Repeat

The story is probably apocryphal, but it is one of my favorites.

A consultant asked Proctor and Gamble if they would pay $1 million dollars if he could double their shampoo sales. They agreed. His advice was to add one word to the instructions of “wet hair and apply shampoo.” That word was “repeat.” The story is that they gratefully paid the fee.

Do you actually need to repeat? I doubt it.

As we head toward the prime selling season, we need to ask ourselves a question. Should we participate?

I have not for many years, but it was mostly for religious reasons. Most Christmas customs have little to do with Christianity. While these reasons still exist for me, mainly today the emphasis for me is to avoid the whole mess that is Christmas. Even if the day after Thanksgiving has great sales, I will stay home. Do I really need that soda stream machine that makes your own soda? Trust me, I didn’t and you don’t. While I do use it on occasion, we all know that it belongs in the closet with the other products we buy but do not use.

So if you decide to celebrate Christmas, I have two practical suggestions.

I already have done all my Christmas shopping, this has been true for the last 30 years.The first is to take those things in the closet you do not need and give them away as Christmas presents. Try to remember who gave it to you and give it back! I heard about one fruitcake that has been given back and forth for 20 years!

Another suggestion is to do what my cousin’s family does. Each name is written on paper and each person draws one name. No other presents allowed. There is a limit on the amount to be spent. I think that parents also buy an extra toy for any young children in the family. While this may seem harsh, I bet the joy that will be in the house in January when the Capital One bill is opened will be great. 

The best way to starve Babylon is obvious, do not feed it.

This is one reason our family does not watch TV much anymore. That way we avoid the confusion between wants and needs that advertising brings.

No, do not repeat. Once in the shower is enough.