I understand the defining distinction between exterminators Orkin and Terminex. In Orkin commercials, bugs always get to drive off in cars and live while an Orkin employee stands in the front yard with his arms folded. With Terminex, it's total and complete annihilation. Represents two kinds of customers...
Ainsley and I are part of Orkin's "not a fan" base. (But I'm sure they have a solid base of fans who love to capture bugs in their homes and gently let them out the back door...)
It's not easy to accept this, but every project has a "not a fan" base. At STORY last year, at least 15% didn't like it. When I saw that on the feedback forms, it took my breath away. But that 15% also makes the core fan base stronger. The phrase "that's not for me" is the exact mechanism that produces raving fans.
Hey Ben did you track if the people who "didn't like it" were paying registrants or guests who were not invested? Just a thought.
Posted by: Dale Schaeffer | March 25, 2010 at 10:20 AM
You make a great point here, Ben. I hope one day churches will embrace this. Not everyone is going to be a fan of our church. Let's learn to be okay with that and focus on the core of our people instead of changing what we do or how we do it on the whim of every "not a fan" comment. Let's be who Christ has called us to be to those he has called us to be it to.
Posted by: Katie | March 25, 2010 at 12:47 PM
So true. Sad part is that most people would get that feedback form and focus more on trying to woo the 15% instead of reinforcing the 85%.
That 15% rocks the confidence of many in a way that I've rarely understood.
What's the quote "Try to be all things to everyone and you'll end up being nothing to no one?"
Posted by: Daniel Decker | March 25, 2010 at 10:35 PM