Personal Development and a Coke
Recently on a trip to Atlanta,
my wife, along with a friend and I, went to see The World of Coke. Atlanta, being the world headquarters for
Coca-Cola, holds the museum on the history of Coke and the all famous “secret
formula”. Being a person who has worked in museums and have loved them for many
years, I always look at more than just the exhibits on display. I want to see
how things are presented. I look at the knowledge and behavior of the staff,
cleanliness and repair of the place as well as how exciting it is.
In all honesty, The World
of Coke blew me away! It was one of the best exhibits I have ever seen. The
first thing you do is see a movie on sharing the happiness. This was so well
done and it not only grabbed you visually but also emotionally (I will not go
into detail of the movie
or all the exhibits so as not
to spoil your visit).
After the movie, you are on
your own to see one of the most well organized, interactive and fun museums you
would hope to attend. This all ends up in a huge tasting room where you can
sample Coke products from all over the world.
However, as I said, I look at
more than just the exhibits. The staff at The
World of Coke were all very knowledgeable, comfortable with their knowledge
and some of the most well mannered
people I have found dealing with
the general public. The place was clean to the point of being spotless and in
excellent repair. There were no construction sites to deal with and nothing out
of order. The path through the museum was easy to follow with many surprises
and fun things to do along the way. It all ended in their well-stocked gift
shop.
Here is the remarkable thing
about this experience: You had fun, felt good and was kept interested in things
all the way to the end; and it was all about one product! You just went through
a two-hour commercial for a soft drink – and you did not mind. It was fun,
interesting and it was something that touched your life.
So what does this have to do
with the subject of personal development? Actually, a great deal. Coca-Cola reminds
us that they are more than just a soft drink: they are an experience. They are
part of your culture, no matter what culture you are a member of. They have
been part of our experiences in life, joys and celebrations. They have
influenced our fashions, our playtime and our diets. They are a brand, a name
that everyone recognizes and everyone knows. Even the most devoted Pepsi drinker,
when he is thirsty, will ask for a Coke. Coca-Cola is so much more than just a
soft drink, and they strive to be that way. It did not just happen; they made
it happen and still are making it happen.
You too are so much more than
just another human in a sea of humans. You bring to the world so much more with
your talents, skills, intelligence and dreams. The thing is, you must strive to
be the best you can be: make yourself the best you can be and never stop. You
too can show the world you live in that you are fun, exciting, interesting and make
a difference. However, you must make that happen, it will not happen on its
own. That, my friend, is what personal development is all about.
To discover how you can achieve the dream you have believed was
impossible for too long, read Getting
Personal: A Guide to Personal Development by John Patrick Hickey. You can get a signed copy for yourself and
get one for a friend, by going to http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/it-is-good-to-set-goals-better-to-achieve-then/. Now available on Kindle, Oops! Did I Really Post That? Online
Etiquette in the Digital Age by John Patrick Hickey.
© 2016 John Patrick Hickey. No part of
this may be reprinted or published without permission of the author.
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