Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

I have no idea what the big deal is about razor blades. Sharp strips of steel in multiple rows stroked across the faces of countless people every day … and apparently a very big business.

I used to travel a long way to work each morning so I shaved with a rotary razor in the car to save some time. Somehow my face grew sensitive and the doctor recommended I switch to a single blade…that was at least ten years ago. I’ve been through a few hundred disposable blades and many cans of shaving cream.

I’d rather not lather up each day and run the risk of nicking myself…but I do it anyway.

The other day Carole and I were in Target buying some essentials and I decided I should get some travel shaving cream and I ran into this orange tube and I swear, an old commercial started playing in my head. The essence was how little the blade (or blades) mattered, it was all about the medium interface from skin to blade. Could have been total bullshit for all I know but I was motivated to try out the theory.

Gillette claims to “own the face” due to the amount of research it’s done and the product success. Their marketing team says it’s “the best a man can get”. I guess I never thought about it before the fateful moment when I bought a tube of shave butter for $5.99 + tax. Inexpensive experiment I told myself.

Guess what I realized?

Everybody likes butter. It’s like ice cream and bacon. Everybody likes butter. I now like shave butter, provocative little name by a who knew company but you have to ask yourself, Do I want to smell like my grandpa…or the future?
Do I want to experience a very smooth shave and catch a whiff throughout the day of mango mixed with magic?

All I could think was, this is exceptional. The mundane has been replaced with an experience, an exceptional experience. I now enjoy shaving again with a similar joy to when I first shaved more than once a month.

Who or What do you consider exceptional?

•Your spouse?
•Your children?
•Your company?
•Your Team?
•Your favorite musician?
•Your future?
•Your ideas?
•Your leader?
•Your mentor?
•Your Savior?

I found an example in a small orange tube with a quirky name and an unusual viscosity. Surely, you can identify at least three exceptional things in your world this morning. Count them up and lock it in. Final answer. Now go conquer the world.

Have a blessed weekend!