Let's change people's minds!

The business of followership

Volvo will end manufacturing and sales of their Bi-Fuel models, cars running on natural or biogas. A lot of people in the business cheer the news, stating that a product that year after year has generated losses only has one way to go - down the drain.

To me it's just sad.

Not only because I like the product. But because Volvo has proven their business is the business of followership.

Years ago they were leading the development not only in safety but also in environment. Their successful launch of the Lambda Sond in the 80s is just one example. Today they even might loose their strong position in safety since Toyota, Lexus and others score top results in Euro NCAP and other safety tests.

Today the strategy seems to be "keep pace with competitors but let them pave the way". The Bi-fuel vehicles have been the only exception. The reason for ending the production is a low demand. But isn't that just another way to say: "we were incapable to market this new product line. We are incapable because we are followers, not leaders. And when we suddenly were in the lead, we didn't know what to do."

Creating new products, or new product categories is about changing people's minds. That's a challenge. But what challenge doesn't wait in the future if people's minds change because of some competitors’ efforts. Then you have to be a hell of a follower.

Secure environment

In Europe, banks as well as bank customers suffer hard from scimming. Criminals apply small devices that can "record" the data on your ATM card when using the ATM. To save their reputation banks normally take full responsibility. However they ask customers to check the ATM and to make sure it's safe. That means we, the customers, are perhaps not blaimed but still made responsible for the bank safety.

So, why on earth, do banks let their ATMs look like this? And why isn't there never a sign with a phone number, that encourage people to call in when feeling suspicious?

Same attitude - different world

Attitudes are changing. How often don't we here that phrase? But sometimes it's not the attitudes that change. Rather it's the reality that make a move and allows the attitudes to turn into behavior.

Two nights ago my oldest son (three years old) threw his Brazilian soccer ball from our balcony and it eventually stopped on the public lawn not far from our house. I could see it from the living room, it wasn't far, but when the night set it had slipped my mind.

When we woke up the day after the ball was gone.

It was really a nice ball, purchased in Rio de Janeiro. And even if I loved it more than my son did, we miss it. Damn those who stole it!!!

So. Who's to blame for this? Well, you shouldn't steal right!? But on the other hand, if something is obviously untouched on the public ground for more than 24 hours, isn't it okey to take it? I think most of you think I am the responsible one, who didn't fetch the ball in the first place. I changed the scene. Soccer balls used by children and their parents aren't free to just take. But if they are left and abandoned they are.

Which brings me to the most debated "attitude change" right now. The attitudes towards stealing music and movies. If the industry creates format and equipment that can be used to share and copy content. Haven't they then also kicked out the ball on the public lawn? And, if there is a ball on the lawn, that nobody seems to care about, year after year. Isn't it then OK to take it?

The attitudes haven't changed. Technology has. The industry changed the world - deal with it!

What does fair trade taste like?

Not much. If you would believe the vast majority of coffee, chocolate and tea makers that are certified as "Fair trade" producers the only reason we should buy their products is that they are produced by people in the third world whose working conditions are "fair". And not only do they ask us to choose a product with no special taste, they want us to pay a premium for it! Pretty much the same often goes for organic products.

But, doesn't it feel right for people to just pay some extra bucks to contribute to people who´re not that privileged like we are? In fact, I doubt that. Not as long as I get something that's not that good that I usually pay for. And if I am that kind of guy that doesn't bother so much about what groceries cost, instead I probably shop for quality and special features.

Maraba Bourbon is a great coffee from Rwanda. It's made of fantastic beans handpicked from some of the best small producers in the world. The producer, Union Coffe Roasters, the very same that promised what I wrote in the last sentence argues the coffee is vibrant from daytime to midnight, milk chocolate with hints of fresh citrus. Price: 52 Swedish kronor ($7) for 227 grams. Something I noticed the third time I was buying it. Because even if it's more than double the price of the same amount Lavazza coffee, the design, the promise - and together with the fact that it was "Fair trade" just made me look away from that.

What Union Coffee Roasters are doing is a shift in how to change people´s minds about fair trade. Instead of trying to change our perception of what is important when choosing coffee they change our perception of what is making a coffee great.

When normal fair trade producers say:

Quality and taste is important       Fair trade is important   

Union Coffee Roaster say:

Fair trade    =   Great quality and taste

That's the way to do it.

Black, please

The Swedish tax authorities try to change the attitudes to cheating with the taxes. But don't they need professional help. Or what about this poster saying: "Work black or white - the choice is yours!"

Really? Well, thankyou. Black, please.