No Negative Graphs: The Sureality of the Hard Sell World

While we were preparing a Power Point Presentation on “Soul Based Pricing” for our September “Bridging Heart & Marketing II” conference I searched the Internet for a business graph indicating a downward slump in sales.

I looked for clip art and/or a photo and I searched the web for approximately two hours over two days. And I couldn’t find one. Not one.

Initially I was surprised, and, as the time stretched out, I became amazed, and then finally it hit me: No Negative Graphs.

That’s Illusion.

There is a deep illusion at the foundation of much of the Internet marketing business. And what is it?

EVERYTHING’S GREAT! COULDN’T BE BETTER!! FANTASTIC!!!

Almost a paranoia about anything negative, about any downside, about any disturbing consequences.

Until, as we are witnessing and will eventually have to pay for, when the bottom falls out, because the illusion can no longer be supported, somebody has to come to the rescue.

Why? Because unwillingness to face into reality and call a spade a spade makes children of those involved — self-indulgent, narcissistic, inflated, and ultimately predatory children.

Judith and I have seen too many Internet marketing pitchmen paint overblown pictures of what is possible—spurring hope, exciting the dream, and telling people “You can do this” without any idea of whether they can or not. Just a necessary insistence that they can in order to move product.

We’ve seen too many people hurt, some seriously, by falling into the charm and spin only to find themselves at a loss, followed by consciously or unconsciously adding a layer of self-condemnation, because they believe they are incompetent and the ones at fault.

And the pitchmen (and women) . . . do they hold themselves accountable for those dashed dreams? Except for three male marketers who we overheard seriously and painfully talking about the sense of responsibility they felt knowing that they were stimulating many dreams they knew would not be realized . . . the answer is NO!

And the upshot?

Illusion breeding more illusion, and illusion is like quicksand – the more you move the more you sink.

Up to their nostrils in quicksand and . . .

“How’s it goin’?”

“Fantastic. Can’t imagine being better.”

No downward graphs in their lives. No reality either.

Jim