STARDATE January 29th 2554*
(*it really IS 2554 according to the Thai calendar – it even says it on my tax return)
BE THE FIRST. OR DON’T BOTHER…?
I’ve lost count of the number of books I’ve read using the “who was the second man on the moon?” question to prove that being first really IS the only option.
Anyway, it was Buzz Aldrin Jr.
And thanks to Little Britain, we now even know the EIGHTH man on the moon – Bing Gordyn!
Yes, it’s great to be first. But is it the only option? After all, there can only ever be one first.
Gibbs SR toothpaste was the first ever TV commercial in the UK (Bulova watches preceded it in the USA). But really, so what? Sure it will always be the first, but it doesn’t exist anymore.
I would hazard a guess that Vorsprung Durch Tecnik wasn’t the first time anyone had used a foreign language in English advertising, but it’s certainly the most memorable.
People in the ad business trip over themselves in the headlong rush to be first.
If you’re not on foursquare, you’re soooosquare. Actually foursquare is so yesterday because Geonium is this morning but by this afternoon the ONLY way to go will be facebook ‘likes’ ads AAAAARRRRRRGH!!!
Twitter’s been ‘done’. Who was the first person to use foursquare? Who gives a fuck? Hardly a world-shattering event eh? Come to that, who wrote the first ever blog? Don’t know, don’t care.
We don’t even know who invented the wheel, a truly world changing innovation. What was his (or her) name? Urgh or Hnngk or something equally cro-magnon probably. But it WAS the first. However, I’d contend that my girlfriend’s 17” alloy, 5-spoke wheels, with Pirelli low-profiles, on her SLK, are better.
Take the most successful movie of all time, Avatar. Were there any firsts? A storyline ripped from Pocahontas; imagery ‘borrowed’ from Roger Dean, but who cares? Result – awesome movie!
It’s great to be first. But, failing that, it’s better to be better.
Blog off.
Conglatulations!!! Well done!
Love it.
More please.
Well done Paul, about time.
Great blog. I once got so fed-up with this ‘who’s 1st/2nd’ bollocks, I checked.
And found that many of the people we thought were first, aren’t.
So, Bell didn’t invemt the phone.
Edison was not the light-bulb inventor.
They were second in their respective fields.
Think it also sometimes happens in American Idol. The guy who came in 2nd becomes more famous.
Nice one Robin. Talking of which, I recall growing up (in UK) watching a talent show called New Faces. It was a series of auditions in front of four music industry figures, with the one on the right being a rude but generally honest music producer. Sound familiar?
“He who laughs last….” What’s so first about that?
Why did I never get a logo like that ! 😉
Keep it aap
Gentlemen always come last….
Thank you Kathryn. I just knew I could count on your razor-sharp incisive brain with all those years of strategic experience, to hone in, radar-like, to the very heart of the matter 🙂
Do you count as my very first cyber-heckler?
Yes dearest, you can definitely count on me for that. What’s all that nonsense about strategy? I thought this was about exchanging fluids?
OK I quit…I know when I’m beat
Just pulling your leg, great article, thanks for sharing it 🙂
unkl.G, cool cool cool! there’s nothing new under the sun, we can just get HOT under the sun 😀
you rawk! xoxo
Agree 🙂 ‘First’ ideas are cool, for a while. Good ideas will remain good for long time!
i may be wrong but weren’t the French the first to say, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose!”…?
I believe the French are the ONLY people to say that. Nothing ever changes…
Peut-être, les Belgiques .. ?
I thought the official language of Belgium was Flemish. Or are we getting into one of those ‘what have the Romans ever done for us’ conversations…”yeah, APART from the French-speaking Canadians, WHO else….”
Congratulations on laying your FIRST blog.
Now you’ve raised the issue, you’re going to have to make the second one spectacular!
Just like that second guy who perfected the Fosbury Flop…. now what was his name again…?
I totally agree! I guess, “you’re only as good as your last ____.” could also apply. As for “it’s better to better”, I’d put that on a shirt!
Nice one G!
Okay, here’s one – what was the first ad that ever appeared? I bet I’m the only person who knows this…
Archeologists discovered some inscription carved into a layers of a rock in Argentina which read ‘Ug ug ug…ug, ug-ug ugga ugga’
It was translated by ancient language experts to read..
‘Cave Sale. Must finish today. Emigrating due to coming Ice Age.’
What have you started Mr Grubb?
It’s the second mice who gets the cheese I’m told 😉
Well written, and well done!
Nice typodesign for your blog, recon it from somewhere before, didn’t you make a real one in steel?
Best / P
more more more
No need to be the first, just the need to be “mine”.
Keep it ati
it’s like the iPad, it’s not the first touch screen tablet concept, the Japanese had it first but see what Jobs done by “stealing” the idea, it’s a phenomenon 😀
i may not be first but i’m the best : )
love your blog, mr g, especially your logo (turned out real cool btw!)