My Childhood Definition of Rich

What's Brewing

When I was little, I thought my Aunt Betty was the richest woman in the world.

I had proof.

My definition of rich was right there in her kitchen.

Sitting on top of the refrigerator.

I'll come back to that.

Growing up, I don't really remember what we ate for breakfast.

I remember supper.

Beans were the meat.

Cornbread. Fried potatoes. And sometimes peach cobbler or fried pies.

But breakfast?

I got nothing.

I know we had cereal from time to time, but apparently none of it was memorable.

Then there was Aunt Betty's house.

Remember that proof that she was the richest woman in the world?

Cereal.

She had boxes of it lined up side by side on top of her refrigerator like books on a shelf. You couldn't see the fronts. You could read the spines to see what your choices were.

And there were CHOICES.

To little Brandy, this was the height of luxury.

A whole library of cereal.

And the funny thing is, I already knew which ones I wanted before I ever pulled a box down.

Saturday morning cartoons had taken care of that.

Marketing Bite

Those cereal commercials were good.

Tony the Tiger told me Frosted Flakes were GRRRREAT.

Lucky Charms had marshmallows.

Some cereals had prizes inside.

Then there were Kellogg's Corn Flakes with that green chicken.

Never impressed me.

You had tigers, toucans, leprechauns and prizes competing for my attention, and you're bringing a green chicken to the fight?

But here's what I realize now.

The marketing had worked on me before I ever walked into Aunt Betty's kitchen.

I didn't need to see the front of the box.

I could read the name on the spine and already have an opinion about what was inside.

Your customers do the same thing.

They see your posts.

They notice your trucks.

They hear your name.

They Google you.

They read your reviews.

And long before they actually need what you sell, they're forming an opinion about your business.

That's why every piece of marketing doesn't have to make the phone ring today.

Sometimes its job is simply to make sure people remember you tomorrow.

Take Home the Bacon

If your business were lined up on top of Aunt Betty's refrigerator with all of your competitors, could someone recognize you just by reading the spine?

Would they know what you do?

Would your name already mean something to them?

Would they reach for you first?

That's what consistent marketing does.

It makes you familiar before it's time to choose.

And I guess I owe that green Corn Flakes chicken an apology.

Because after all these years, I still remember him.

Maybe he did his job after all.

Until next breakfast... keep learning, keep serving, and do not forget to take home the bacon.