Mistake? Not Quite

Athletic Trainers and the Volkswagen “Lemon” (1960) advertisement

Context: A photo of a Beetle with the word “Lemon.”

The copy explains that Volkswagen’s inspectors rejected this particular car — proving their obsessive attention to quality.

It turned a negative into proof of integrity.

➤ Lesson for Athletic Trainers:

Own your flaws — they’re your credibility.

Instead of hiding limitations, talk about what makes you careful, thorough, and human.

For example:

“Anyone can rush an athlete back. We’d rather protect and do it right.”

“We question everything — that’s how we stay accountable.”

“We’d rather say ‘not yet’ than risk your season.”

Being transparent earns more loyalty than perfection ever will.

If we talk about athletic training’s identity or advocacy — this ad is a perfect metaphor for how the profession can differentiate itself:

Lemon = “We hold ourselves to standards that others don’t see.”

Sell trust through truth.