Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where resolution seems out of our reach. This is often true in “David and Goliath” situations, where it’s the little guy against the gigantic corporation or governmental entity. Many people eventually give up; as the saying goes, “you can’t fight city hall.” But, sometimes the Davids beat the Goliaths; sometimes all it takes is perseverance and a little creativity.
I’ve taken on a few Goliaths over the years, with mixed results. I’ve prevailed in a few battles, but I’ve also given up on a few. Sometimes, it’s just not worth the stress, which is what Goliath opponents often are counting on. To be fair to the Goliaths, sometimes they’re simply clueless, and need someone creative enough to show them new ways of dealing with things. And sometimes, you need to find a way to get the attention of the people who do care.
A great example is Dave Carroll’s issue with United Airlines. About a year ago Carroll, part of the Canadian folk duo Sons of Maxwell, was seated on a plane when the lady behind him yelled, “They’re throwing guitars!” Sure enough, the baggage handlers were playing catch with the bands guitars, and Carroll’s $3,500 Taylor was damaged. After many months of talking to United, he was given a absolutely final “no.” So, he did was singer-songwriters do – he put it to music. He also made a clever video and uploaded it to YouTube:
The video became an international hit in a matter of days, and the last I heard, United has attempted to contact Carroll to make things right. By the way, Carroll has promised 2 sequels.
There is an important lesson to be learned from this: With tools like YouTube, Twitter, FaceBook, and so on, the individual has never been more powerful. However, as the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Use it wisely.
