I stayed in a hotel
recently
that offered guest soap
that had the dimensions
of a regular bar of soap
except it was half as thick.
Because that is all
the average hotel guest would use
during a stay.
More is wasteful.
It costs the hotel
additional money to supply.
It creates more garbage.
And it doesn’t add value
to their guests.
More is not always better.
Figure out what your customer
needs
and offer your products
in that size.
I don’t read books
in a series
in order.
I usually start
with book 3
and then go backward.
I am NOT my average reader.
Most of my readers
read my books in order.
They expect the series
to build.
I design my books
and my series
to do that.
You are NOT your customer.
Don’t assume
your preferences
are their preferences.
Ask your customers.
Research them.
For decades,
people have justified
fireworks
by saying they love
the show they give us.
Now, we have drone displays
which can provide
even more magnificent shows,
but without the danger
or the loud booms.
This has forced people
to admit
the danger,
the loud booms,
the blowing up of sh*t
was a big part
of the appeal of fireworks.
They don’t want
safer
or quieter
or less destructive.
Ensure the ‘improvements’
you’re building
into your products/services
are truly desired.
Less destructive,
for some products,
isn’t necessarily better.
When I was younger,
I would make jokes
about seniors
and early bird specials.
I didn’t understand
why older people ate dinner
so early.
I was missing a key component.
I didn’t realize
that our night vision degrades
as we get older.
Older people don’t necessarily
WANT to eat at 4pm.
They HAVE to eat then.
If they plan to drive
to and from the restaurant,
the sun has to be shining
when they leave.
They’ve changed their schedules
to accommodate this restriction.
If a large group of people
says or does the same thing
and
we don’t understand
why anyone would ever
say or do that,
we are likely missing
a key component
influencing that choice.
Uncover that component.
It could mean the difference
between success and failure
with that demographic.