The secret behind marketing secrets

By now, I am sure you have been subject to a multitude of claims that, in one way or another, someone has the secret you need to create, enjoy, or understand something that is supposedly ‘missing’ in your life. This claim is generally made by a salesman, a con artist, a businessman, masquerading as a friend, a business truly dedicated to you, and so on.

It has been driving me nuts. Has it done the same for you? I went through a period of time wanting to create my own advertisements for products and online courses that I took about moving through grief, and I researched marketing and how to word my ads to effectively get my message out there. Still, the truth is that much of the marketing is designed to do more than get a message out; of course, it is intended to create sales. Sure, the person might fool themselves into believing that they must exaggerate the truth and lie a little in order to help people, but the reality is that no one truly gets helped, least of all the person buying the product or, should I say, the customer. More and more, we are in a culture of people who feel inadequate and like they can’t do anything of meaning, but is it any surprise when people are constantly told they need this or that information and that this particular product is the secret, the secret to wealth, health or overall happiness. The true secret is…

YOU DON’T NEED ANY OF IT

In fact, you are amazing, with the potential for many innovative ideas if only you give yourself the time of day to think, anchor in your sense of place, and be authentic to who you are and what you’re passionate about.

Gurus will go on about giving you permission and that their ad is your sign. (The author pauses, wondering if I have ever said that in an ad myself; this language is literally ingrained into our minds from the constant barrage of advertisements.) You don’t need permission. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a creator, you have a sound mind, and…

YOU CAN DO AMAZING THINGS

One person can make a big difference, and to think you’re not that person is part of what is holding you back. Some would say it’s presumptuous to think you’ll change the world or that it’s prideful, but is it prideful to have the goal of changing the world for the better, to have your life mean something greater than just living?

We can look at past ‘people’ like Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. She sparked a movement, and he led the movement. They both played pivotal roles, and both changed the world in a way that is remembered today. We can look at inventors and innovators like Tesla and Benjamin Franklin. We could look at great thinkers like Plato or Aristotle, and writers like Shakespeare and C.S. Lewis. Each person did, said, or created something that has changed lives and impacted millions to this day, and yet so many people believe that they can’t be someone who does something to change the world. Of course, we won’t all necessarily be remembered or have our own special day of honor, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t create an impact. Still, you could be the next to spark a movement, create something useful, or write something that impacts millions in a way that inspires and uplifts those who might otherwise feel useless.

Perhaps you are the voice and spark that helps light someone else up and create long-lasting change. We don’t know if or when we are the catalyst of change. Don’t underestimate your worth, your voice, and your mind. There is no one out there like you.

YOU ARE HERE FOR A REASON