Eric Hoffer, Gary Friedman and the most potent drug on earth.
In the opening of Eric Hoffer’s book, “The True Believer,” he outlines the pillars of what makes a movement.
Having lived through the first 80 years of the 20th century, the world’s most notable humans served as Hoffer’s teachers.
One of the pillars that he shares—arguably the foundation for all movements—is hope.
I say arguably because, without it, you probably wouldn’t get far in life, let alone influence others.
From what he learned, how to create a powerful movement is to incite hope towards something greater than the individual.
An ideal state for all; if it takes us an eternity to reach, so be it.
Without stirring up hope, there’s nothing to seek out or wish for.
This principle came flooding to the forefront of my mind after reading RH’s Q2 2023 Shareholder Letter.
Let me explain why:
If you’re not familiar with RH, they’re a multi-billion-dollar company that makes most of its revenue selling furniture.
An industry as old as father time, there are little to zero new ways to reinvent the fucking wheel.
In my opinion, they’re crushing it in the marketing department.
Though, currently, not so much in the stock price department.
With the subheader “Vision & Ecosystem — The Long View,” the letter talks about going beyond their physical products, creating RH spaces and becoming a global thought leader.
Every sentence in this section starts off with something like:
We believe…our goal…our effort…our plan…our strategy…
Then, the letter describes expanding and conceptualizing spaces, introducing a media platform and crafting bespoke experiences around their private jets and yacht.
Hoping to be the most innovative and influential leader shaping the world of architecture and design, none of what I shared has anything to do with furniture.
But it does have everything to do with furniture.
To be revered as the world’s thought leader in all things architecture, art and design, this vision is fueled by hope.
The most potent drug known to man.
— George
