A few weeks ago, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CPSI) announced it will sue McDonald’s if they don’t remove the toys from their Happy Meals.
Recently, McDonald’s CEO, Jim Skinner, responded. It doesn’t appear that McDonald’s plans to do what CPSI is asking.
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Hear George & Mary-Lynn discuss today's topic on The Bigg Success Show! Click the player to listen while you read [4:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Hear George & Mary-Lynn discuss today's topic on The Bigg Success Show! Click the player to listen while you read [4:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download___
Misdirected intentions
While we’re sure the intentions behind this campaign to get toys out of Happy Meals are good, we think it’s misdirected. They’re linking today’s overweight children to toys in Happy Meals.
They say that parents can’t compete with the marketing of giants like McDonald’s.
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My parents sure could! When I was a kid, going to McDonald’s was a treat. It sure didn’t happen every day. I’d be surprised if it happened once a month.
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My parents were the same way. Sometimes we’d make a trip there because there was a collectible toy, but it was rare!
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And McDonald’s has always marketed to kids. Ronald McDonald isn’t there for the adults! They also do a lot of good things for kids – like Ronald McDonald House.
No hope for success
This campaign implies that we can’t take care of ourselves. We need some outside organization to look out for our best interest because we’re either not smart enough or not disciplined enough to do it ourselves.
The journey to success begins with personal responsibility. Until that happens, nothing else will.
As a society, we seem to be headed in a direction where most people will have no hope for success because we treat them like they can’t be responsible for themselves.
By treating the parents that way, we pre-destine their children for the same fate.
Stop pointing fingers to find new alternatives
We also think this campaign treats the symptom, not the problem.
In our society, we have some BIGG challenges. Unfortunately, we seem to be stuck pointing fingers instead of working together to find new alternatives.
So what is the problem?
Is it a lack of education?
Is it a lack of discipline?
Or is it that McDonald’s offers meals that are both affordable and convenient for today’s cash-strapped, time-pressed family? So parents don’t mind it when their kids want to go to McDonald’s.
Problems mean opportunities for entrepreneurs
The reason we’re talking about this is because there may be entrepreneurial opportunities here, in both the business and non-profit sectors.
When you think you have a BIGG solution, you’ll want to do some research to make sure people are willing to vote with their money and not just their mouth!
The bottom line is to avoid doing what the masses do: they fix the blame. Instead focus on fixing the problem because that leads to BIGG success!
What do you think?
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