Customer Product Uses

One thing that all published writers learn
is that the way
readers interpret a story
and the way the writer interprets the same story
is different.

And that’s okay.

Once we create a product
and bring it to market,
we lose control over
how the customer uses that product.
We no longer own the product.
The customer does.

Coca-Cola can’t stop
customers from mixing their product
with Mentos
(and using that mixture to power a car).


WD-40 can’t stop

customers from using the water repellent spray
to soothe their arthritis pain.

Q-tips put a warning
on their boxes
discouraging customers from sticking their product
in their ears.
I don’t know of any other adult use for Q-tips.

Companies can discourage alternative uses
(WD-40 and Coca-Cola actually encourage alternative uses)
but they can’t stop it.

Once you sell your product,
you lose control of it.