Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Whack on the side of the Head Wednesday: Bigger or Better!

Ah, it was only one week ago today that we whacked the Altoid tin (see May 28).  Thanks to von Oech, our thinking was jarred and the group came up with the award-winning idea to use my mother's impressive collection of Altoid tins to create a Curio Coffee Table.  We'll place the table in a local coffee shop where people alike can get and give treats, simply by trying their luck and lifting an Altoid lid.  I will keep you abreast as news about the tables breaks.

If it's ok with you, today I'd love to spend some time whacking highlowaha's latest initiative... Bigger or Better.  The idea is a great solution to assuring that Cheryl gets to accompany me to Taste of USA's winning destination (click on Taste of USA icon at top of page for more information about Taste of USA contest).  Yet, as confident as I am about the idea, I know it can be improved.  Ultimately the goal is to "trade up" my original item (Fish on a Stick) for something bigger or better.  We will not stop until we have a round trip plane ticket to whichever state wins Taste of USA.

I will get busy selecting a card and applying it to this dilemma.  As last week proved, however, my input is only a piece of the puzzle.  True resolution will come only if you, my loyal readers, make time to provide your input.  Thanks in advance.

von Oech's magic Whack Pack card says...

"Solve the Right Problem."  I'm not returning until you fix it." bandleader Count Basie told a club owner whose piano was always out of tune.  A month later Basie got a call that everything was fine.  When he returned, the piano was still out of tune.  "You said you fixed it!" an irate Basie exclaimed.  "I did," came the reply.  "I had it painted."  Are you solving the right problem?  Is there a more significant one you're overlooking?  

The problem, as I am most inclined to describe it, is that... highlowaha.com's reach is not expansive enough to provide the necessary network for successfully trading up to a plane ticket.
Hmmm... Am I solving the right problem (blog's reach) or is there a more significant one I am overlooking?  If addressing the issue of "reach" is not the most significant problem... what could it be?
  • Investment.  Are the majority of highlowaha readers invested enough in Cheryl receiving a ticket that they are willing to participate by either trading or spreading the word?  
  • Simplicity.  Would an interested reader know how to "trade up" if he/she wanted to? 
  • Approach: Is an expansive reach necessary in order to receive a ticket?  Maybe the problem isn't reach, but instead the "trading up" approach. 
Now it's your turn.  Whack the idea by either commenting on what I've written or share you own thoughts.  You know the ultimate goal... Cheryl and me boarding a plane to ____, for a fun-filled afternoon of fun, games, and prizes.  While I'm on the subject.. today we visit Minnesota and Thursday we stop in North Carolina and Arizona.

Signing off until tomorrow...

8 comments:

maureen said...

Claudia, I am one busy mom and can't begin to think how you find time and energy to keep this going. I just wanted to tell you that you are doing a great job and as corny as it may sound I look forward to your blog each day. I check it out a million times a day. Anyway just thought you should know "SOMEONE IN NY LOVES AND APPRECIATES YOU".

Cassie: Don't be surprised if you find wine at your door one day. I have been known to pull off bigger things. :)

Anonymous said...

Maureen,
Wine would be great but 1 NYer and her 3 kids would be even better!

Anonymous said...

Dr. B - I just got one of my shower gifts from my girls at work in the mail today and it had the GREATEST packaging I've ever seen. Just had to share that with you!

maureen said...

Cassie, don't you know that you should watch what you wish for?

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Just taking a minute while Bal is at work, Lily is napping and Claudia is off taking Ricky somewhere to check in with the blog. I've been absent this week since we are travelling and currently hanging out with highlowaha in Dallas Texas. We head home tomorrow bright and early and then it is back to the daily grind on Friday...(which secretly I'm thrilled about since travel wears on you-I think anyone who has driven 14 hours with a 1 year old would agree!)
I'm loving the bigger/better challenge and having my husband ponder what fun thing we could trade...suffice it to say we will do our best to get in on the action. I'm trying to think of how to "whack" the idea and just don't know that it needs whacking. It is so much fun and could really allow something great to happen.

Claudia @ Highlowaha said...

Tera... thanks for sharing your encounter with GREAT packaging! I love that you recognize great packaging when you see it and I especially love that you thought to tell me about it. A double bonus! It has, in fact, prompted another blog idea. Coming your way in the next few weeks.

Maureen... it decided...a trip to Dallas is in your future. Let's get planning.

Cheryl Houston said...

They're making me earn my paycheck this week. :)

Okay- so thinking in blog comments:
Our problem is the lack of a plane ticket which equals $ in my world. We're going to solve that problem by the "Bigger, Better" challenge. Our problem with that could be... not enough people in the network or not enough time. But on the other hand, it's not like we need a ton for a plane ticket.

Has everyone posted the trade on Myspace, Facebook, emailed friends, ect? We're trading a case of wine now, right? Let's get the word out.

That's it. That's all I've got.