist.

I’m a writer of short stories, but I believe I could sell a novel if I had a genius

marketer. The book title could be, Subliminal Messages From The Future, packed with 

500 pages of nothing. Maybe I could rip a few pages and provide a bottle of smart water 

with each purchase. “Just Saying . . . “

The Homemaker

This is a short piece about a woman who placed a high value on being a great homemaker.

**************************************************************

The wrinkles were deep, so Shirley pressed hard on the iron until she heard a scream. 

Her husband arched his back. "Well, if you let me take it off it will be easier."

“Stop squirming," She turned the heat up. "I'm almost done."

A World in Turmoil

War kills progress

Invades our life

Lives pay the price

Lasting memories of tragedy

 

Under attack

Kyiv bombed

Russia won’t back down

Alarming the world

Injustice kills Justice

NATO must act

Endangered times become normal

 

Starving the world of peace

Under constant threat

Reliving the past

Victory at hand

Ignorance a bound

Vindication by triumph

Everyone looses 

?

 

Everyday Angels

In difficult times people often talk about needing an angel. A winged mythical,

spiritual messenger sent to protect you. Even those who are not normally religious start to 

wish they had an angel by their side. I’m not sure, it could be a defense mechanism that is

 

automatically triggered when we feel down, but no one thinks about angels when

 

everything is going well. 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen an angel, at least not as they are

 

described. I do believe in angels, but I'd call them everyday angels. You see them at the

 

grocery store, at the coffee shop, even at the park. They're the people who smile, wave

 

and engage in a friendly conversation sometimes even offering a helping hand loading

 

your groceries. 

Everyday angels don’t need wings, they don’t need to deliver a spiritual message,

they just need to distract us from our problems. They are here to uplift our spirit, brighten

our day. They’re not looking for a reward or trophy. Everyday angels don’t know they

are angels. “Just Saying . . . “

 

 

Memories of Youth

I miss the destinies 

The resolutions

Experiences

Dreams

 

I miss uncertainties

Successes

Failures

Lost friends

 

I miss adventures

Happy times 

Sad times

The unexpected 

 

Now I’m free 

No responsibilities

No deadlines

No time to waste

 

Memories live on 

Time moves forward

No do overs

Few regrets

 

I’ve had my time

But the record still plays

So I still dance

Just not the boogaloo or twist

 

I miss my youth 

But the party’s not over

So I’ll strut my stuff 

While the music still moves me

Simple Pleasures

Hot coffee brews on a cold morning.

Fleece lined jacket smells of campfire smoke

Sausage sizzles in cast iron skillet

 

Sun breaking over snow covered mountains

Wind whistles through evergreens

Night’s silence broken by dawn’s arrival 

 

Your sweetheart cuddles next to you

Aroma of dark roasted beans fills the air

She sips her coffee. “Sniff! Did you fart?”

It’s Already Open

I have become frustrated when trying to open a jars, bottles or anything with a cap that was tightened by a machine. When I was younger this was not a problem, but as I’ve gotten older my grip has weakened and opening a new catsup bottle to remove the seal is a problem. The seal is another problem. There’s an eighth inch tab that supposed to allow you to remove the seal. Really, the only way I can remove it is my teeth, but I’m not sure if that’s a Covid approved technique. I should ask Dr. Fauci, I’m sure he would have an opinion. Sometimes it’s easier to just stab the seal with a steak knife and cut it off.

Old people find ways to do things when they are blocked but traditional methods. 

Opening catsup and mustard packets and soy sauce, are just a few things where your bite strength comes in handy. Dr Fauci is old too, so he may use his teeth, but only with his mask still firmly attached. 

Our new kitchen tools include a needle nose pliers, and an adjustable wrench.

These two new kitchen tools take care of ninety percent of the problems. The red string on the cheese packets rarely works and the ziplock seal never lines up correctly. So that’s another fail. And I don’t know what kind of NASA plastic they use on Cheez-it bags, but it’s super strong . . . until it finally lets loose and the bag self destructs. Save yourself time and frustration. Just cut it open.

I am proposing two options for grocery stores. The first one is to have a special

section for seniors, called “It’s Already Open.” Everyone else is catered to because of all the complaining they do. Why not seniors? We need an aisle or two dedicated to old people. The concept is that every product is opened then gently closed. Sure, there’s a higher chance of spoilage, but we’re old and have gone through lot in our life, so what’s it gonna hurt. We’re the garden hose drinking generation.

The second option is to have a young person with big forearms posted at the

checkout or roaming around the store who would open all the jars and bags for senior citizens. Tips accepted for this service. “Just Saying . . .”