When you “Do not Like” an organization’s fan page, how does it make you feel?
“I’m healthy. I’ll never give McDonald’s a ‘Like’.”
“I have a quiet facebook newsfeed. I’ll never give DraftStreet a ‘Like'”
“I don’t like that guy. I’ll never give Lifeisnoyoke a ‘Like'”
The impact “Do not Like” of varies. Fortune 500 companies hardly feel it. Startups are knicked. The grassroots initiative is bruised. But, there’s always impact. And making an impact feels good.
You’re asked to like facebook fan pages all the time. When you decline, or say “Do not like”, what is your message?
If you say no to McDonald’s, you’re saying no to their products. No to their impact on society. No, don’t market to me.
If you say no to Draftstreet, you’re saying no to their services. No, I don’t want to play. No, I don’t want to join the conversation.
If you say to lifeisnoyoke, you’re saying no to their content. I don’t like your ideas. I don’t want to change my views on food.
The exact message varies when you “Do not like”. But, it’s always clear. And always yours.
Own it.
When you “Like” an organization’s fan page, what is your message?
Let’s say you “Like” McDonald’s. That’s great. You buy their product and are not ashamed to admit it.
Let’s say you “Like” DraftStreet. That’s great. You use their service and want to join the conversation.
Let’s say you “Like” lifeisnoyoke. That’s great. You appreciate their content and want more.
The message varies when you “Like” an organization’s fan page. The result, however, does not. “Liking” a fan page is a recommendation. A recommendation to your entire network. And their network. And their networks.
That’s change-the-world stuff. Powerful.
So, what organizations did you “Like” today? My recommendation is that you think about it.
Like.
It’s the easy stuff. The stuff within reach. The stuff that takes minimal effort, but gets you started. More than what you got, picking the low-hanging fruit gets you momentum.
Picking the low-hanging fruit gets you first 25%. Then, the next lowest hanging fruit gets you half way there. The next 25% is easy since you’ve already done twice that much. Finally the last 25% takes some strategy, but is why you started.
There are so many opportunities to use the low-hanging fruit principle. Start with the easy stuff and ride the momentum. Here are some real-life examples.
Grabbing the low-hanging fruit will get you started. And it will get you the momentum you need. Soon, all that’s left will be the fruit at the top.
But, just because picking the low-hanging fruit is good, doesn’t mean it’s all you should do. Because if you go from tree to tree without finishing, you’ll be left with a bunch of trees with a little fruit on top. And that’s not why you started.
Read more about getting the low-hanging fruit by reading “Switch”, one of my favorite resources.
Tons of fruit to pick. It was a massive undertaking. But, by getting momentum with the low-hanging fruit and then next lowest we were 50% done. Then, we brought the project to life by getting to 75% complete. Finally, the top of the tree was all that remained. And it needs to be picked.
The student’s paper is nothing without diction, voice and tone. The traveler’s suitcase is worthless without her toiletries. The weight-loss seeker’s Vitamix is just an expensive decoration if it sits idle.
It’s easy to forget the reason you started. And it’s easy to be satisfied with simply having started. Or being almost done. That’s sort of reverse-low hanging fruit. And now your brain is really messing with you.
Remember, it often takes the most strategy to finish the job.
And, the fruit at the top is high. You really have to push. But getting it all is the reason you started.
When the low-hanging fruit is gone, what’s left? You’re 50% done, so doing another 25% should seem easy. It’s only half of what you’ve already done. And, it will get you to 75% complete.
The student fills in the outline with sentences. The traveler chooses outfits. The weight loss-seeker goes to the grocery store.
When the low-hanging fruit is gone, and the relatively low-hanging fruit is gone, the next step is bring the project to life. It’s sometimes the toughest step. But, knowing that afterwards you’ll be 75% finished makes it easier. And seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (or in this case, the fruit on top of the tree) makes it worth it.
So you picked the low-hanging fruit. What’s next? Get some more.
The student can hand-write an outline for their paper. Travelers can pull shirts they may want to wear. Weight loss seekers can print a smoothie recipe.
You might have to reach a little higher. But it’s still low-hanging fruit. The lowest, anyway. And once you’ve picked it, you’re 50% done with the tree.
When your breakfast is a doughnut, coffee and a cigarette, sometimes it’s not your choice.
Maybe you’re a truck driver and have limited options. Maybe you’re an executive and have limited time. Maybe you’re a person who’s uneducated and don’t know any better.
But just because you don’t have the choice, it doesn’t mean big companies don’t either. They do. I made it for mine.
What do you get from FedEx? Is it a new shirt from JCrew? Maybe. Is it a pair of Bulls tickets? Maybe. A Vitamix 7500? Maybe.
You can get a lot of different things from FedEx. But, no matter what you get, you always get status. A status update. Your tracking number. Every step along the way, you get a status update of where your stuff is. No waiting. No worrying.
You will have your shirt in time the wedding. You will have your tickets in time for the big game. You will have your Vitamix in time for your party. Why? Because you got five status updates saying so.
So why haven’t airlines figured this out? Checking a bag isn’t painful because of the fees. Or the line. It’s because you leave your bag in exchange for hope. A chance. A big question mark at the carousel.
Seriously, what flier would say no to a tracking number for their bag? A little status update. You can keep the peanuts.
NOTE: There will be a race to implement this technology into the flying process. My prediction is that Southwest is the first. And if not, the first airline will charge a premium for the service.