Amidst breathtaking anticipation, Pantone has announced this year’s winner of the coveted Color of The Year award.  Each year aspiring colors from around the globe train for months with tireless dedication reaching to the black depths of their limits in an all out effort to be the champion. But only one can win. And oh what a glorious win it is.  They get a new car, and a trip to Tahiti, huge keynote gigs…

And the winner for 2014 is… Radiant Orchid!

*sound of needle scratching across record*

What? Who? No way.  Is this a joke?  Somebody paid off the judges…  They clearly misplaced the vote marked “Remodeling Guy” which, like the coveted Red (PMS 186, tragically never a winner) squares in Scrabble, was supposed to have triple points value.

Personally, I don’t like it.  I didn’t like it when my dear grandmother used it at every turn in the mid-80’s, and I don’t like it now. But, maybe it will grow on me… which is what really scares me.

What Really Scares Me

Here’s what really freaks me right out. Often, real world trendsetters like the brilliant folks at Pantone are essentially at the helm of the cool ship. When they say it’s cool… it’s cool. So, gradually at first but rising to a crescendos onslaught of trendiness, you see it more and more and more. Eventually, you grow to like it.

It’s exactly what happened with the four-door Jeep Wrangler.  When they first came out I was like “Hell no!” but, in good time, all that changed.  Oh, what’s that in my pocket? It’s the key to a four-door Jeep Wrangler. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned. See, the marketing machine got me. It changed me.  It owned me.

I’m scared, really scared, that the same is going to happen with Radiant Orchid. Please no.

If you feel the same way, join with me in making a personal commitment of resistance. Together, we can do it.

~ Tim