Life is Short and The Pet Rock

Would we be just as likely to feel life was short if we lived 10 times as long?

Author

Fither
July 07, 2024

Image by tirachard on Freepik

Teaser

Hey! 👋🏻 It's Fither again. Today, I want to give you an update about my mom!

Last week, my mom had a birthday. The more I think about it, the sadder I feel because I’m not near her right now😞(we are separated by about 320 km and she is getting old). 

I’m afraid I might not be spending enough time with her before it’s too late. So, I’ve decided to visit her this week!🥹 Ugh, I miss my mom. I hope I can spend more time with her in the future.

📰 In Today’s Pick..

#1. Life is Short

That is today’s headline. I wandered around the internet and came across this article.

Life is Short

www.paulgraham.com/vb.html

Excerpt:

If life is short, we should expect its shortness to take us by surprise. And that is just what tends to happen. You take things for granted, and then they're gone. You think you can always write that book, or climb that mountain, or whatever, and then you realize the window has closed. The saddest windows close when other people die. Their lives are short too. After my mother died, I wished I'd spent more time with her. I lived as if she'd always be there. And in her typical quiet way she encouraged that illusion. But an illusion it was. I think a lot of people make the same mistake I did.

Paul Graham

TL;DR

Paul stated clearly not to wait to do things that’s matter, relentlessly prune that BS, and savor the time that you have.

We all have that BS everywhere. Traffic jam. Unnecessary office toxicity. A fight with your wife.

People in dense area of my country used to travel 2 hours in a commuter, crammed, just to go to work and to get home. 4 hours a day in total. Spending 16% of their time on a commuter is BS. Well, for people who has no other alternative, they are unlucky (they had family to be fed), but we all should think of better alternative.

#2. The Pet Rock: How to Make Big Money From Simple Ideas

How could someone sell rocks and become a millionaire?

The Pet Rock: How to Make Big Money From Simple Ideas

In 1975, the pet rock sold 1.5 million units at $3.95 a pop. And even though it was a fad that lasted only 6 months, it made the inventor, Gary Dahl, a millionaire overnight. It’s one of those ideas…

www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/the-pet-rock-how-to-make-big-money-from-simple-ideas

Here is the excerpt for the article:

Create products that solve a real need

Most people think the pet rock was nothing but a big gimmick. But in reality, it was born out of need. In April 1975, Gary Dahl was having drinks with friends at a bar in Los Gatos, California, the town he lived in for many years.

The conversation turned to pets. Dahl heard his friends complaining about how they had to walk, feed, groom, and clean up after their pets.

And that’s when the brilliant idea struck. Dahl told his friends he had a pet that didn’t need any care, was never disobedient, and would never become sick or die. It was the perfect pet: A rock.

Ramit Sethi

TL;DR

The pet rock craze of the 1970s sounds like a scam, similar to modern NFTs. Who would buy rocks when you can find them for free on the street? The only use for a pet rock might be to win a race:

For those who can't see the video, it shows the legendary scene where Patrick Star's pet rock wins the race.

Yet, Ther’s always insights for those who seek them. Here’s why Gary Dahl became successful:

  1. Pet rock solves a problem: It addresses the hassle of pet ownership. You don't need to take care of a rock, right?

  2. Clear target market: There are always parents who want to keep their children quiet about wanting a new pet. A pet rock keeps children quiet without the need to feed or clean up after it. Win-win.

  3. Amazing user experience: With the right product quality (smooth and harmless pet rock), marketing, packaging, and branding, a simple rock can become (slightly) valuable. This differentiates a sellable rock from a regular one you can find on the street.

Thinking about it, we're actually just like regular rocks. I'm a regular guy, and you probably are too.

What sets successful people apart is their ability to solve other people's problems with clear targeting and amazing user experience.

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"Ther's always insights for those who seek them."