As a fan of audiobooks and not paying for them, I took advantage of an offer provided by Wired’s Chris Anderson and picked up a copy of his latest book, Free: The Future Of A Radical Price. Anderson is also the author of The Long Tail, an instructional book that teaches one to unparalleled success at pinning the tail on the donkey.
Well, after “absorbing” his latest work, it got me thinking. First off, I’d best attempt to score an interview with him especially since he’d already had the opportunity to be interviewed by demi-god Stephen Colbert; secondly – and most importantly – much of what he discusses in the book happens over an eventual period of time. As an example, people who sign up for a free service get used to using it and eventually they are offered a little bit more in the way of the service for what’s called a “freemium.”
Eventualism can work this way as well, and often it does. Say you offer your services on a project for free, say mowing your neighbor’s lawn. Well, if you use this opportunity to hone your EffTD skills and overall eventualistic nature, you’ll find that eventually they will have to pay someone to do it (costing them money) or have to do it themselves (costing them time, which is – apparently – money). You had them hooked into the idea of having a mowed lawn…now they can’t live without it.
Another example would be the idea of having a social gathering, like a wedding. First, you make sure your wedding is scheduled after dinner. You are also encouraged to invite someone who owns a restaurant or catering business, regardless of how close you are. Their gift to you will be the appetizers you may need. You invite your guests – and don’t charge admission. Plus, you give them one free drink ticket when they arrive. Some may come and not drink. Some may come and only have the one free drink. But many will come, have the free drink and then pay for more drinks. The bonus? All of them will bring presents as well. To ensure this goes as planned, employ the “no gift, no chair, no glass” policy. If the idea of standing doesn’t change their tune, the idea of drinking out of their palms will.
Eventualism and Freeventualism will always go hand in hand, like inbred cousins. Neither can replace the other. So embrace them as partners in crime, unless you’re a hero of some sort. Then just embrace them in general.
Until next week, remember: Only through lack of trying can you make indifference.
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