Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek.
I want you to concentrate.
I want you to focus and be very objective.
When I say to you Ferrari owner, what's the first thing that comes to mind?
Do you think of a person of taste and discernment, someone who has clearly worked hard all their lives, possibly owns a successful business and enjoys reaping the benefits?
Or do you think of a slightly obnoxious individual who adores rolling down the road in their Ferrari, making as much revving noise as possible, desperate for others to look his way?
I only ask because of the troubling tale of Philipp Plein.
My sense is that he loves his Ferrari. Or, should I say, Ferraris.
Plein is a German fashion designer who, one imagines, has been quite successful. After all, he says he not only owns a Ferrari, but also bought one for his mom.
He's so proud of his car and his clothing that he sometimes posts pictures to his private Instagram feed of the two in what he considers perfect harmony.
He has also posted images with less-than-entirely dressed models adorning the car.
You must decide whether this is the apogee of good taste or not.
It seems, though, that Ferrari may tend toward the not side.
You see, Plein says the carmaker's lawyers a rather formalistic letter, asking him to remove his pictures of the car. Within 48 hours.
The letter reeks of either brand protectiveness or snobby myopia.
Sample:
Ferrari's trademarks and model cars are associated in your pictures with a lifestyle totally inconsistent with Ferrari's brand perception, in connection with performers making sexual innuendos and using Ferrari's cars as props in a manner that is per se distasteful.
Some might venture that Ferrari's lawyers -- if this letter is genuine -- may need to get out more.