Conversations with Calliope- Dancing with My Grandmother

(My Grandmother)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: I woke up with a smile on my face.
CALLIOPE: Where did it come from?
JOE: I dreamed about my grandmother last night.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: She died in 1966 and I was not able to go to her funeral. I lived at her house for the first three years of my life. In my dream, she was at a party in my current life. I danced with her creating joy in both of us.
CALLIOPE: A nice memory.
JOE: Also a fantasy. I don't remember ever dancing with her when she was alive.
CALLIOPE: Fantasies are the foundation of art in my opinion.
JOE: I share that opinion with you. Much of art is based on dark fantasies and memories as a way of resolving leftover conflicts.
CALLIOPE: I can't argue with you there.
JOE: I think pleasant fantasies and memories provide optimism to carry us through difficult times.
CALLIOPE: No argument there either.
JOE: I guess I'll take my fantasies and get on with the day. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Marketing Fantasies

(Sailing Sculpture- Charlotte Beach- Rochester, NY)
JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Up a little late this morning, aren't we?
JOE: At least I'm here.
CALLIOPE: What's going on in your head these days?
JOE: I've been thinking about the field of marketing, talking with people about it and reading.
CALLIOPE: What have you been reading?
JOE: Interesting you should ask. I was wandering around Borders with my brother a couple days ago and ran across Seth Godin's book, All Marketers Are Liars.
CALLIOPE: Sounds interesting.
JOE: It is. He poo-poos the idea that people respond to marketing efforts on the basis of features, benefits, or anything else tangible.
CALLIOPE: Then what does attract potential customers?
JOE: He believes that people respond to whatever matches the fantasies they already have.
CALLIOPE: Interesting idea.
JOE: Yes it is. I haven't finished the book yet but find the idea fascinating. I plan to read more of it this weekend.
CALLIOPE: Then what.
JOE: If it continues to make sense, I will rethink my fantasies about marketing and see what I might need to change. Talk with you on Monday.