I never really liked Pepsi. I was more of a Coke guy. Years ago, Pepsi did a commercial they called, “The Taste Test.” In the commercial they would have random people take a small drink from two unmarked sodas and then ask which the people liked. Most people picked the Pepsi. It was a very effective commercial which amazingly drove Coke to change its formula. I thought the commercial was a hoax.
During that time, I found myself in a line at the Kansas State fair taking the Pepsi/Coke test. I took a quick taste of both and then picked the best tasting one. They lifted the board that revealed my choice. I had picked the Pepsi.
Years later, I was walking through Sam’s and was offered a small sample of low fat gravy on a meatball. It was so good that I bought a big container of the powdered gravy.
Neither of these stories had a happy ending. Pepsi was not and is not my favorite drink. The low-fat gravy sat around the house till we threw it away. I did, however, benefit from those two experiences. From these I learned a life principle. I call it the “Law of the Little Taste.”
The “Law of the Little Taste” says that you cannot really tell much by a tiny sample. You cannot tell if you like to swim by getting into the water for five minutes. You cannot tell if you like a food by having one tiny bite. You cannot tell if you like a job by walking through a factory.
My law is actually a cousin of A 300-year-old statement by Alexander Pope. He said “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” Always gather all the facts you can. The law of the little taste will fool you.
Remember, life is only fully rich when you follow the principle found in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Don’t take a little taste of something. Do it with all your might.
~Lonnie Davis