I would love to think that the world has finally had enough of get-rich-quick, instant-gratification programmes that promise instant painless solutions at the click of a credit card payment… solutions to what are, in effect, deep-seated issues we have in our businesses. (eg have we got the right product, the right processes, the right people, the right partners, the right customers, the right channels to market…?)
The irony of the Quick Fix vs Fixing the Problem Properly argument cannot pass me by.
I am amazed at the sheer volume of products and services that claim to be a must-have, success-guaranteed, “you’d-be-a-fool-not-to-buy-while-stocks-last”, time-sensitive, unique opportunity.
I hope that these only appeal to the relatively gullible, the innocent and the needy who have no-one to protect them from themselves. And, of course, do the offers bear any resemblance to what the business actually needs!!!!?
Enough.
You can sign up for the quick-fix solutions but in reality the issues you should be addressing are probably symptomatic of something more fundamental that needs to be addressed in your business. You can confront this stuff or sweep it under the carpet… (or behind the curtain or wherever...!).
16 comments:
This may be stating the obvious but you have explained (reading between the lines) why so many mugs go for the dream ticket - too good to be true.
Hmm there is a quote there about "if it is too good to be true then it probably is" but doesn’t this all appeal to the eternal optimists within us that hope that this time it will be different.
I think it was Robert's Grandmother...
see
http://robert-craven.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-free-and-it-can-help-your-business.html
Can't believe this has not received more comments. I am currently getting emails every day from one particular gentleman inviting me to his big jamboree!
Everyone is fed up to the back teeth of the three of four people who bombard you, day in day out, with get rich quick schemes. I guess the fact that you do not unsubscribe tells them that you are/might be a little bit interested. And if they can just persuade to attend then maybe they have the power to seduce you to buy. Yes – you were right – it is just like Fat Club: if it doesn’t work then just buy another product.
What concerns me most is that gap between the promises and the websites with ecstatic testimonials AND the reality of disappointed or disillusioned individuals. We all know the scam: long copy, video testimonials, boot camp (free) and then the big sale.
So Mr C, how do we tell the good from the bad? How do we know that you are not cut from the same cloth? After all you wrote a blog about this very thing before: freebies and value or something?
With the demise of the business links we are going to find more and more of these dubious sales and marketing tactics.
see
http://robert-craven.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-free-and-it-can-help-your-business.html
Its Free and It Can Help Your Business
I have very rarely seen such a thing as a quick fix that has long-term sustainable benefits to a business. yet peopel still seek such a thing
I am not alone when I said
"We Have Met the Enemy, and He Is Us"
http://www.bnet.com/blog/business-myths/we-have-met-the-enemy-and-he-is-us/917
Economist - Academic view: The difficulty of thinking simply http://econ.st/dIEQNx
I quite agree. It is just like saying that money is not a solution to poverty. To solve a problem, you must go deep down to the cause of it and not by covering it up.
you can feed a man a fish and he will go hungry again... or you can teach a man to fish and he may never go hungry again.... etc etc
Absolutely agree! you said some terrific stuff by the wise words "
who have no-one to protect them from themselves". But you said you'd love to think the world have had enough of that? I think is now when it's reaching the highest point. Shame! Where would you put MLM attempts to sell all you said?
Cesar
Thanks for the comments.
Not sure I understand your comment
"Where would you put MLM attempts to sell all you said?"
Is there something specific that you are referring to?
Happy to discuss offline at rc thedc.co.uk is it is not for a public forum...
Robert
My sources tell me you discussed this very point in London (Vistage) and Cardiff (BusinessScene) yesterday. You do get araound!
So how come the quick fix brigade do so well?
Jonathan
The absurdity that a quick fix can do it all is clearly a nonsense. Time to step up to the plate and make some tough/big decisions.
Very true.
The sad thing is that so many people chase the quick fix even though they know that such a thing doesn't really exist (that often).
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