If you are Canadian, you will likely recognize the title of this post as the slogan for Buckley’s Mixture, a cough and cold remedy that was invented by William Knapp Buckley in 1919. Though it is sold in other countries, it is a household name in Canada.
Just like the slogan says, it tastes awful. Its “unique herbal ingredients” include camphor, menthol, Canada balsam, pine needle oil, and tincture of capsicum.
Yum.
In the mid-1980′s Buckley’s launched a simple, honest, funny and award winning ad campaign. Some of the slogans include:
- Feared by more people than ever before.
- Your cough won’t know what hit it. Neither will you.
- Made with oil of pine needles. What did you expect it to taste like?
- Our largest bottle is 200 ml. Anything more would be cruel.
- People swear by it. And at it.
- Not new. Not improved.
- How bad does it taste? That depends. How bad is your cough?
The folks at Buckley’s are very clear about who they are and what they do: “When it comes to being sick, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who want comfort, and those who want to get better. We make medicine for the second kind.”
As we approach the new year, many of us are drafting up resolutions. Maybe to quit a bad habit. Maybe to begin a good habit. Maybe to add some things to our schedule. Maybe to take some things away. Will all of those resolutions will be achieved?
Only by those who are willing to sacrifice their comfort to get better.
Because when it comes to discipline, the things that work can taste awful.
We’ve all made some worthy New Year’s resolutions over the years. But how often have we backed away from reaching them once we get a taste of the discipline it takes to get there?
This year, be sure to make those lofty New Year’s resolutions again, and remember to be realistic about the discipline it will take to achieve them. Just like Buckley’s, discipline tastes awful. And it works.
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. – Hebrews 12:11
Have you ever tried Buckley’s?
What are some rewards you have reaped through discipline?
Which of the above Buckley’s slogans do you like the best?
If you could write your own slogan for discipline, what would it be?
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This is a good post. We want our instruction to be sweet and beautiful. We want all of our learning to be easy.
Discipline is not appreciated at the time, but it is necessary if we ever want to live right. No pain, no gain, right?
But that message is lost in this world.
Yes, we seem to always be looking for the quick and easy shortcut, that “magic pill” that gets us the results we want without the required effort. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing. I don’t like discipline. But I sure appreciate it after I submit to it and reap the rewards. Thanks, David!
1. I’ve never tried that but it sounds delightfully horrendous.
2. I’ve seen rewards on my blog. It’s been crazy discipline to write consistently and then turn around and read and comment on tons of other blogs. However, it’s been great to have built a small community of people who actually look forward to what I write and encourage me regularly.
3. “People swear by it. And at it.”
4. I don’t have anything witty enough to share for this
Tony Alicea recently posted..My Year In Books
1. Yep, it tastes like it should be some kind of household cleanser. It sure ain’t a peppermint mocha!
2. So true. Wherever I go in the “blogosphere” I see you, Tony. It amazes me how you are able to keep up with so many people and have such a presence. I hope and pray that you continue to reap the rewards for your effort and encouragement.
3. Good one!
4. That’s ok. I’m hoping that Mo might pop by later and leave a few for us!
Excellent point! And I will have to look for this cough medicine. It sounds like it would scare the cough right out of the kids!
I Live in an Antbed recently posted..Waiting
Ooh, it does, Anne! Sometimes I wonder if the body heals itself quicker just to avoid getting another dose!
Thankfully they do sell better-tasting children’s formulas under the name Jack & Jill. Those are available in grape, cherry and raspberry.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m new here, and I love this slogan… and how you’ve tied it to discipline. I have to add for those (like me) with shorter attention spans, discipline just can’t be done on a regular basis if you try to go by the year. My new years resolution is to make daily ones!!!! : ) I can take pain for a day!
cindy hanson recently posted..a christmas trip we wander
Welcome, Cindy! I think that’s a great way to approach things. There’s definitely some wisdom behind that old cliché, “Inch by inch it’s a cinch. Yard by yard it’s hard.”
Wishing you a blessed new year – one day at a time!
And the discipline we most need is often that of relinquishing confidence in our own abilities and entrusting the fulfillment of grace to the God of impossible possibilities. I’ve known what must be done for many years, and only recently have I found the will to follow through,… a not-my-will-but-Thine sort that mysteriously vanishes the moment I nurture a sense of pride or self-righteousness. I am my greatest enemy in making resolutions, as in all things.
karenee recently posted..Change
Yes, I think simply recognizing that is a big step forward. It’s my hope and prayer that we’d all continue on that journey of recognition and submission to God’s will and ability. Very nice to hear from you, Karen!
Funny. And important. Love that translation of Hebrews 12:11 (is it NLT?). What a perfect verse to include in this talk of resolutions.
Speaking of which, I need to get off the computer and go downstairs to exercise!
Glad to meet you through TheHighCalling.org’s “Around the Network” post.
Ann Kroeker
Content Editor
TheHighCalling.org
Ann Kroeker recently posted..MMM 2011 Progress Report 1
Good eyes, Ann! Yep, though I do use others from time to time, the NLT is my favorite translation. I hope you had a great exercise session. I’m glad to meet you too!
Great post, Larry. I found you through the featured posts over at The High Calling today.
My favorite slogan? This one:
“Our largest bottle is 200 ml. Anything more would be cruel.”
You also asked about a reward reaped through discipline: Last year, I vowed to run a half-marathon, even though I hadn’t run since my high school days. I trained hard, and in fact, ran TWO half-marathons last year! And sometimes, yes, it WAS awful.
- Jennifer Dukes Lee
Contributing Editor @ TheHighCalling.org
It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jennifer. That’s a huge accomplishment with your running. I can only imagine the amount of discipline it would take to train for such a long distance. Congratulations!
Larry. Still love your post. In fact, I’m highlighting it tomorrow over at my blog too.
You’re a great writer with a unique twist. What a breath of fresh air you are!
David Rupert recently posted..I have no idea
Wow, thanks very much for your kind words, David. I’m glad that my quirky observations sometimes resonate and are helpful. I enjoy sharing them. And I sure do appreciate your enthusiasm!
Clever connection, Larry. I found your blog through David Rupert and TheHighCalling.org. Congrats on the feature this week.
I like all of the slogans because I like the approach. It’s truth-telling in advertising at its best.
Sam Van Eman recently posted..The Sneetches and Other Branding Stories
Yes, I like all of those slogans too. They remind me a bit of an old Dudley Moore film called Crazy People. Though it was rather politically incorrect and crude in places, the story featured some hilarious advertising slogans that became popular just because they were so honest and unpolished in their approach.
Thank you, Sam. I’m glad you came to visit!
Yep. You got me posting again in the new year. Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow, my pleasure, Sam. I enjoyed your article about Sneetches. I never thought of branding from a Biblical perspective before. Very intriguing!
Thanks, Larry. This was the short post that came from your point about Buckley’s:
http://newbreedofadvertisers.blogspot.com/2011/01/buckleys-mixture.html
Great post, Sam. Thanks very much for the mention.
Can’t wait to share this with my husband and his Canadian family/friends. Great post, great analogy!
Cheryl Smith recently posted..It’s Christmas Eve in Our House
Ooh, I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear their reaction. If they’ve ever tried it, you’ll know! Thanks for your encouragement, Cheryl!
What a great twist on the subject of self-discipline. I remember a quote I came upon a long time ago. It’s stuck with me: “The fruit of self-discipline is self-respect.”
I have to agree.
Glad you’re a part of THC and I’m also glad David R. highlighted your excellent post!
That is a great quote, Dena. I agree too. I’m glad you came by for a visit. I look forward to seeing you again soon!
Larry,
Great post. Discipline, even for improvement’s sake, is never easy or pleasant. But there is a key missing from your post. We must rely in the Lord’s strength, not on our own.
I have seen so many people, myself included, caught in the struggle to be better. We make lofty goals, we set a new course – but inevitably we fail. Just understanding or accepting that it will be harder than we think is not enough.
We have to surrender. God wants us to be totally dependent on His strength. Our true power comes we we finally reach the point where we joyfully say, “Unless you carry me, Lord, I’ll never make it”.
Excellent point, David. Especially when it comes to breaking addiction and negative habits. Our own willpower is not sufficient. I highly recommend the book Addiction & Grace by Gerald May for anyone looking for more information on that topic. Thank you very much for mentioning this!
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