Mr. Peanut

This week in Management class we discussed logo items. These include items like pens, watches, stuffed animals, t-shirts, and a host of company related paraphernalia. On the surface, they don’t carry much value.

When received from your manager (in a selective manner) they can carry tremendous weight. I role played in class to demonstrate this point.

I gave one student a “Mr. Peanut” doll. I then told the person sitting next to him to try and take it away. You would not believe how attached people become in a matter of seconds to something that is seemingly trivial.

Much of motivation theory argues that what people really want is recognition; they want to feel valued, supported, and unique. Mary Kay Ash embodied this sentiment perfectly; she stated that people appreciate when you respond to the invisible sign which reads “Make me feel important.” Non-monetary motivators (like the simple act of attention) can make people soar.

To my management classes this term: you are all special, unique, and accomplished individuals. To each of you, I give an honorary peanut.

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