Last night was our 9th wedding anniversary.

We’re talking nine looooong, grueling years of such hell and nagging… if she doesn’t behave herself I may not be renewing her contract next year at anniversary numero 10 —

Just kidding… just kidding 😉

Actually, it ain’t easy being married to me.

Take, for example, the weekend we got married.

We were in a little jerk water town near the church where we were hitched and I (in my infinite wisdom) picked this little hole in the wall motel to stay that week.

The motel was called… “The Bel Air.”

But it wasn’t anything like the 5-star version in LA.

This one was stinky, trashy and cramped.

And those who came to watch us get married couldn’t understand why I picked such a joint.

Why not go to a “real” hotel?

My answer?

Because I didn’t know their WERE any real hotels around there until my brother and dad said, “yeah, we’re staying at the Holiday Inn Express nearby…”

Doh!

Nice travel detective work there, Batman.

Anyway, while chatting about this last night, I got to thinking:

How many times does this happen to marketers in business?

Why do people stay with accountants who can’t count before realizing there are a million (plus one) others to choose from? Or keep doing business with banks that treat us like igits? Or continue to dish out hard earned smackeroos for advice that is either worthless or even makes things worse?

This stuff happens all the time.

And you know what?

Unless you’re dealing with the DMV here in the ‘states you’re usually not forced to put up with mediocre (or bad) service.

Choices abound these days.

And if you don’t take a moment to look around, you may never realize that, instead of swatting flies and mosquitos all night at that fleabag motel, you could be kicking back in the hot tub at the Ritz Carlton down the street.

Just something to think about.

Ben Settle

P.S. My Copywriting Grab Bag book is out of stock for the next week or so. And the Crackerjack Selling Secrets book launch has been delayed by about that long, too.

I’ll send an announcement when things are back online.