Education: Rethinking Give-aways & "freebies"

Posted by Swardell 9 years, 6 months ago to Culture
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So my wonderful CrossFit box owner, Allie Newell – who designed the 9.12.14 AS3 Special WOD (see http://26point2crossfit.com/2014/09/11/1... ), actually read ATLAS SHRUGGED.

So the other day, when we talked about how Allie came to start his box. He took me through the evolution of his business and all the changes and work that has gone into making it a success. Then he said he was looking at rethinking some of the things he was doing because of what he read in the story. He spoke about how the book has changed his thinking on giveaways and freebies.

And what I loved best came at the end of the conversation when he said, "Call me crazy, but I think it really goes right along with all that is happening now."

No, he is not crazy. He is amazingly industrious and good to those around him. And best of all, he get it.

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  • Posted by flanap 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I am not a believer in Ayn Rand's philosophy, although many tenets overlap biblical, fundamental Christianity as interpreted via a historical, literal (allowing for figures of speech) hermeneutic.

    Name one thing that you think is free?
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  • Posted by Swardell 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes, if you are a believer of Ayn Rand's philosophy. I just do not agree with the thought nothing is free or value is always traded.
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  • Posted by flanap 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Nothing is free...value is always traded...fundamentals of Objectivism.
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  • Posted by flanap 9 years, 6 months ago
    Giveaways/freebies are just marketing costs...someone pays and that would be the company.

    If you do not believe that the Giveaways/freebies are increasing business, then a rational business model would market in another manner.
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  • Posted by Swardell 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Not every freebie and give-away is a marketing ploy. Sometimes people are sincerely generous.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 9 years, 6 months ago
    Freebies and give-aways are marketing ploys to get potential customers to try the product/service. For potential customers who already are using a competing product/service, you need to get them over the hurdle of not wanting to change. For potential customers not using the product/service, you need to show them the benefits. This has little to do with "earning" the item, rather in overcoming the tendency of most of us not to change.
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  • Posted by Swardell 9 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    It was not appropriate timing to discuss his business details. It was just a short conversation.

    I brought up how giveaways and freebies are too often not valued or less valued and under appreciated if unearned. He agreed. I moved on to my workout warm-up since I was on his clock.

    Now on to expose him to Dinesh D'Souza and David Horowitz.

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  • Posted by $ root1657 9 years, 6 months ago
    So, um... you kinda left out what he was thinking...
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