Promise not delivered worth nothing!

While walking this morning down to work I saw delivery van with huge bold font slogan pained across: "Promise not delivered worth nothing!". It made me wonder for a moment if I could ever trust their own promises (promise being delivered is not a promise anymore, its a fact, isn't?).

Then I went on thinking of a their salesman. I could almost see him in excitement, scribbling this idea on a tiny scrap piece of paper, being convinced in his own unrivalled congeniality.

I went on thinking of slogans which actually say different if not opposite to what their creator's intent.

Eventually, I finished asking myself does a company or product necessarily need a slogan?

Marketing type would say it does. But really, FogCreek doesn't have a slogan (non of I had heard of), contrary JOS has a slogan ("Painless Software Management"). It doesn't make me love it less.

How does one know if a company or product needs a slogan in the first place?

Vlad Gudim
Friday, January 16, 2004

Microsoft et al have made billions from delivering promises.

The technical term is vaporware, though if you work with the UK government it's called a signed contract!

Stephen Jones
Friday, January 16, 2004

Sir Clive Sinclair made a few quid back in the 80's by (eventually) delivering on his promises.

Pity he blew most of his cred on the dreaded C5.

Steve Jones (UK)
Friday, January 16, 2004

And it also seems that everybody needs a Corporate Vision, but they just never seem to ring true for me.

Tom H
Friday, January 16, 2004

Every employer I know claims they only "hire the best".  As far as I know, "best" are only a handful you can count on your fingers. 

Hoang Do
Friday, January 16, 2004

We only hire the best, available, who applied, and are willing to work with us, for next to nothing, and like it.

Friday, January 16, 2004

You mean: "We only hire the best, available, who applied, and are willing to work with us, for next to nothing, and like it or can't find anything else."

m
Friday, January 16, 2004

"We only hire the best..." 

Am I the only who gets an immeduiate turn-off from seeing this crap on the "Jobs" page?

Programming isn't sports. The one who thinks he's best is a selfish elitist stopped evolving.  You don't want "best", you want smart, result-oriented and passionate about their job.

Egor Shipovalov
Saturday, January 17, 2004

Egor, would you work for Joel?  Would he hire you?

Saturday, January 17, 2004

Anyone else think "Promise not delivered worth nothing" sounds like David Brent?

Philo

Philo
Saturday, January 17, 2004

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