Product Flops
It’s obviously worst-case-scenario for any company to invest heavily in a new product or service, only to have it flop. Yet the scenario is not uncommon. Here are a few notables:
*Cosmopolitan yogurt (Yes, Cosmopolitan as in the fashion magazine)
*Colgate kitchen entrees
*Bic underwear
And then there is the plethora of celebrity endorsements (Tiger Woods) and cancelled television shows that never live up to expectations. The truth of the matter is, no one really knows for sure what is going to work, and what isn’t. The same holds true of parenting techniques, and what works with one child often doesn’t work with another.
For example, my family was having dinner with Squirrel, Otter and their parents. The kids were outside eating while the adults enjoyed a quiet dinner inside. Suddenly, Otter banged in the house and demanded a glass of water from her mother.
In our house, when our children forget their manners, I often use humor to remind them. I decided to do the same with Otter.
“Otter,” I said, “don’t you mean please may I have a glass of water my mother whom I love and adore?”
She looked at me like I had three heads.
“Quick,” I grinned, “say ‘please my mother whom I love and adore’ before your mom drinks all your water!”
After a few more rounds, she realized that playing along was the only way she was going to get her cup filled, and she acquiesced.
“Please, mother my door,” she mumbled.
I started to explain that it was “mother whom I love and adore”, but by that time she’d given up on the water and disappeared back outside.
Thank goodness I hadn’t invested any time or money in that one––my efforts were definitely a flop!
