Public Memories

People can have excruciatingly short memories.

This is especially true when it comes to celebrities and politics. This week’s scandal is last week’s old news.

And apparently, sub-prime loans are back.

2008 was so 10 years ago.

On the other hand, people can also have very long memories.

I don’t eat at a certain fast-food place that sells roast beef sandwiches because that was my first job. I know what that roast beef looks like before it’s been cooked. People don’t forget a bad experience at a restaurant or a retail store or a coffee shop.

They might not say anything. Ever. Most don’t.

But they will probably never, ever come back. It’s a sticky thing when expectations are not met and promises are not fulfilled.

Under promise. Over deliver. The stakes are higher than you think.

When it comes to unmet promises and unrealized expectations, people have very, very long memories.

Longer than yours.