Eating your own dog food makes you madly SUCCESSFUL

‘Eating Your Own Dog Food’ has been a massive win for many of us on many levels.

It’s true. I do like the idea of eating my own dog food and I actually do that.

When it comes to what I teach, preach and encourage clients to do; I have always done it from the base of “this is what I do, hence I obviously believe in it”.

This has done very well in many respects for me in that obviously my clients get results (as I am recommending something that is personally tested) and it’s lots of profitable fun.

In terms of what I would argue is a catchy title, “Eating your own dog food” is actually business term which I have heard used in the industry for years. I finally decided to visit the Wikipedia page to do some research on this one and its origins.

This showed that this term and also its extension known as “dogfooding”.

The whole concept was formed by dog food companies taking their products incredibly seriously (with one Company President believed to have eaten a can of dog food at a shareholder meeting) and with a Microsoft Manager by the name of Paul Maritz once sending an email to his to LAN Manager titled “Eating our own Dog Food” with an active encourage to use their own Microsoft products.

Looking at this concept through more of an entrepreneur lens than so much an IT one; I think it’s the ultimate in authenticity in trust to the market. I make a big point of doing this myself and I can tell you it’s been one of my defining points of difference.

I love Facebook Video and I prove to people it’s wonderful by showing them my own page. I love email marketing and I prove it’s wonderful by showing people my data. I love a great website and I have one. I love blogging and I do it myself.

My advice and thinking? As much as you realistically can, consume your own products. If you are selling coffee then make sure you drink it. If it’s selling ideas, practice them.

This is not only great in terms of people knowing you can be trusted, but it also is your chance to make improvements on what you are doing. After all, if you use your own product; you can keep making it that bit better.

Love your work, thank you Microsoft and the Dog Food companies. You rock.