In the beginning there was paper, and there was tape. And if you wanted to leave a note on a page of a book, you had to tape a piece of paper bearing the note, and when you removed the note it would not come off easily, but would damage the page with its stickiness.[1] And to tape the note to another page would take more tape, for the original tape would be unfit[2] to carry out its duties.
And the 3M Corporation said, “Let there be Post-it notes,” and there were Post-it notes. And the 3M Corporation saw that the Post-it notes were good, and trademarked the name “Post-it.” The Post-it notes were canary yellow, and the 3M Corporation saw that the canary yellow was good, and trademarked that, too.
And the world was filled with Post-it notes, all of the same size, and the same color. And the 3M Corporation said, “Look, the Post-it notes are all the same, and everyone buys them. Who knows how much more we can sell if the Post-it notes were different?”
And the 3M Corporation said, “Let there be Post-it notes of not only 3 inches by 3 inches, but also of 3 inches by 5 inches, and of 4 inches by 6 inches, and of 1 ½ inches by 2 inches, and of 1 3/8 inches by 1 7/8 inches.” And the 3M Corporation said, “Let there be Post-it notes of not only canary yellow®, but also of blue, and green, and orange, and pink, and of neon colors and pastel colors.” And the world was filled with Post-it notes of every size, and every color, although the 3M Corporation was unable to trademark the colors blue, green, orange, and pink.
And the 3M Corporation created Post-it notes with lines on them for people who needed to write on lines, and Post-it notes arranged in an accordian-style for people who needed to pull notes out of dispensers. And world was now filled with Post-it notes of every size and color, and every design and arrangement.
And the 3M Corporation said, “It is not good for the Post-it notes to be alone. We shall make helpmeets for them, so that they shall not be alone in the office supply storeroom, or mail room, or closet for companies that are too small or cheap to dedicate an entire room to office supplies as I have commanded. And so that we shall make a greater return for our shareholders.” And the 3M Corporation put the Post-it notes under a deep sleep, and took a piece of the patented low-stick adhesive, and formed around it Post-it tabs that could mark books of learning and pages of deposition transcripts that contained incriminating testimony so that lawyers could easily indicate which pages they wanted photocopied.
And the 3M Corporation created Post-it tabs of the same material, but that were much smaller, and some were loaded into a pen, and some were loaded into a highlighter. And the 3M Corporation created Post-it tabs that were more durable, that would not wrinkle or crease or tear with normal use. And the 3M Corporation created Post-it tabs that were narrower, and called “flags,” some with arrows, and some without arrows, and some that came in pop-up dispensers, and some that did not come in pop-up dispensers. And the 3M Corporation saw that it was good.
And the 3M Corporation said, “The low-stick adhesive is not sticky enough for some people.” And the 3M Corporation created a Post-it note with a super sticky adhesive, and called these notes “Post-it® Super Sticky Full Adhesive Notes.” And these Post-it® Super-Sticky Full Adhesive Notes were truly the stickiest notes that the world had ever seen, and did not drop off pages easily, and gave people the confidence that their notes would stay put, but which sometimes damaged the page or ink when removed, as the 3M Corporation warned on the package.
[1] Older versions had “holiness.”
[2] Others “unclean.”
When in Hawaii I purchased post-it notes in the shape and colors of Hawaiian shirts. Great small gifts to give to friends.
Wonders never cease. I have been post-it-ing in the dark. Or canary yellow. Or pastel blue.
glow-in-the-dark post-its?
Dude! They make them in fun shapes! Like hearts and flowers. I am a 3-M addict. And can I say, this post warms my 3-M hot pink sticky paper heart?
Also, I can’t believe you haven’t commented on posts about Tech’s recent bar mitzvah. You are missing opportunities to read drama in the comment section. Omg! My aunt SCREAMED at me (on blog) about posting my father’s “secret” that he never had a bar mitzvah. That should not be missed! And my mother uses the word “prejudice” instead of “biased” on the post the next day. Oh, good times over there. Good times!
Oh my, how did I miss this! I need to go back and read the comments.
I am sorry for my absence. I will beat a path to Teachers ‘n’ Twits forthwith.
This is brilliant. As I read it I envisioned you using it as a stand up comedy bit.
Thank you, Annie. Maybe I should try it out at the next open mike in my town. Although I don’t know how I’m going to verbalize the registered trademark symbol.
The same way you dance to “YMCA.”
…” Superb and exquisitely humorous! 5 out 5 stars! “- Rainier Review
Oh thank you! This is a dream come true. I will continue to try to live up to your rating.
Hysterical…I await your follow-up post, “The 10 Commandments of the 3M Corporation.”
And it was good. Or at least, it will be good…
😉
Thank you, Mikalee. I’ll have to think about that. And the employees gathered at the foot of the abstract sculpture in front of the 3M headquarters and heard the voice of the corporate secretary…
So true! I order supplies for my office and there are at least 6 pages of different Post-It notes!
Sounds like you could use some Post-its just to organize your selection of Post-its. Or maybe the tabs would be more appropriate to the task.
Good idea!! Lol!!
Reblogged this on Web Fácil.
Thank you for the reblog. Going to check out your page now.
I read this with James Earl Jones’ voice in my head. Not sure why, but it was very dramatic!
Thank you. I think I wrote it with that voice in my head too, come to think of it.
So, what’s the movie where that girl tries to impress her ex-classmates by claiming she invented post-it notes? (She knows the formula for the glue)
Oooh I know this .. Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion .. had Lisa Kudrow in it .. I think!
Yes, in the movie Mira Sorvino’s character, I think she was Romy, told people at the reunion that she had invented Post-its so they would be impressed. But of course she learns that you don’t have to invent Post-its to impress people.
Clever and oh, so true. And the blog made me laugh, and that was good.
Congrats on FP! Well deserved!
Thank you very much. I’m glad you liked it.
Brilliant blog .. I absolutely love post-it notes of all shapes and sizes but have a certain fondness for the classic canary yellow squares! 🙂
Thank you. Yes, there’s canary yellow, and then there’s everything else.
This was brilliant…then I saw the list of posts on the side of the page and almost swooned. SWOONED! I’m so excited to read more.
Thank you! Please read as and comment as much as you like. I’m ecstatic that you’re interested in the older posts, some of which are even funny. 🙂
Very funny! What about their migration to computers? Does that mean they’re ghosts?
Congrats on being FP
Thank you very much. You know, after I posted this I thought about the computerized Post-its. I don’t think those are ghosts, but life forms so evolved that they have shed all physical restraints and now live on in the form of solid-state electrons. Which I think should be everyone’s goal.
Well, we’re well on our way to transferring our minds from our wetware brains to computer hardware, so it will be lovely to have our evolved Post-its waiting for us!
And Bunnyisms saw the post it notes in Wal mart and spake, “Oy vey, why did G-d make me so undecisive?”
That’s the gift of free will for you.
So divinely designed! Enjoyed your post.
Thank you! It was a religious experience.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. Nice, nice post.
Post it notes are among the most useful tools…
This is one of the most entertaining FP pieces I’ve read. Glad they scouted you! It made me laugh out loud in my office 🙂
Thanks,
A Post-It Addict
*P.S. You forgot the ones that say, “Sign Here” – I use those a lot, too.
A laugh out loud in the office is the ultimate compliment. Thank you.
Absolutely EXCELLENT! 😀
Thank you very much!
And now if Vistaprint would only lowers its prices on its copycat Post-It notes so I could afford some custom sticky notes to market my blog! Congrats on FP 🙂
Thank you. With all the multitude of types of Post-its or “sticky notes” that are out there and growing, it is only a matter of time before they get to your blog.
Hilarious!
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed.
Awesome and hilarious! And congrats on FP!
Thank you. It was a pleasant and wholly unexpected surprise.
hot pink post it notes do it for me! 😀
I find this post about “post-its” ironic since I scoured my house looking for different sizes and colors for a storyboard I am creating for my book! I found 8 different kinds!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you so much. That kind of thing has happened to me before. About a month ago I wrote a post about a 13 year old girl who was accidentally served alcohol at a restaurant. And then my mother told me about the same thing happening at a restaurant where she lives. She thought I saw it on the news!
There are two things I can never get enough of in life: my Bible and office supplies. Therefore, this post is basically my heaven. Great job!
Wow, thank you. I’m thrilled when anyone just reads what I have here. I don’t know how I’m ever going to get a repeat of that reaction, but I will certainly try!
Brilliant!
Thanks! It is always gratifying to know I haven’t bored everyone.
Very funny and witty! And yes, Post It notes have soooo many variations! What is next? Post It notes that can speak and tell you what tab you are looking for, maybe…
I think it would be great if the Post-It notes argued with each other and competed for the affection of buyers through the lost art of rhetoric. “The highest virtue a Post-it can have is the perfect balance of reliable adhesion and harmless repositioning,” one might say to me while I walk through the Post-it section at the store. Thank you for your comment and compliment.
Lol!! That would be interesting, for sure! You’re welcome many times! I love your blog : )
I have fluorescent Post It notes, so that I can write down inspiration in the middle of the night. My friend just happens to collect Post It variations, so has almost every type you could imagine. It’s ridiculous! 😛 Well done on making Freshly Pressed!
Thank you. It’s always a great opportunity to meet new people. You know, I too like to write things down in the middle of the night, and maybe the flourescents would help me see the paper, so that I don’t accidentally write on the night stand.
I will not rest until I can purchase golden post-its with diamond-encrusted borders.
I’m sure you can. I mean, Paris Hilton has to write notes on something.
Great post! “… but which sometimes damaged the page or ink when removed, as the 3M Corporation warned on the package.” That´s a bit like a warning on a permanent marker I recently saw: Ink sticks immediately rub and waterproof on any surface and cannot be removed from plastics, paper, cardboard, textiles and other porous materials” Like it!!
Thank you. My favorite warning is for Q-tips: “Do not stick in ear.”
Hahahahahaha – this is fantastic!
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it.
Haha, this is a really great article…I love the choice of writing style! Cheers!
Thank you. And I’m glad you like the style. I’ve done a few others in that fashion – if you’ve got absolutely nothing better to do and want to peruse some the archives.
Don’t Super Sticky Full Adhesive Notes defeat the purpose of Post-It notes?
I would think so, but who can question the wisdom of 3M?
do you remember when there wasn’t post-it-note? it was easier find the thing because ur notes was always in the notebook jajaja
fuetimate.wordpress.com
I think Post-its were always around in my lifetime, but there was definitely a time when they did not intersect with my life. In the days when I wrote only with pencils and Elmer’s glue was never more than an arm’s length away, the Post-it was hidden to me. Waiting.
I am sure I am missing the point of something. But this has to be amongst the best posts ever!
May i ask if this was spontanious or if it took some time?
Regardless. it is awesome
Thank you! That’s very gratifying to hear. You know, I don’t remember how long it took to write. I know I had the idea kicking around in my head for a bit. But all writing involves some spontaneity. So I guess it was a little of both. Glad you liked it.
Thank you for ranting about this, I do this amongst friends and get strange looks across the pub table.
You’re quite welcome. I get those strange looks too. That’s why I started blogging. You don’t get strange looks when you blog. Unless you’re actually blogging at the pub table.
Reblogged this on grey ceiling and commented:
The best kind of silliness… Hope you enjoy!
Thank you for the reblog, Amy. Glad you enjoyed it and hope your readers do, too.
This is such an interesting post. Made me smile today. Here’s to a good day!
Reblogging this at gelolopez.wordpress.com
I’m happy my meager work made you smile. You too have a good day. Thank you.
Reblogged this on Musings of a Demented Little Boy and commented:
Awake for the past 26 hours…and counting. Stuck here at the office. Mind won’t work. Brain is frozen. Then came this post. It brightened my day. Good morning! Here’s to different post-it sizes!
Thank you for the reblog – I appreciate it, and hope your readers enjoy the post. If I was awake for 26 hours I would be hallucinating. I’m glad I was able to brighten things up a bit. And here’s to different strengths of adhesion!
My work keeps me awake. Hahaha. and my brain is not working anymore. I think I might need several post-its to remind me of my tasks. hahahah
Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion!! A classic. So funny she’s all “I invented post-its!!” I think of that movie every time I see a post it haha
Yeah, I think I do, too. That’s such a random product to say you invented. It was a hilarious movie.
I have a minor Post-It notes addiction. I have dispensers, pads in different sizes and colors, and have even dabbled with the Post-It wannabe, the Stickies on my Mac (shh, don’t tell anyone I cheated). I’m pretty sure I need a 12-step program at this point.
Any 12-step program is bound to involve leaving yourself reminders to do or refrain from doing certain things. And how is one supposed to remind oneself without post-its? Or stickies? I don’t think you’re an addict. Just a great consumer. Post-its were invented for you.
This is hilarious.
3M Corporation really created/is creating something. I got confused when my sister had asked me to buy her a post-it. I went to the mall and saw those lines of post-it things. It took me half an hour (or more) with phone calls to get her the right one she wanted…*blink unemotionally*
Thank you. Yes, simply going to the store and picking something up went out of style with bell bottom pants. Nothing is simple anymore. Everything requires phone calls and committee votes, even buying milk. Those lines of Post-its in their sundry forms are what inspired me to write this post. I hope you accomplished your mission without having to go back to the store.
So… tech will change the world. Come on!
Absolutely! I’m waiting for them to finally put a chip in my brain so I can get advertisements without the inconvenience of going on the Internet or turning on the television or walking anywhere.
I have a love and hate relationship with Post-Its. I love that it keeps me on track with my daily to-do’s, but at the same time I’m stressing out over the things left uncrossed (and undone) at the end of the day. But Post-Its are still the world’s greatest invention for me. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you! I know exactly what you mean. I recently started using Post-its to keep track of things that need to be done, and after an hour I had a whole diary-page filled with Post-its. And at the end of every day I transfer the notes, one by one, to the next page, to which get added more Post-its, and eventually I’m leaving myself Post-its to remind myself to transfer the Post-its to the next day.
Genesis! It’s more fun this way. 🙂
Thank you. I agree. I can’t wait to see how the Flood is going to turn out. 🙂
This was a jolly nice thing to read, sat at my work computer with my screen surrounded by different coloured post-it notes! I also have a program on my computer that lets me post virtual post-it notes to my desktop. I think I might be slightly addicted.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. And if you’re addicted to Post-it notes, you are on the right track. Leave no surface un-post-it-ed.
Don’t forget the post it note in the tape dispenser. My personal favorite! 🙂
There are so many, I can’t keep track. I should leave myself a post-it so that I don’t forget. 🙂
Quite an interesting post. Very creative. I’m curious, are the words of the original text familiar to you or were you just using them a template for this post?
Thank you. I aim to please. And yes, the text is pretty familiar to me. I had re-read the Torah recently (the Jewish Publication Society’s English translation, circa 1962) so I guess the words and style were on my mind.
Oh my goodness! This is a hilarious post. Nicely written. I am a “Post-It Note” lover, no doubt!
Thank you very much! You are in very good company.
Fantastic post! I bless the 3M corporation for they allowed small design Japanese designers Yuruliku to use there factory so Greenmarkers were created…and so we can now have a lawn of post-its to mark our knowledge growth and my blog was born! http://pagemarkerblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/green-marker/
Wow! Those Greenmarkers are so cool! I want one. Thank you so much for your comment.
Reblogged this on Pagemarker.co.uk.
Thank you for the reblog. I have to have Greenmarkers. Maybe then my wife will see some use in all the books taking up precious space in the office.
Brilliantly funny 😀 There’s a post-it-note for everyone
For sure…if you look hard enough! Thank you.
let us all sticky note this so we can remember it 🙂
A Post-it for a post. Brilliant!
yes and patent it and make millions 🙂
I love the durable ones!
I’m partial to the accordion style myself. But I rarely have the right office set up for the dispenser.
This is awesome! Well deserving of the Freshly Pressed.
Thank you!
Hilarious! Sometimes you can make a good thing better, hence the growing family of sticky notes 🙂
Thanks. And I agree – the path to overwhelming clutter is paved with progress.
All very true. It’s got to be the original or nothing for me. It’s terrible when someone orders the wrong size pad and then you can’t fit your messages in one page and you have to make multipage notes. Not to mention all the office gossip about peoples taste when they have non-canary colour note pads on their desk. The world can do with out luminous yellow, green and pink notes all over everything.
Oh, like when the message has to spill over to a second post-it note? Arrgh, that’s the worst! There is a proper post-it for every post. And how do I know this? Emily Post, of course.
Well this was hysterical. Congratulations on the freshly pressed. I will willingly admit I am in love with Post-its! 🙂
Thank you so much. Post-its are easy to fall for. But they tend to be a bit clingy.
What is the most outrageous-looking, fun shapes that you have seen so far? I have seen apples, hearts, non-descript shapes, etc.
Somehow I haven’t seen anything other than parallelograms. I think a circle post-it would be cool. Or a post-it in the shape of a treble clef.
That’d be cool too!
I like the transparent, colored ones. Thank goodness for those :p Great post!
I can’t remember the exact story, but I read that the inventor was trying to invent something that stuck better and he felt like a failure at first. There is a book of organization projects and things to do with Post-Its.
Great post 🙂
a great SEO exercise for the 3M Corporation – will be writing something similar for Sparkstone Technology very soon 🙂
Perfectly written post…thank you! I do recall the dark days before post-its and wonder how on earth we all survived!
Great post! I really enjoyed it.
From, an avid Post-it notes collector 🙂
Thank you. I enjoyed writing it and am glad you liked it.
Now I will giggle at sticky notes