He sold actual rocks. And made millions.

Gary Dahl sold rocks.

Actual rocks.

In 1975, long before we even knew the word viral.

The story started in a bar. His friends were complaining about their pets. The barking, the poop, the hassle.

Gary laughed and said, “I’ve got the perfect pet… It's a rock.”

Everyone laughed. But Gary didn’t let it go.

He bought smooth stones. They cost one penny each. Designed a cardboard box with air holes. Added some straw.

And called it: The Pet Rock.

But here’s what made it genius: He wrote a manual.

It taught you how to walk your rock. How to teach it to “stay.” Even how to discipline it. It was absurd. And that’s why people loved it.

The numbers? One cent for the rock. Thirty cents for packaging.

Sold for $3.95.

Stores hesitated at first. Then one gave him a chance. They sold out.

The buzz snowballed. Talk shows, newspapers, magazines. Everyone wanted in on the joke.

By the end of the year, he had sold over 1.5 million rocks. He became a millionaire. Without inventing a thing.

But just like it came, it vanished. Sales dropped. The Pet Rock was over.

Gary didn’t care much. He was an advertising man and proved something most people still don’t get:

Everyone’s trying to build the next perfect product. When sometimes the silliest idea AT THE RIGHT TIME beats perfection.

Not sometimes. Most of the time.

Carpe Diem,

Tino