Re: Seth Godin's new book

From: Keith Gillespie <keith_at_clienthelpdesk.com>
Date: Wed 26 Jul 2000 10:22:31 -0400

CHRISTIAN SARKAR <Christian_Sarkar_at_bmc.com> WROTE:
> Anyone read the new Godin book-"Unleashing the Ideavirus"??
> Download it free at http://www.agilebrain.com
> - read it today, then let's talk.

I personally was astounded at how poorly thought out
Godin's _ideas_ are in his new book--which is, after
all, about ideas!

He says that ideaviruses are "big ideas that spread
quickly on their own," then says the Macarena was an
ideavirus.

The Macarena was a big idea? I thought it was just a
dance fad.

He says, "Word of mouth dies out, but ideaviruses keep
growing and spreading." Then he says "Nike does know
that even the best idea has a short half-life."

Which is it, "keeps growing" or "short half-life?"

He uses Hotmail's free email service as an example of
an ideavirus, then says "competitors will first have to
unteach your virus before they can unleash one of their
own." Hmm... didn't others just copy Hotmail's idea?
Who spent any time "unteaching" anything?

Speaking for humanity, he says, "We're ready, willing
and able to be at the bleeding edge all the time,"
which demonstrates a remarkably clueless understanding
of the general population.

All in all, it makes Godin look like a failed Tom
Peters wannabe. He's inarticulate, contradictory, and
seems more hell-bent on sounding like a trendy
visionary than on making plain and simple sense.

I've already added my "somewhat unhappy" remarks about
the book to what is sure to be a growing stack of Web
pages at:
<http://www.clienthelpdesk.com/archives/2000/july/20.html>.

Keith

Keith Gillespie
CEO (Client Enthusiasm Officer)
Client Help Desk, A Division of QLM Marketing
p: (609) 683-1177, ext. 555 f: (609) 921-8847
keith@clienthelpdesk.com http://www.clienthelpdesk.com
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Received on Wed Jul 26 2000 - 09:22:31 CDT