So I am reading the Wall Street Journal today (on my Kindle) and I come across an article titled “In Search of
a Hot Job Title, Enter The Ninja”. (Love the obscure reference to the 80′s cult movie) This article talks about how many companies are creating titles around the Ninja such as Marketing Ninja, Affiliate Ninja, Customer Service Ninja, etc. I have noticed this trend over the last several years mostly in online companies but the fact that it is spreading made me think. Do these people really know what a Ninja is?
The ninja emerged as mercenaries in the 15th century, where they were recruited as spies, raiders, arsonists and even terrorists. – excerpt from Wikipedia
Ok I will be the first to admit that Ninjas are pretty cool. I spent many saturday mornings watching kung fu and ninja movies when I was a kid (and maybe much much later in life too). What boy growing up in the 80s didnt dress up as a Ninja at least once for Halloween?
While I might like to moonlight as a Ninja, I dont think it matches with my current career. Speaking for myself, I would much rather see my team as a group of Samurai than Ninjas (sticking with the Japanese theme).
Why are Samurai better than Ninja? Simple, because Samurai followed a code called Bushido. They were fierce warriors but always honorable and trustworthy. Samurai were also loyal to the end.
NETexponent is a service business and we pride ourselves on our ethics, results, and client service. I look at my team and they are each Samurai in their own fields. Our folks work hard, fight for our clients and partners, and are some of the most trustworthy folk in the online marketing industry. We are a clan of Samurai not Ninja.
Perhaps that is why I spend more time watching Akira Kurosowa movies these days than Ninja themed movies.
3 Comments
Although your hypothetical business filled with samurai sounds impressive on paper, I don’t feel that as a web-business this is what you would want. The Samurai sound a lot like robots, who simply will carry out a task loyally and to it’s conclusion. great.
I, however, feel that this isn’t quite want these new-age tech companies are looking for. Ninjas are synonymous with overcoming challenges using lateral thinking / new methods.
The conclusion seems obvious, in an internet world where a good idea can be worth thousands / millions of pounds, I would rather have a lateral thinking “arsonist” rather than a dependable robot.
Thanks for the comment Matt. According to all the History channel specials I have watched (which is many) the high ranking samurai were great military strategists. Samurai often led armies in to battle and consulted with Lords on plans of attack/defense. I would certainly categorize them as lateral thinking. Plus they also needed to defend against the Ninja assassins so they would need to think differently in order to do so.
In the end this just an analogy and you can find holes in any analogy if you look hard enough. (there must have been honorable Ninjas over time and dishonorable Samurai)
The overall point was that I would rather have a team of trustworthy and loyal folks than a team of rouge mercenaries. Call them what you want…ill stick with “team” but from time to time I might just imagine them as Samurai…more fun that way.
Peter-
I like the distinction you are drawing. I would say that affiliate marketing has shown the need for both:
Advertiser = Samurai
Publisher = Ninja
You are also going to run into the problem for titles that ninja is easier to spell and sounds a lot cooler.
-David