“The Godfather is the I-Ching. The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom.” — Joe Fox (Tom Hanks’ character in You’ve Got Mail).

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the phrase “nothing personal — just business” has entered the business lexicon over the years since 1972 when the movie adaptation of Mario Puzo’s 1962 novel The Godfather. Funny thing is, the movie gives you the wrong impression. I’ve read the novel, and Mario Puzo explains that the phrase is not a sentiment with which Don Corleone would agree. In fact in the novel, only Don Vito Corleone (and later, Don Michael Corleone) seem to properly understand the intersection between what is business and what is personal. The movie places the quote on Michael’s lips, but only if you’d read the book would you understand Micheal’s words to be merely intended to placate his brother Sonny and Tom Hagen, who are separating the two in the discussion about their response to the attempted murder of their father. If you only saw the movie, you’d think this was the philosophy espoused by the Don. It isn’t.

“Oh, you can’t have that special… that’s only for new customers, and you’re already a customer.” Ever heard that line? Makes you want to dump the company, doesn’t it?

Existing customers aren’t as valuable. They’re the bird in the hand that the company would trade for the two in the bush. As an existing customer, an individual is of less value to them — it’s pretty mercenary, like they’ve already got their pound of flesh and have moved on to the next prospect.

Does your cell phone or long distance carrier or your cable company lower rates for you automatically? Or do you have to call and ask to be changed to the newer, less expensive package option?

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• Vast F.C.C. Plan Would Bring Net to More in U.S. - NYTimes.com
  Published: April 4, 2010
  Source: www.nytimes.com
  My Note: NYT piece from a few weeks back - this is important for the place that the FCC is positioning the Internet as compared to other communications media. Probably an early recognition of an existing reality.
  The 10-year plan would reimagine the nation’s media and technology priorities by establishing high-speed Internet as the country’s dominant communication network.