Those Cautiously Optimistic Industry Insiders
Cartoonists always have to be ready for ideas to hit.
I was driving somewhere with the kids, listening to the news when I heard “industry insiders are cautiously optimistic.” A lightning bolt hit and I had the above cartoon. What I did not have was anything to write with, so I enlisted my young children’s help.
“OK, let’s help Daddy remember something! ‘Industry outsiders,’ OK? Got it? ‘Industry outsiders.’ Now, what did Daddy want us to remember? Let’s make it a song!”
Of course they had no idea what it meant, and for a while we were in real danger of telephone game-like nonsense, but in the end I got my caption, and the kids thought this was great fun.
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About the Author: Mark Anderson’s cartoons appear in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review. Anderson is the creator of the popular cartoon website, Andertoons.com, where he licenses his cartoons for presentations, newsletters and other projects. He blogs at Andertoons cartoon blog.
Instructor at Rasmussen College
Co-Founder of OutSpoken Media
TechBizTalk Publisher
PERFECT! I love it, how appropriate is this one, huh???
So true! These cartoons are my favorite part of the week.
Aw shucks…
I prefer to be an outsider and contrarian with inside information through the virtual grapevine in cyberspace!
Hey Mark
I do this with my 5 year old son all the time! The sponge-like quality of a young brain can just soak it all up. He’s my business organizer now (I should find a way to pay him and write it off, but my wife says that isn’t a good idea…).
But, when I go to the grocery store and I ask him to recite back the list, he looks at me like I’m nuts. “This isn’t that important, Daddy…”
Something about this one just makes me burst out laughing, Mark.
As a financial news junkie, someone who regularly catches at least a few minutes of CNBC everyday, I would love to hear one of the news anchors say something like this, with a deadpan expression.
It’s the kind of quip that Lou Dobbs might make, actually ….
For me what makes this work is the word “much.” Try reading it without that and it’s not nearly as funny.
Why? Got me.
Wow. I love you were able to convince your kids help you with this Mark! Two thumbs up!
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