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Eating Your Own Dog Food

Written by: Edmund

Article Overview: Many companies don't practice what they preach not knowing it would hit them hard in the long run. The customers are not really that dumb and have evolved.

Eating Your Own Dog Food

Eating your own dog food is a phrase many software companies used to describe a software company using its own products as a proof of concept and a way to show their belief in their own products or services. However, I've made many interesting observations that are contrary to that and I'm exposing so that more companies will understand the logic behind this phrase.

I'll just go straight to the point instead of beating around the bush. There are just too many BS happening around and I thought I would just document it so more people would take it positively and put an end to the nonsense and you would start realizing how hilarious these observations are and how it still happens to many of the companies here.

The following companies and scenarios are fictitious and for educational and entertainment purposes only.


Case Study 1
Have you ever entered a Mercedes Car Showroom to test drive a new Mercedes and be greeted by a professional looking car sales rep that dons a professional outfit and a eloquent presenter of the car specifications of all Mercedes models.

This is very impressive indeed. The whole test drive experience was excellent until the point I start asking what car the sales rep was driving. Usually the reply is, "I drive a Japanese car." This really sums up the whole experience. It was not a wholesome experience because I felt that the car sales rep was trying to sell me the car more than sharing with me the experience of owning a Mercedes Benz.

Maybe it's a little extravagant and does not make business sense to let every single sales rep owned a Mercedes but letting some of them drive them back home might not be a bad idea as it gives the sales rep a better feel of the car and more understanding of the car.

Maybe Mercedes Benz is an extreme case but I've seen many sales reps of Japanese Car companies driving other makes of cars from their competitors. A little wake up call perhaps but I believe companies should try their best to make sure their staffs are able to afford one.

This scenario does not happen often in Singapore but in Japan, the car and electronic companies do their best to make sure their staffs use their own products as both management and employees feel honored to be in sync with the company's ideals and having pride in using them.


Case Study 2
Time Management Expert

This is really intriguing. In case you're wondering what's a Time Management Expert. It's a person who teaches you how to optimize your time. Imagine this; what do you call a Time Management Expert who's always late for appointments. Before they start taking on assignments, they probably should start to make sure they are the product of their service.


Case Study 3
The Sales Coach

This is even more hilarious. I've seen many Sales Coaches going around big MNCs selling Sales Coaching & Training for their sales staff. Guess what, many of them don't even know how to get more sales for their own business. Yet, they have been pounding on all this ignorant HR Managers of all these MNCs.

I need to take a deep breath cos I'm having a big laugh. I wish I could stop now and take a break but I'm not done yet.


Case Study 4
The Branding Consultant

I've used to say this way back in year 1999 when we first started doing Web Design services that any company out there without a website is like somebody walking naked on the streets. More importantly it was way back in 1999. Having a website is not just about branding but also using it to get leads and enquiries via the generation of traffic to your website.

Recently I had the privileged of meeting some PR & Branding Consulting Firms that don't even have a website. This is simply incredible. The fact is they still managed to get business via old contacts but I wouldn't bet my last dollar on it sustaining more than 1 year. It would already be a challenge to grow their team.


Summary:
I believe that if you really observe hard enough, you will probably be able to relate to more case studies. To sum it up, just believe in your own products or services by using them yourself. More importantly, you can avoid being ridiculed by being really ready before launching your products or services in the market.

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Article Tags: beating around the bush, business sense, car companies, car sales, car showroom, car specifications, drive experience, eloquent presenter, extreme case, japanese car, makes of cars, mercedes benz, mercedes car, mercedes models, new mercedes, professional outfit, proof of concept, sales rep, sales reps, straight to the point



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