I didn’t invent the story of the Purple Cow. I’m not sure who did, but I learned about the idea from a book by the name from Seth Godin.

I reference this very often. In its simplest sense, it’s about being different.

The longer story that I often tell dives deeper into why it’s powerful to be different and how uncomfortable it makes 70% feel to be an outlier.

You are driving east on Hwy 52. You travel this road often, maybe daily.

On your left is a very nice 100 acre pasture.
Here you see the very predictable brown cows, black ones, white, and those that are mix of all three. Calico Cows.

You pass them often with almost zero reverence. Just landscape.

But one day, you glance over and see a Purple Cow. Standing there, contrasting like a white dot in a pool of a million black dots.

Now that’s REMARKABLE (worth mentioning).
You might even be inclined to pull over for a closer look. In today’s age, you would probably whip out your phone for a 4k photo.

And of course that’s going on your Instagram/ Facebook/ TikTok. That’s what we do now.

This causes an almost viral reaction.

People begin to put the more important things in their life on hold and travel to this location. Far and near, no matter.

Now this highway has additional traffic, cars get stuck in the mud and towing services have a spike in revenue.
Hotels and local restaurants have a burst of action.

This Purple Cow now stands out and Inadvertently spikes the local economy and affects the life and joy of many.
Just by being different.

Plot twist. This cow knows it’s completely different (if cows have such conscious thoughts). Much like the different kid at school or artist that feels like they fit nowhere, this cow has to muster unbelievable strength to venture out and graze among the others.
We can relate.  All of us have these small outsider vibes inside.

So what could happen next?

After the Viral month of visitors, news stories and a belief joke on The Tonight show, a billionaire philanthropist sees this and decides he wants it.
Surely the farmer got offers during the frenzy. But he didn’t get one that felt silly to ignore.

Billionaire buys it, has it picked up, cleaned, pampered, manicured and a stable and field fit for royalty is built. This Purple Cow now lives the life that almost no farm animal ever has, much less could reasonable imagine.

So now we have a bovine that was riddled with insecurity and paralysis of being what it could become, now has a new perspective on the power of being different. New world. New friends; new opportunities. None of the old cattle made it past the following summer while planned for slaughter.

This story could be read and taken in 1000 ways. I hope it does.

I am attracted to different. Drawn to people with ideas that resist the urge to follow the status quo. Not to simply be disruptive. But to be creative. Inspiring. Unique.

Different.

Share this if your think your tribe (herd) needs to hear it.

Cheers
Klark