Don't slay my dragon!

2012 is the Year of the Dragon...

according to the Chinese Horoscope. The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. "A symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power, the Oriental Dragon is regarded as a divine beast - the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners felt necessary to find and slay."

Dragons are not just for the Chinese! Early cartographers used the Latin phrase hic sunt dracones, i.e., "the dragons are here", or "here be dragons", to denote dangerous or unexplored territories.

So, what does any of this have to do with marketing and business? The bottom line is this...just because a creature seems to be a fire-breathing monster, we need to take a closer look. Sometimes the scariest demons can actually have a positive impact on our lives. For example:

• A fire-breather can sometimes protect those people and things that cannot defend themselves. (Look here for other dragon types and their meaning!)
• Dragon dust (the condensation of dragon breath) is useful for magical spells. What doesn't kill us can make us stronger
• People born in the year of the dragon have a natural charisma and are said to be gifted with power and luck -- and who doesn't need that in their business?

So, before you contemplate slaying or fleeing the dragon, think about how making friends with him/her can be a good thing!

Dragon names (most of which are probably NOT appropriate as baby names!)

Here's why many Chinese couples are hurrying to have a baby in the Year of the Dragon.

"Puff the Magic Dragon" was conceived at Cornell, according to this "myth" and the song made it to #2 on Billboard! Listen to it here.