Lessons on marketing from Dr. Seuss

We looked and we saw him,
the Cat in the Hat. 
And he said to us:
I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny,
but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.
But our fish said:
No, no, make that cat go away!
He should not be here, he should now be about,
he should not be here when our mother is out!

 — excerpt from The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss, 1957

This is a place for a header. A hero image. A video, a testimonial. Client logos. A newsletter sign up button. Something should be here. Anything. Just in case. Just in case is safe, easy and lazy. But you know, it’s been tested, it works, it’s functional, it brings results. For them.

Yes, everyone else is doing it. Are you everyone? Or are you unique? Are you different?

Yes, your work is unique. You should speak in the same way. Coming from deep empathy and precise thought behind every interaction, we can infuse the culture, the message, the change you seek to make at every step of the way.

We need to think about the why. 

Why is this here and what’s it for? 
What if it wasn’t here? 
What if it wasn’t there in the first place?
What if we didn’t say it like that? 
What if we made it say that…

Some people wouldn’t get it. Some people will also never buy from you. If you want everyone to be your customer, you better get a megaphone. And if you’re doing something remarkable, you don’t have a megaphone.

No shouting, no interrupting, no bothering, no spying.

You have something better. You have a story. You have a message, an idea that sparks something in those who are willing to listen. The people you’re looking to serve. No shouting, no interrupting, no bothering, no spying. Just say it. Distinctly, but gently.

Because it’s not for everyone.

—

The cat in the hat is the critic. The challenger. The creative. The innovator. All she wants to do is have some good fun. And indeed, you can have some good fun if you dare to do things that might not work. Those things others wouldn’t do. 

You can always think positive. Yes, it’s tough sometimes and you want to play it safe. But there is always something positive to focus on. Something new. And it’s worth doing it even if it’s risky. Even if you end up being wrong, it’s better than doing the expected. Because now you know.

It may not be what you saw it for in the first place.

The fish likes to follow the rules. He’s the narrow attention span, the rush to judgment, always on the needle, anxious to get what she expects.

For those who are willing to listen.

Dr. Seuss taught us to postpone judgment, to be generous, to be creative and joyful, to ask what if, to enjoy the moment. 

To see the impermanence of things. He wrote the book using 260 words. He had a message with a new way to say it, for those who are willing to listen.