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A Lesson on Quality from ‘The Lone Ranger’ #atozchallenge
Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2:04PM 
“Forget the movie; I’d pay ten bucks just to look at this picture,” said David Letterman during his Johnny Depp interview for the upcoming action western, “The Lone Ranger.”
Letterman loves the still photo of a horse-riding scene where Depp plays a North American warrior named Tonto in the movie.
There is little room for error in the making and marketing of this $200+ million budgeted Disney flick. So, when an Emmy-winning talk show host like David Letterman delivers positive remarks about the smallest of details – a photo being just as worthwhile as the movie it represents -- you know the producers, cast and crew have done well by executing on one of key factors that makes all the difference in whether or not we live exceptional lives: Quality.
It is important to aim for quality in what you do as well as in the materials and services received from other people. This doesn’t mean you should meet or expect perfection always without fail; setting yourself up to get it right every time puts you in a better position to excel or come closer to doing so, right out of the gate.
- Put your best foot forward when participating in activities at home and at work. Don’t throw something together just to get it done. Do the kind of work that you’d be proud to share with others or at the very least, satisfied enough to want to repeat it or revel in it.
- Put yourself in another person’s shoes and ask if you would pay for the work that you’ve done, the advice that you’ve given or the acts of service that you received. If the answer is yes, then chances are that it is of some quality. If the answer is no, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board to make improvements, or else you’ll be flirting with a state of mediocrity – and that does you no good.
- Give your undivided attention to the people who you interact with and the tasks you’re engaged in at the moment. Imagine how off-putting it feels to share a meal with someone who is so busy on his or her phone that the conversation between you two lacks substance. Think about how (not) fun it is to be in a car surrounded by drivers who are so busy texting, doing their makeup or participating in other distractions that they aren’t even looking at the road.
- Accept and use items that are built to last; cheap products and lots of mass-produced goods do not spell Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y. Buy local if you can.
While there is no guarantee that you will get high quality results in all areas of life that involve both short and long-term needs, refusing to settle for the easiest or most convenient options will likely backfire, eventually leaving you unfulfilled.
David Letterman considers Johnny Depp’s horse-riding photo from “The Lone Ranger” to be so fantastic that it “looks like a Charles Russell rendering,” especially since the actor looks like he knows what he’s doing on a pony.
Interestingly enough, Depp, who slipped, dropped and was almost “horrifically mangled” by this horse during one speedy obstacle run while shooting, told Letterman that the photo is the result of a few seconds before things went very sideways on set. Depp’s experience with what Letterman calls an “excellent” movie reminded me that while you don’t need to be perfect, you can find grand moments in the rubble of almost any circumstance to create, consume and engage in something of merit. This applies in the details of a thing; the pieces of a puzzle; not just in the main attraction.
What are one some of the things that affect YOUR Quality of life for better or worse?
Can YOU an item, product or service where you refuse to skimp on Quality?
When was the last time that YOU put convenience (or size, name, referral, color, price, familiarity, smell, texture, brand recognition, etc.) over Quality?
Reader Comments (3)
Quality...the word is bringing up images of university assignments and making sure that they're good quality, not thrown together at the last moment. Also making presents for birthdays and Christmas, where I've had to make sure they're good quality.
Quality is something that has gone down hill as we outsource to cheap labor. I look at labels. If a product is made in cheap labor countries, I don't buy it. Sometimes it is impossible to do that, for instance clothes. I don't buy at theme parks anymore.
This was quite thought provoking and it got me to thinking what I don't skimp out on: food, kitchen tools, electronics, and clothes (particularly shoes). In a highly fashion conscious society there are a lot of fads and it's hard to wade through all the crap or use logic over brand loyalty.
It takes some initiative to educate yourself what is good quality, but I suppose it comes down to your priorities. For example, I refuse to pay $500 for a Ralph Lauren skirt when a $25 skirt from Next is similar quality and not necessarily less stylish. On the other hand, I will pay $65 for a lululemon sports bra over a $30 Nike sports bra. Nothing aggravates me more than an ill fitting bra.