You’re stuck at a light and your eyes begin to dance from car to car. You take notice of a vehicle that looks like the beginning stages of a papier-mâché project. He drives away. You recall the image of the vehicle but but not a single detail. Thirty-seven bumper stickers and you can’t remember a single one.
Here in lies the paradox of abundance. A rational mind could conclude that with each message adherent on the back of his car, the driver increased his chances of getting you to remember at least one of them. But that doesn’t happen. Too much at once leaves nothing at all.
Have you ever tried to catch 8 golf balls at once? Last week at the driving range my friend under-hand tossed 8 balls to me from about 10 feet away and I came up empty handed. Yet had he thrown only one I’d certainly have caught it.
The business that claims to do everything for everybody all the time is in this position. So is the politician whose convictions sway as the spring wind blows. If you’ve ever sat across the table from another person needing to communicate something to them, you understand this just the same.
One bumper sticker communicates a message. 37 communicates noise. While trying to mean everything to everybody, they ironically mean nothing to nobody. And we’re left wondering: what do you really hang your hat on?
While one day we’d love to hear about your pomeranian, honor roll student and favorite vacation spots, for the time being please don’t let it dilute the incredible story you have to tell.
