I want a nice and carefree life for myself and my family. That’s a goal. A nice and carefree life for me means a peaceful household, harmony and unity, the building of mutual memories, acquainting myself with new cultures and customs, learning new skills, enjoying artistic and creative content (ranging from art pieces I would like to own, to visiting random artistic events) and so on. In order to achieve my goal, I need money. The actions I need to take in order to achieve the desired goal are therefore very clear: I will study hard, I will prove myself worthy at work and within the society, I will work harder than the competition, I will give more than is expected of me…
As a result, I increase my competitiveness and performances which lead towards an increase in my revenue and proportionally to that – an increase in life quality which contributes to achieving my goal. The goal is not to have more money. Money is the result of a combination of activities leading towards the realization of the goal. You don’t go to the pharmacy to get aspirin, but rather to purchase a remedy that will help rid yourself of a headache. Aspirin is only a means for achieving your goal. A goal has a purpose. The means serve this purpose and not vice versa.
Start with WHY?
Judging by how much I wrote in the introduction, I can see that I don’t write nearly as often as I’d like :/ I do believe that those of you that follow my blog understand the aforementioned ideas, and I wanted to write them down once and for all. There’s no story about business without understanding the ambiguity that surrounds the goal and the means – the cause and effect; the manipulation and inspiration.
When our goals are visionary, business is an adventure. When our means are our goals, business is a collection of manipulative techniques that give short-term results.
After having watched Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why”, I read his book that helps me out in business (and in life). Simon dedicated an entire chapter of his book precisely to manipulation techniques that we implement when we don’t have a vision and a clear long-term business goal. He also described problems, as well as the advantages of these techniques, but also of business models built and based on them.
There are virtually no products or services that cannot instantly be replaced by similar or better ones, based on a similar or better price, for similar or better quality. Even if you happen to be the first on the market, it’s only a question of time until someone else will come up with a similar (or better) offer. However, if you happen to ask almost any manager about why his/her users enjoy their product and not someone else’s (which is similar or better), they will tell you that their product offers superior quality and unique packaging at a better price, offering better service. In other words, they have no idea why their customers are really their customers, taking into consideration the fact that a viable replacement to their product exists on the market. Logically, they have no clue as to how to further develop their product in order to win customer loyalty – the holy grail of a successful business model (these aren’t my words, but a loose interpretation of a segment in Simon’s book).
What do companies do when they don’t have a vision?
In order to attract new consumers/users (whom they objectively speaking – don’t understand), companies use various manipulative techniques that have become a norm within promotion – or even worse – business campaigns. Many of these techniques would come in handy if they didn’t happen to be the exception rather than the rule. There’s no doubt about that:
- Price – lower the price of your product enough and there’s no doubt that you’ll sell it.
Jung’s “Red Book” for $1, a huge chocolate cake for $10, or an iPhone 5S for $100 will surely find a buyer in no time. The question that remains, however, is whether you as a company are ready to pay for lowering your price? The question, therefore, isn’t about whether you’re ready to accept decreased profit margins during a given period of the year, but rather whether you’re ready to accept the fact that users will have a hard time accepting to pay Jung’s book for $1000, a cake for $100 or an iPhone for $700 once you’ve lowered the prices. In such a way, an army of sales-addicted consumers is created. Then ask yourself how many people you know that wait for the sales in order to purchase their favorite article of clothing. Why would they buy a product for the full price when they know that they can get it at a reduced price (either from you or your competition) at a lower price? “Priced to move” is an American sales model that led millions to the point of no return, addicting them to a drug called “SALE!” Are customers during sales (the only) target group for whom you do business? Even if they’re not, the market has set sales as a business norm. It’s not easy changing the norms, but many have succeeded. Apple, for example, doesn’t have sales on its iStore. All of their products around the world are priced the same (without minor differences due to currency exchange rates). I’ll mention this here too – Apple has become the most valuable brand in the world this year. It’s not easy changing the norms, but many have succeeded.
- Promotions – a manipulative technique also known as “buy one, get one for free”.
Promotions are offers which entail buying products for the full price, although you are given (at least) something free: 200g of coffee + mug, dishwasher liquid + gloves, book + agenda, or something similar. This is a rather tricky trap because it’s difficult to attract a consumer to buy a product that isn’t on promotion for its full price (that is – without the free goody). If your coffee isn’t on promotion, count on the consumer to look (or buy) your competitor’s coffee that “gives” them a free coffee container or a recipe book. This is the point where you enter a vicious circle… In such a way, we accustom the consumer that there is always a better offer than a good offer. Better for their pocket, regardless of whatever else. The power of this technique and the speed of achieving tangible results have led us to a situation where it’s increasingly difficult to sell products that aren’t being promoted… unless we implement another one (of the here described) manipulative techniques.
- Fear – one of the most powerful manipulative tools; the real and the fictitious.
When you run out of ideas or inspiration, scaring the consumer works really well. Within the marketing industry, IBM is well remembered for its campaign that scared decision-makers in the IT departments some thirty years ago. “No one ever got fired for hiring IBM” left a strong impression on the target group. Even though they would have given a chance to smaller and less renowned companies, decision-makers in the various IT departments chose not to risk their jobs. Take a look at the commercial for Vojvođanska Banka which isn’t the best example since the fear effect is over-exaggerated due to the artistic nature of the advertisement, but it illustrates the model suitably. Lower is a commercial for Paradontax toothpaste. No extra words are necessary to describe it.
- Positive aspiration – contrary to using fear as a technique, encouraging positive aspiration inspires consumers… but only in the short term, of course.
Much more is needed for happiness than taking out a quick loan, drinking beer, yogurt, or eating cookies. Or not…
- Novelties – not innovation, but novelties
Innovation is a genuine shift forward in the offers and services of the market. A bank without branches (ING), or the iPod each shifter their respective industry. Innovation is also a microwave oven, MOOC courses, and many other things. On the other hand, a new mascara brush and fewer granules within its tube are novelties – not innovation. Maybe consumers will buy your product due to novelty, but the question remains whether they’ll buy it again (and again, and again) having in mind the market offers similar or better products for a similar or better price with a free eyeliner or lip gloss to go along? The limbo only continues…
- Peer pressure – because some decision is tough to make.
Some decisions either entail the understanding of disciplines which are known to us or accepting risk. Whether you’ll put your life savings in an interest savings account of one bank or the next during the turbulent times we live in also depends on how others decide. If a certain bank manages to acquire 1.4 billion euros of liquid assets, it’s certainly easier to choose this one over others. In the end, are all those clients wrong? If they’re wrong, it’s easier to be part of a naive mass than be a naive individual. Or not…
In the end…
The lack of understanding and the lack of distinction of goals and vision, results and consequences, manipulation and inspiration, aren’t just global business issues, but that of politics as well. Manipulation will help you persuade people to vote for you, but not to follow you. Manipulation will help you to convince them to buy your toothpaste or shampoo, but not to refuse a better offer or price, nor be loyal to your product. Inspirational vision breeds an ambitious goal with which we inspire the world.
Such a vision connects us with our consumers so profoundly and on so many levels, that eventually loyalty is established – a secure base of dedicated customers that will be by our side during both the stormy and fair weather that we encounter along in our business endeavors.
Working for yesterday, for now, or for tomorrow – is also a question of vision.
If you don’t know where you’re going, every road leads you there.
Think twice, because you live only once.
2020
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