Leave the bangs

Somebody owes me some royalty money. The other day, as I was sitting in my favorite chair watching my favorite team play basketball on my only television set, a break in the action triggered – are you sitting down? – a series of commercials.

I know. I was stunned, too.

Anyway, the third pitch in the mix came from a well-known office supply company. The gist was that this particular store carries whatever tools you need to improve your own business. In the case at hand, the office supply store’s customer was a fellow whose commercial enterprise was situated across the street from the new barbershop/salon marked by a sign that said, “We give $6 haircuts!”
 

Problem, meet solution
After consulting with the way-too-friendly staff member, who way-too-quickly led him to way-too-many solutions to his problem, the gentleman returned to his shop and went to work crafting his own sign. It said, “We FIX $6 haircuts!” and as soon as he hoisted it, sure enough, his own hair-care business boomed.

The moral of the story?
Well, one is that I probably should find a way to copyright my work. The real message here, though, is that there just aren’t a lot of original ideas. Even when you come up with one, odds are good that someone’s going to “borrow” it – sooner or 12 years later.

You can take heart in one thing, though: That guy who “borrowed” your fine idea ... he’s probably someone who gives $6 haircuts.

yyoungblood@gie.net