Winsome Wisdom: A Tale of Two Sharks by Steve Chappell
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"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..." Who among us has not seen that classic 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the Peter Benchley novel Jaws? Remember that grizzly opening scene? According to National Geographic, most shark attacks occur less than 100 feet from the shore, mainly around popular beaches in North America (especially Florida and Hawaii), Australia, and South Africa.
During the 1970s, there were seven unprovoked, fatal shark attacks, while so far in 2015 alone, there have been eight. And most shark attacks occur during the month of September. So, are there any tales to be told that would cast a positive light on these dreaded denizens of the deep?
Let’s start with Shark Tale #1: a TV show. Ever wonder how products like the pocket fisherman or Chia Pets get into the marketplace? Mark Burnett has taken a Japanese reality series (Dragon's Den), adapted the premise to the American viewing public and called it . The show features a panel of celebrity moguls called "sharks," which includes Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary.
The sharks consider requests from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking investments for their products or services. The contestant can make a deal on the show if a shark makes an offer, but if all the sharks opt out, the contestant leaves empty handed. But at least they got a turn at bat. Better odds than most. And who knows... even if the celeb sharks turn them down, some astute viewer with means and vision might take a chance. Next thing you know, we’re all buying their new sensation. Therefore, as a promoter and enabler of the American dream, Shark Tank gets an enthusiastic thumbs up!
Now for Shark Tale #2. And toward that end, we again turn to our TV sets on any one of the dozens of channels airing the infomercial for the Shark Rocket. The Shark is one of several home-care brands developed by SharkNinja Operating LLC, an enterprise whose roots date back more than a century, originating in Europe, then moving to Canada and finally settling just outside of Boston. Mark Rosen, that pitch dude on TV who looks like Mr. Clean with horn-rimmed glasses, is CEO of SharkNinja and the third generation of his family to lead the company.
It so happens that your humble correspondent can claim firsthand knowledge of the Shark Rocket, having purchased one during the summer of 2013. Among the many features I found attractive (including the price) was the five-year warranty. It performed as advertised until three weeks ago when the motor began making a shrill noise that tells you, at least for now, you’re done with the vacuuming. Needless to say, I was not pleased.
The following day, SharkNinja was contacted and told of the problem. Instead of the anticipated runaround, the company rep immediately informed me than another new unit would be shipped to me not later than the next day. I was then sent an email with a pre-paid shipping label and told to return my two-year-old, broken Shark Rocket in the same box in which my brand new Shark Rocket DeluxePro would be delivered. It arrived three days later... no charge... all done with one call!
For demonstrating uncompromised insight into and engaging enthusiastically in the practice of customer satisfaction, SharkNinja Operating LLC gets two enthusiastic thumbs up! They would get three, but I only have two hands.
Shakespeare said, "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But using the name "shark" within the context of TV and vacuum cleaners? "It is a far, far better thing..."
During the 1970s, there were seven unprovoked, fatal shark attacks, while so far in 2015 alone, there have been eight. And most shark attacks occur during the month of September. So, are there any tales to be told that would cast a positive light on these dreaded denizens of the deep?
Let’s start with Shark Tale #1: a TV show. Ever wonder how products like the pocket fisherman or Chia Pets get into the marketplace? Mark Burnett has taken a Japanese reality series (Dragon's Den), adapted the premise to the American viewing public and called it . The show features a panel of celebrity moguls called "sharks," which includes Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary.
The sharks consider requests from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking investments for their products or services. The contestant can make a deal on the show if a shark makes an offer, but if all the sharks opt out, the contestant leaves empty handed. But at least they got a turn at bat. Better odds than most. And who knows... even if the celeb sharks turn them down, some astute viewer with means and vision might take a chance. Next thing you know, we’re all buying their new sensation. Therefore, as a promoter and enabler of the American dream, Shark Tank gets an enthusiastic thumbs up!
Now for Shark Tale #2. And toward that end, we again turn to our TV sets on any one of the dozens of channels airing the infomercial for the Shark Rocket. The Shark is one of several home-care brands developed by SharkNinja Operating LLC, an enterprise whose roots date back more than a century, originating in Europe, then moving to Canada and finally settling just outside of Boston. Mark Rosen, that pitch dude on TV who looks like Mr. Clean with horn-rimmed glasses, is CEO of SharkNinja and the third generation of his family to lead the company.
It so happens that your humble correspondent can claim firsthand knowledge of the Shark Rocket, having purchased one during the summer of 2013. Among the many features I found attractive (including the price) was the five-year warranty. It performed as advertised until three weeks ago when the motor began making a shrill noise that tells you, at least for now, you’re done with the vacuuming. Needless to say, I was not pleased.
The following day, SharkNinja was contacted and told of the problem. Instead of the anticipated runaround, the company rep immediately informed me than another new unit would be shipped to me not later than the next day. I was then sent an email with a pre-paid shipping label and told to return my two-year-old, broken Shark Rocket in the same box in which my brand new Shark Rocket DeluxePro would be delivered. It arrived three days later... no charge... all done with one call!
For demonstrating uncompromised insight into and engaging enthusiastically in the practice of customer satisfaction, SharkNinja Operating LLC gets two enthusiastic thumbs up! They would get three, but I only have two hands.
Shakespeare said, "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But using the name "shark" within the context of TV and vacuum cleaners? "It is a far, far better thing..."
