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Dear Zelda, According to your press you started out as an "underdog," but look at you now. I'm feeling like an underdog myself, so can you give me any lucky dog tips on how I might turn my luck around? I'm not Irish, but maybe I can convert. Thanks. Looking for a Four-Leaf Clover Dear Looking, Horseshoes, rabbits’ feet, wishbones, and four-leaf clovers are all said to be good luck charms. But I’m a firm believer that we make our own luck. Ironically enough, there’s an interesting example of this in the history of “Lucky Charms” cereal. Lucky Charms was invented in 1962 by a team at General Mills whose leader was John Holahan. The team was challenged to introduce a new children’s cereal within a six-month time frame. Normally, new cereals took two to three years to introduce, but Holahan accepted the job, and the risk, knowing that the only way to succeed was to do something unique. Up to that point, the best-selling cereals were plain-grain Wheaties and Cheerios. Holahan had the bright idea to not only add marshmallows, but to add them in a variety of shapes…the now-famous moons, stars, hearts, and clovers. They also chose to use the iconic Leprechaun as their mascot, and as you know, the rest is history. In fact, Lucky Charms cereal vastly exceeded sales forecasts, and it became the fastest new cereal introduction ever accomplished by General Mills. Until his death in 2000, John Holahan often gave talks about his creation and the selling of Lucky Charms as “a lesson in creativity in marketing.” What Holahan did was to “think outside the cereal box.” Success often happens when we step back and take another, perhaps unorthodox, look at our problems. So my advice to you is to do the same: sit down and think about the challenges you’re trying to overcome, and what it is that makes you an “underdog.” Then make a list of your strengths and your goals. But here’s the important part: think creatively about unusual and original ways to accomplish your goals using those strengths. Being the underdog often helps, because no one sees you coming! Creativity and courage are the keys to making your own luck. If you have a great idea for a new product and want to start your own company, look at your competition, figure out what they’re overlooking or haven’t thought of, and find creative ways for your product to be better. Or maybe you’re feeling like an underdog socially. If so, think of something unique that sets you apart, or find some way to stand out while still being you. Love to ride the unicycle, or grow carnivorous plants? Start an enthusiasts’ group in your town and you’re much more likely to meet like-minded people interested in the same thing. The logo of our company, as you may know, is yours truly dressed up in a bee costume with the tagline, “Why BEE normal?” That pretty much sums it up. Make your own luck by not being “normal,” but by having new and unique solutions to the obstacles ahead of you. Dare I say…“Good luck?” Zelda Dear Zelda, I'm seventy-six years old and I'd like to adopt a rescue dog but I'm afraid I'm too old and that I don't have the energy or won't live long enough. I live alone and I think a dog would be a wonderful thing to keep me company. I know I would give a dog a lot of love, but I just don't want to worry about not being able to give a dog the attention it deserves. Should I go ahead and take the risk to adopt a dog or maybe just volunteer at the Humane Society? Old Geezer Dog Pleaser Dear Old Geezer Dog Pleaser, You old teaser...you're hardly a geezer, and we pooches are lucky to have a guy like you around, you champion dog pleaser! Writing in to seek advice on this matter was a wonderful first step, and you've brought up some great points concerning pet adoption that are definitely worth exploring. So many times people will jump into adopting a pet without having gone through the proper steps to research everything that's involved in responsible pet ownership. When reality hits and the pressure becomes too great...a once-loved pet can become an unwanted adoptee. I really love your idea of becoming a volunteer before making your decision. It allows you to not only familiarize yourself with the current pets available, but you also get a sense of some of the responsibility that goes along with owning your own pet. It's a great way to make new friends (some fuzzy...some not) and gain knowledge regarding training, feeding, and exercising of the pets you may be considering. Trained professionals will walk you through all aspects of pet care and maintenance for FREE, and who knows, maybe a new career, a new friend, or dare I say... some romance (with the non fuzzy kind) might result from your interest in caring for canines. But to answer your question, if you decide you'd love a canine companion, are you too old to care for a pet? The answer: absolutely not! People live longer, healthier lives today than ever before, and if you feel up to the task, and think you know what's involved in responsible pet ownership, I say do it! Just make sure you choose a dog whose needs are in line with your situation and your abilities, and make sure you plan responsibly for the future of your dog, just like you would anyone else you care about. Whatever you choose, the most valuable resource we have is time, and donating even the smallest portion of it to an organization like the Humane Society makes you a tried and true bone-a-fide dog pleaser! For more information on volunteering at a Humane Society in your area, visit www.hsus.org or call 202-452-1100. Zelda Share this column with a friend! |
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