Vitamins, Diets, and Fortune-tellers

FUD is a term we use in sales. It means "Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt." It is our goal to instill this in our customers when they are considering a competitor's products.

It is the goal of any salesperson, to instill this feeling in its target audience.

It is what television is feeding you, in the form of commercials, every day.

Even the "positive" commercials, that don't come right out and call you an idiot for not buying their product, are doing this. Pay attention. They are saying "You need this." And in your head it sits. "Do I need that? I don't think so. But they said I do. Maybe I do. How do I know? Whom can I trust? Maybe I should just try it. It's only $xxx."

Is "The Ultimate Driving Machine" different from other vehicles, ultimately? Well, no. Not really. I've been passed by people, who are in a rush to get to the next red light. Where they then stop and wait for me to catch up. Perhaps if our roads were built like racetracks, your cornering would be very important. Perhaps if my goal was to race you to a destination, your 0-60 time would be important.

But it is not.

So watch with a different eye, the one in your brain. And listen to what commercials are saying to you. In fact, this applies to "friends" as well. But that's a different entry.