Comments on: T.S. Eliot’s Unique Selling Proposition

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:37:17 +0000

I don’t think being a square peg in a round whole qualifies as a selling proposition.

I never said it did, neither did Faber.

Faber described the qualities that made Eliot the ideal candidate for the job – I don’t think we have any reason to doubt him.

By: You Need a Great USP to Attract Customers– How’s Yours Doing?

You Need a Great USP to Attract Customers– How’s Yours Doing? — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:19:27 +0000

[...] like this one. Lateral Action says USPs aren’t just something for marketers to worry about in T.S. Eliot’s Unique Selling Proposition. It’s different, but [...]

By: Ed Martin

Ed Martin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:39:14 +0000

I’m not quite ready to accept that Faber’s description of Elliot is truly his USP. Faber did certainly recognize some useful traits, but I don’t think being a square peg in a round whole qualifies as a selling proposition. I see this more as description of character and personality. Anyway, it is an interesting view to ponder.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:31:21 +0000

@ Nathan – Your backgrounds definitely give you a unique angle. I had to do a double take when I first read your About page a few weeks ago.

@ Stacey – Some might say “that left brain/right brain collision” is the essence of creativity. Not to mention creative business.

@ Suzie –

I’ve come to understand that the essenceof my USP has been in front of me all along

I usually find my biggest revelations have been staring me in the face for years.

@ Lucy – Well titles and class aren’t so important, but it’s still extremely important to have advocates to recommend us. Remember Seth Godin’s post where he compared two of his previous posts about books: the post about his own book resulted in modest sales; but when he wrote about someone else’s book, sales went through the roof!

By: Lucy Thorpe

Lucy Thorpe — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:58:04 +0000

I like the idea of learning from literary life.
Just reading Jane Austen’s Persuasion and came across the line ‘he had nothing to reccomend him but himself’ an early example of being his own brand ! In those days this was a bad thing as it meant you were not connected to the aritocracy, but of course these days those things don’t matter and we can all be our own advocates.

By: Suzie Price

Suzie Price — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:31:53 +0000

Edit this to read:
And, here’s the cool part – when you’re living your USP – you don’t need others to love you for being you. The praise is nice, but NOT needed.

Typing too fast…

By: Suzie Price

Suzie Price — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:35:02 +0000

Love this:

“Eliot succeeded because he dared to be different and pursue his real interests, no matter how contradictory they appeared to other people.’

This year I’ve been doing this – pursuing my real interests - fully. The joy, ease and happiness I’m feeling, and the traction I’m seeing is wonderful.

Now, today, this year I feel on purpose very, very happy.

This has been an evolving process, but I’ve come to understand that the essenceof my USP has been in front of me all along – even when I was doing my own versions of Eliot’s job at Lloyd’s Bank.

Here’s what so great… when we decide to purse our real interests – not worrying about what others think or if they understand – our USP glows brighter and brighter and clearer and clearer and even more distinct.

Soon everyone’s seeing it, acknowledging it and loving you for it.

And, here’s the cool part – when you’re living your USP – you don’t need others to love you for being you. The praise is nice, but needed.

Payment’s already been received within your own heart. THAT is the amazing gift of living on purpose & living your USP to the fullest.

Interesting, huh?

By: Stacey Cornelius

Stacey Cornelius — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:03:00 +0000

Being an artist with an eye for business left me in a kind of no man’s land in art school as well as the mainstream world of work, but that left brain/right brain collision has been a huge benefit as a professional artisan.

Add in a dry sense of humor, and you have the beginning stages of what will hopefully be a professional practice helping creatives build their own business brains.

How did I come up with my USP? To quote Popeye, “I yam what I yam.” If it doesn’t work out, I guess I’m in for an identity crisis.

By: Nathan Hangen

Nathan Hangen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:06:53 +0000

This is great and very timely for me, as I’ve been working on my own USP. Coming from a marketing and then a military marketing background (OK, more like propaganda), I think the intersection of internet marketing/blogging with real world experience might give me a unique angle.

Thanks for giving me something to think about.