Lessons from the "When Life Gives You Lemons" Monologue

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When life hands you lemons make lemonade.

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It's a saying that's been attributed

to Dale Carnegie, Julius Rosenwald,

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Albert Hubbard, and others.

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It's the proverbial phrase.

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We all know that is used to encourage

optimism and a positive can-do attitude

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in the face of adversity or misfortune.

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But I recently heard a monologue

on this subject that I just

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can't get out of my head.

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Welcome to episode one 90.

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One of this shit works, a

podcast dedicated to all things,

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networking, relationship building

and business development.

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I'm your host, Julie Brown.

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Speaker author and networking coach.

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And today I'm delving deep into

the dark heart of marketing's

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power over public perception.

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In the Netflix series, the

fall of the house of usher.

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There's a monologue that delves deep

into the dark heart of marketing's power.

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Over public perception.

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It's a chilling reminder of

how easily we can be swayed.

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Manipulated and controlled by their

relentless barrage of advertising,

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branding, and propaganda that

saturates our everyday lives.

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When life hands you lemons make lemonade.

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The monologue happens in the

middle of the show's third episode

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and belongs to the stories.

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Narrator Roderick, usher.

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Roderick launches into a long

and winding description of why

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when life hands you lemons make

lemonade is far too simplistic.

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Rodrick answers that length.

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When life hands you lemons make lemonade.

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No.

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First you roll out a multimedia

campaign to convince people.

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Lemons are incredibly

scarce, which only works.

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If you stockpile, lemons.

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Control the supply.

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Then immediate blitz lemon is

the only way to say I love you.

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The must have accessory for

engagements or anniversaries.

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Roses are out.

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Lemons are in.

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Billboards that say she won't have

sex with you unless you've got lemons.

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You cut de beers in on it.

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Limited edition lemon bracelets,

yellow diamonds called lemon drops.

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You get apple to call

their new operating system.

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O S Lee Mon a little accent over the O.

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You charge 40% more for organic lemons,

50% more for conflict free lemons.

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You pack the Capitol with lemon

lobbyists, you get a Kardashians to

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suck a lemon wedge and leaked sex tape.

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Timothy shallow may where's

lemon shoes at cans.

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Get a hashtag campaign, something

isn't cool or tight or awesome.

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No, it's the Lennon's.

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Did you see that movie?

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Did you see that concert?

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It was effing lemon.

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Billie Eilish.

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Oh my God.

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Hashtag Lennon.

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You get Dr.

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Oz to recommend four lemons a

day, and a lemon suppository

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supplement to get rid of toxins.

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Cause there's nothing scarier than toxins.

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Then you patent the seeds.

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You write a line of genetic code that

makes the lemons look just a little

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more like tits, you get a gene patent

for the tit lemon DNA sequence, you

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cross pollinate, you get those seeds

circulating in the wild, and then you Sue

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the farmers for copyright infringement.

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When that genetic code

shows up on their land.

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Sit back rake in the millions.

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And then when you're done, when

you've sold your Len Pyre for a few

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billion dollars then, and only then.

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You make some fucking lemonade.

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Now.

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There's a lot wrong with this.

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Monologue roses are

always in the Kardashians.

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Sex tape is so old.

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It can legally purchase alcohol

hashtags are so off-brand,

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especially for Billie Eilish and Dr.

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Oz, his credibility is

in data, but you get it.

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The monologue delivers a satirical take

on modern marketing and consumer culture.

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And I haven't been able

to get it out of my head.

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I've thought about it over and over.

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And each time they get a little

bit more depressed by how

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the world and consumers are.

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So captivated by trends.

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How marketing can shape societal values.

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As scraps from the loft

writer puts it, quote.

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It's a powerful commentary on the lengths

to which individuals and corporations

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will go to manufacture desire.

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Manipulate markets.

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And commodify every aspect of human life,

including emotions and relationships

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and the pursuit of wealth and power.

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Unquote.

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What we consume, where we put our money

is deeply personal, and this monologue

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made me do a double-take and really

begin to think about the companies

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and the motives behind the marketing.

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So because I can't get it out of my head.

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I just wanted to share it with you.

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Cause I just can't shake it.

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Okay.

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Onto the drink of the week,

which of course is going to be

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a lemon cocktail of some sort.

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One of my favorite lemon

liquorice is Lehman cello.

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So this week we are indulging

in a Lehman cello martini.

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Here's what you're going to need.

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One and a half ounces or three

tablespoons of lemon cello, one ounce

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or two tablespoons vodka, half an

ounce, one tablespoon of fresh lemon

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juice, a half an ounce, one tablespoon

of simple syrup, which honestly,

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I don't think you need as Lehman.

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Cello is actually pretty sweet already,

but I'm going to leave that up to you.

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What you're going to do is add the

lemon cello vodka, lemon juice, and

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simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.

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Fill with ice and shake

structure trick until cold.

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And then strain that into a martini

glass and garnish with a lemon wedge.

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All right, friends.

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That's all for this week.

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If you like what you heard

today, please leave a review

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and subscribe to the podcast.

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Also, please remember

to share the podcast.

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to help it reach a larger audience.

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If you want more, Julie

Brown, you can find my book.

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The shit works on Amazon

or Barnes and noble.

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You can find me on

LinkedIn at Julie Brown BD.

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Just let me know where you

found me when you reach out.

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I am Julie Brown underscore BD

on the Instagram, or you can just

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pop on over to my website, Julie

Brown, bd.com until next week.

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Cheers.