15 Comments
User's avatar
Michael Woudenberg's avatar

I've significantly reduced my sugar water over the years because, while addicting, it's so much better not to drink it. I'm not sure I could work in a place that sells that sort of stuff and feel good.

Andrew Smith's avatar

Yeah, dude. Out of necessity in the past, I’ve sold some fried foods (line cook) and plenty of unhealthy movie food (popcorn, candy). Now that I don’t have to sell stuff I don’t especially stand behind, I can’t see myself venturing into physically unhealthy business ventures.

Like, people can absolutely do whatever they want, but I’m probably not going to sell it to them.

Neural Foundry's avatar

Brilliant breakdown of the commodity trap. The Jobs quote nails something most executives dunno how to articulate: when differentiation becomes almost entirely about perception rather than substance, thewhole game shifts to branding theater. I've seen this play out in SaaS where companies with nearly identical features burn millions on positioning wars.

Andrew Smith's avatar

Yeah, and even when you're not selling a commodity, you've still got to sing the praises of your own product or service. Perceptions are still king, but even more so with something like sugar water.

Sum's avatar

The change in the world had already been made by sugar itself.

Andrew Smith's avatar

It was sweet of you to comment! :)

Sum's avatar

🤣

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

If you dive really deep into the cola wars, it gets really weird with Pepsi Clear launched to bait Coke into another disaster, but it failed in that effort and dragged Pepsi down. And then there's the rebirth of Tab! Th whole thing was pointless considering RC s the best. #fact

Andrew Smith's avatar

RC really is better than Coke or Pepsi, but I’m not really sure it’s better than Dr Pepper.

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

So déclassé

Andrew Smith's avatar

I still haven't had cream soda in like 30 years.

Rudy Fischmann's avatar

Dr. Brown’s FTW.

Andrew Smith's avatar

I had two Caffeine-Free Diet Cokes this week. Living on the edge.

David Perlmutter's avatar

"Sugar water" is my drink of choice if I get the chance. There are side effects, yes, but they are not as bad as those of alcohol. Or, for that matter, smart phones...

Andrew Smith's avatar

I definitely prefer the taste of sugar water to the taste of smartphones.