This weekend I was picking out a special batch of business/calling cards to use at the PopTech conference next month. I clicked over to Hugh MacLeod's blog, gapingvoid, to look at his card service.
Occasionally, I study his cartoons because I have often used humor in business. So few other people make business cartoons, beyond Scott Adams and some of the New Yorker artists. I want so much to like MacLeod's drawings and sense of humor. Sometimes I do, but most of the time they leave me feeling empty and sad. I love sarcasm, and use it myself, but these seem too cynical.
Anyway, I picked out the cartoon below for one side of my card, and text for the other. I was about to check out when something made me stop. The next day it dawned on me why I was uncomfortable.
The idea of marketing beliefs turns my stomach. Beliefs are not like pop songs or breakfast cereals. They are neither infinite nor measurable. I want marketers to stay away from my beliefs. I know they won't because choice is a product of belief, and companies want to make choices for me.
I will keep looking for a cartoon to use on my business card. One I can laugh at.
Gapingvoid.com; belief cartoon; PopTech;