I wanted to share a little something that was overheard at a New Years Eve party.
- Party Goer #1 – Those cookies look amazing (eyeing the plate of party goer #2). Do they taste as good as they look???
- Party Goer #2 – They really aren’t but they are one of those things you only get once a year so I can’t pass them up.
Have you heard of the saying FOMO?
FOMO stands for “Fear Of Missing Out” and that is exactly what has a hold of Party Goer #2. All holidays bring us a barrage of limited-time-only treats. Valentine’s Day brings us those heart-shaped Reese’s and St. Patty’s Day Shamrock Shakes. Easter has us up to our ears in marshmallow peeps in every shape and color you can imagine. And let’s not even talk about Cadbury eggs!! You find yourself eye to eye with goodies that remind you of your childhood, which makes resisting temptation difficult.
The problem is not so much that we indulge in our favorite seasonal treats. The problem is that we tend to indulge in ALL treats that we know will be here only for a short time. We feel as if we don’t take advantage of it when it appears that it will soon be gone and we will be left with none. Aka – FOMO.
The McRib is a perfect example! First introduced as a permanent menu item at McDonald’s in the early 1980’s, the McRib was not the money maker the restaurant was hoping for. They pulled the product after a few years, tweaked it, and put it back on their menu full time. Again, the sales just did not match up to the company’s other sandwich offerings even though the McRib seemed to have a loyal following. They had three choices: scrap it all together, keep it on the menu full time with dismal sales, or give it a farewell tour…make a big deal over its removal from the permanent menu…then offer it once or twice a year for a limited time only. That is exactly what they did and the results were an astonishing success. People wait with tongues hanging out for the limited-time-only McRib returns. There is even a website, Mcrib locator, where people can go and find the closest McRib to their home. This sandwich, which could have been a failure for McDonald’s, now has its own cult following. It was marketing genius on the part of the fast food chain. They created a FOMO buzz and it drove traffic and sales.
The thing about the “fear of missing out” is to be mindful of exactly how much you are indulging. When it’s time for Easter peeps, your grandma’s famous fruitcake, or the McRib, if you truly love it than by all means, treat yourself. However, resist consuming the things that you don’t really enjoy just because they won’t be around in a few weeks. And pace yourself on the things you do enjoy. Eating a McRib every day for 8 weeks or hoarding Cadbury eggs in your sock draw is an unhealthy approach to time limited goodies ;).
What is your favorite treat that creates a FOMO response for you? Stop by and tell me on Facebook. You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine.