Marketing as Wonky Flummoxing
This weekend, I taught the Mindful Marketing Full Day Workshop at the Creative Healing Arts Center. One of the participants, Merry, a lovely Reiki Master, said that marketing is a turn off for her because she thinks of it as wonky flummoxing.
How much do I love saying that?!? After we all laughed a bit, we settled into the real meaning behind those words.
I think her terms describe exactly how many of us feel when it comes to marketing. There are so many bad examples of marketing out there.
In fact, I just saw one on TV this weekend. It was for a weight-loss supplement that claimed that if you took this pill, you could eat whatever you wanted and still lose weight… and then, they went on to say “If it wasn’t true, we couldn’t say it on TV.”
Talk about wonky flummoxing. When we see horrid examples like this, we can see why marketing is a turn-off.
In your business, marketing can support your business mission. Marketing is really about building relationships and telling potential clients how you are in service and what value you provide.
When marketing comes from fear and lack, it gets aggressive. But when it comes from a place of fullness and love, it’s about being who you are, building relationships, and offering value to those who need you.
I would love to hear or see some examples of wonky flummoxing that you’ve run across - feel free to post links or describe them here. Also, feel free to share your thoughts about marketing, and what challenges you might be facing right now.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Jenn,
I love this term! It really puts a light new spin on the whole challenge. thank you for sharing. I am really looking forward to working together in the coming weeks!
Amy
January 21st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Jenn ~~ From my years as a probation officer, I think of obnoxious marketing as “running a con”………..People that do that seem to think that people don’t pick up on their intentions.
Right now there appear to be hordes of such unscrupulous souls, but it seems that the tide is turning. Everywhere we are seeing business people who demonstrate that they set sacred intentions in their business dealings. When it reaches critical mass, the change will rock our world!
I’m gonna hide and watch….
Gini Diane
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
*shudder*
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Jenn,
Love the phrase! I believe that it all comes down to saying what you need to say TRUTHFULLY and with integrity. Yes, we would like others to purchase our services and/or products however, by making outlandish claims and not be truthful with the intentions, is not right. It is ashame that some people believe that by going this route they are just doing what “needs to be done” but I don’t believe that is true. I think that is how they justify their actions. And I agree with you Gini on this point as well—I have noticed that the wind is shifting for those who don’t do business with integrity and their businesses are not thriving. I have met other online business owners who claim they can do a specific job however, they don’t even do it and the only way they receive their information is by copying others. That is a shame, however, they too have seen themselves being the odd one out at events because of their ways.
Thanks again Jenn - another great post!
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I know - don’t you just love that phrase?? Amy - I’m looking forward to our work together as well
Gini - I agree… the tide is turning. There are such amazing business owners out in the world and more and more of them are lightworkers, healers, and spiritually conscious. IMO, we are bringing more light into the world, but understanding the balance between our spirituality, what we can do to be in service to others, and the business side of things.
The heart of marketing is really the relationships that your business develops - and just like any other relationship in your life, those relationships need to be nurtured, and cared for.
Teresa - people can always feel “truth.” It’s like when you meet someone for the first time and you “click.” Same holds true in your business.
The outlandish claims come from fear and lack - when we come from that empty place, it can be felt on the other side… when people are reading the marketing message.
When your intention is to be in service, and provide value, it helps you stand in your power, and develop relationships in your business from a place of being full.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Yes, that is true. When you first met someone you can usually tell. And even if you can’t tell right away, those people will “show” themselves soon enough and you can remove yourself from the situation.
I can do this much better than I used to be able to do. I think that is because I am better at standing in my power and knowing who I am and what I want from my business.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
eewww Marcia - I’ve been to those events too… LOL!!
Teresa - I love what you say about standing in your power and knowing who you are. I think being able to stand in our power - acknowledge our authenticity - is really conducive to helping us honor our boundaries.
When you love who you are, it’s so much easier to recognize your truth, and be ok with that. When you meet new people, or encounter things in your life - it’s easier to say yes to the things that honor you, and no to the things that might not be so good for you
January 27th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I must be too analytical.
I’ve read this several times and still can’t figure out what wonky flummoxing is referring too. Wonky I get, but not flummoxing.
I’ll keep pondering on it though.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
LOL Erica! Nah - not too analytical…
I think what Merry was referring to is that, when she sees those over-the-top marketing messages, she feels like they’re trying to pull the wool over her eyes.
She explained during the workshop that she felt that a lot of times, marketing seemed dis-trustful (is that a word?!? LOL), and she didn’t want to be part of that type of business strategy.
Make sense?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:18 am
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