As an observer (benevolent on occasion) it has been humbling to intersect. This morning my own attention was drawn to a saying that my wife many years ago framed for her best friend. It is from Thoreau "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music that he hears, however measured or far away".
Had it not been for that, I might have given up long ago… to pursue something more reasonable/in tune with my peers.
Thanks for the HDT quote. He’s also been a trusted guide. I almost shared this quote in today’s love letter:
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.”
Betty Crocker cake mixes went through an interesting sales journey. They were selling well enough and then a product developer at the company said, “What if we made them easier to make? Like, just add some milk and some eggs?” Sales went up immensely.
The same team was onto something. People love the feeling of making a cake and contributing. Adding the eggs and milk felt like they were part of the process.
But then they pushed it. It wasn’t their fault. They thought, “Well, what if it’s just adding water? You take the mix out, add some water, stir, and cook it up. Same deal, right?
Sales fell like a rock.
You know why? Because just pouring water into a bag of powder isn’t “making a cake.” It’s nothing. Anyone could do that.
So the company rushed and set it back to “two eggs and two cups of milk.” Sales rushed back up.
People want to be part of the process!
Make it easy for them to participate, but not too easy. None of us want to feel like we are just the water in the mix…
Wow, Gail! Some days reading a new 3mm post reminds me of being in an old world bazaar. Everything is available, but what I leave with can be the result of my own discernment. While we might dicker, er, barter, over the price of a nifty t-shirt, I don’t have to be picky deciding how much of the rest is good stuff. It’s all good stuff!
Cal’s contribution of gathering ingredients for the cake reminded me of the fable of The Little Red Hen. Any other communitarians here ever read that as a child? Baking bread as I recall? So glad in my now life to observe this team (author and Muses) making a cake as a cooperative venture.
A recipe to avert Red Hen grumblings while ensuring a luscious slice of cake. Ice cream anyone?!
I loved reading the Little Red Hen story to kindergartners.
When I was about 10… I was chosen to read Stone Soup to a group of my peers at the library. The feelings of the experience stuck to me like glue from that day forward. 44 years beyond!!!
FOLLOW THE ENERGY! 😀
Did you know yesterday was a day to celebrate ice cream? The kid and I felt it was mandatory that we get some after dinner. My choice was the flavor of the day… salted caramel pecan. Mindfully I enjoyed one scoop. 🍦
How interesting! An apprentice fabulist at the age of 10?! We’re you at all shy? Stage fright or whatever? You describe the experience as a high point at the very least. I missed “Ice Cream Day.” Waffle cone and all!
What a wonderful collection of experiences you just shared! The Little Red Hen reminded me of The Ant And The Grasshopper, by Aesop. Google being Google and me being me, of course I searched Aesop.
The common entries all defined him as a “fabulist.” One who writes fables is the first definition. Isn’t that fabulous?! The second definition sounds more like me! “One who makes things up to spin tall tales,” or words to that effect. I’ve confided in you in the past that my natural response to not knowing the facts is to just cobble together some plausible idea! Tho’ I be a fabulist, I in no way am an Aesop! 😔
I just love todays Love letter and comments! T Shirt joke was great!
On the cake mixes - because women felt they they were not contributing enough to the actual boxed recipe, decorating cakes with frosting became a thing! This was to make them feel better about just adding water or eggs and milk.
As an observer (benevolent on occasion) it has been humbling to intersect. This morning my own attention was drawn to a saying that my wife many years ago framed for her best friend. It is from Thoreau "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music that he hears, however measured or far away".
Go well and be well.....
Thank you for: FOLLOW THE ENERGY
Had it not been for that, I might have given up long ago… to pursue something more reasonable/in tune with my peers.
Thanks for the HDT quote. He’s also been a trusted guide. I almost shared this quote in today’s love letter:
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.”
You shared my favorite!
Endeavor to live! Advance Confidently!
AND, I will add:
Heed Whitman’s wise words…
“Be curious, not judgmental.”
Cake background info…
Betty Crocker Experience:
You might know this story:
Betty Crocker cake mixes went through an interesting sales journey. They were selling well enough and then a product developer at the company said, “What if we made them easier to make? Like, just add some milk and some eggs?” Sales went up immensely.
The same team was onto something. People love the feeling of making a cake and contributing. Adding the eggs and milk felt like they were part of the process.
But then they pushed it. It wasn’t their fault. They thought, “Well, what if it’s just adding water? You take the mix out, add some water, stir, and cook it up. Same deal, right?
Sales fell like a rock.
You know why? Because just pouring water into a bag of powder isn’t “making a cake.” It’s nothing. Anyone could do that.
So the company rushed and set it back to “two eggs and two cups of milk.” Sales rushed back up.
People want to be part of the process!
Make it easy for them to participate, but not too easy. None of us want to feel like we are just the water in the mix…
Sprinkles anyone? Or should I say Jimmies?
I did not know this story. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure Gail. 😊
Fascinating, Bobby! “Jimmie’s” is unfamiliar? If it pertains to cakes I might suspect someone is jimmying with the recipe again...
Jimmies are sprinkles… I didn’t know either, until it was explained to me.
Hope all goes well with the surgeon today Gail.
Thank you Kathy!
I’ll share what we learn in tomorrow’s live letter.
Wow, Gail! Some days reading a new 3mm post reminds me of being in an old world bazaar. Everything is available, but what I leave with can be the result of my own discernment. While we might dicker, er, barter, over the price of a nifty t-shirt, I don’t have to be picky deciding how much of the rest is good stuff. It’s all good stuff!
Cal’s contribution of gathering ingredients for the cake reminded me of the fable of The Little Red Hen. Any other communitarians here ever read that as a child? Baking bread as I recall? So glad in my now life to observe this team (author and Muses) making a cake as a cooperative venture.
A recipe to avert Red Hen grumblings while ensuring a luscious slice of cake. Ice cream anyone?!
I loved reading the Little Red Hen story to kindergartners.
When I was about 10… I was chosen to read Stone Soup to a group of my peers at the library. The feelings of the experience stuck to me like glue from that day forward. 44 years beyond!!!
FOLLOW THE ENERGY! 😀
Did you know yesterday was a day to celebrate ice cream? The kid and I felt it was mandatory that we get some after dinner. My choice was the flavor of the day… salted caramel pecan. Mindfully I enjoyed one scoop. 🍦
How interesting! An apprentice fabulist at the age of 10?! We’re you at all shy? Stage fright or whatever? You describe the experience as a high point at the very least. I missed “Ice Cream Day.” Waffle cone and all!
IIRC, I was shy… timid.
It was a high point… first the joy in being chosen and second, the good feelings I experienced while “doing”.
What a wonderful collection of experiences you just shared! The Little Red Hen reminded me of The Ant And The Grasshopper, by Aesop. Google being Google and me being me, of course I searched Aesop.
The common entries all defined him as a “fabulist.” One who writes fables is the first definition. Isn’t that fabulous?! The second definition sounds more like me! “One who makes things up to spin tall tales,” or words to that effect. I’ve confided in you in the past that my natural response to not knowing the facts is to just cobble together some plausible idea! Tho’ I be a fabulist, I in no way am an Aesop! 😔
T-shirt: “I thought the dryer was making my clothes shrink. Turned out it was the refrigerator.” 😁
Definitely *not* the oven! 😋
Jack- I hope you don’t ever stop with your very entertaining “T-Shirt Talk.”
It’s now part of the show!
“And now, it’s time for “T-Shirt Talk” with your favorite host, JackH! Let’s give him a hand!”🙌🏼👏🏼🙌🏼
Not until Gail has a clean bill of health, Bobby. I will keep trying to post something to make her smile. 😊
Awesome and appreciated!!!
I can’t speak for Gail, but they all are chuckle worthy. 🙃
I just love todays Love letter and comments! T Shirt joke was great!
On the cake mixes - because women felt they they were not contributing enough to the actual boxed recipe, decorating cakes with frosting became a thing! This was to make them feel better about just adding water or eggs and milk.
Sharon, I knew I could count on you for the Andy Rooney angle… 😊
Excellent! I am #Grateful 🙏🏼🕊🙏🏼