Real simple. The mug is a sign of love.
Years back, a friend sent me a very nice mug with the name of their organization on it. I wanted to send them something nice, too. However, the mugs I had at the time were not well made and dripped coffee onto my shirt. Also, those mugs represented an organization, not me. I went home and made a mug with my face on it and sent it to them. They loved it. They bragged about the mug to a group of friends from London. One called me and exclaimed, "Where's our mug, mate?" I sent him a mug. A few months later, I attended a conference in London. As I attended a few of the presentations, I was recognized by a number of local attendees who loudly acknowledged me with something along the lines of "YOU'RE THE BLOKE ON THE MUG" and "YOU CHEEKY MUG MONKEY" and “YOUR MUG IS ON A MUG”. I received several more requests for mugs. I sent more out. People felt loved and thought of. They called and told me how nice the mug was. They sent pictures of the mug in fun places. As friends visited other friends, they saw the mug and recognized me from some other area of my life, like high school or law school. Connections were made. Friends grew closer over the mug. The mug does not display any logos, phone numbers, or links. It is not paid for by anyone else. It is my picture on a mug. It is ridiculous. It was sent to you because I want you to have it. I want you to know I am in your life, even if I am not in the same state or nearby. Keep pens in it on your desk. Drink coffee or juice out of it. I just want you to know you are important to me. If you did not get a mug, I have one for you. That’s it. Real simple. The mug is a sign of love. Love, Rudy |