Fear Selling
Life Lessons
Why I Despise this type of “Motivation”
Did I just use a big hairy spider to induce you to read my article about fear?
Yes. Yes, I did.
A friend invited my wife and me out to supper once. I thought it strange that there were about 20 other couples there also. Turns out, he had reserved part of the restaurant to show us a video of a Christmas tree in a home.
Sounds pleasant
But in a matter of seconds, the Christmas tree ignited into flames destroying the house in less than a few minutes. “This is what happens if you don’t have a good alarm,” said my friend, who was, as it turns out, was trying to sell all of us a home alarm system that would trigger a horn loud enough to wake my wife’s cousins — in Russia.
We left without buying.
Fear is nt usually something that encourages me to make a large purchase.
When I sense any pressure to buy from a car salesman or any other salesperson for that matter, I walk away. I have never believed that fear is the best thing to produce long-lasting changes or commitments to do things a certain way.
Fear produces, well, more fear and panic and mostly nothing good. Unless you are frightened by a lion in your neighborhood and are motivated to run.
First, unless your neighborhood is in northern Tanzania, you’re not likely to encounter one? But you could encounter a bobcat, a Maine Coon cat, or a vicious mini-dachshund on a morning walk.
I have seen fear used to sell religion, the aforementioned fire alarms, vehicles, relationships, software, health food, exercise programs, and lots more stuff.
It’s all about control. Controlling the narrative, controlling the person, controlling actions, and, well, just control.
Some even sell the ability to keep from getting sick by wearing porous cloth on your face.
Some call that control.
Maybe.
But, that’s your choice.
I know a guy once who made a lot of speeches and talks about how showing love can go a long way in combating fear.
Something about eliminating fear and fostering an atmosphere of love seems, to me anyway, a lot more appealing than the same old scare tactics.
Maybe I’ll try it one day.
