#1331 niche

A waterbed is like a stick shift car.

Both of them appeal to a small segment of the population, and for that niche, they offer benefits that can't be found in the more mainstream variation of the item. While it may have taken some getting used to, after a while the users become not only comfortable, but almost evangelical about the items. It's worth the premium price or difficulty in locating them.

These specialty niche items are harder to share. (And, as it turns out, harder to steal. A carjacking was just thwarted because the thief did not know how to drive a stick!) But you can't toss your car keys to just everyone and your visitors never want to sleep in the waterbed.

Everyone probably uses an item or two that makes sense for them: A manual typewriter. A slide rule. A mug and brush for shaving with a straight edge razor. A phonograph. A wind-up clock. We all have our own definition of quality.

Embrace that which makes you comfortable, even if it isn't the most common version on the market. Maybe that is precisely why you love it.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com