Stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.

6/6
5) Master the game. Knowledge is power. Learn the avenues available to challenge the "harsh reality." Pressure your elected representatives.

5/x
4) Create your vision of the "happy ending." How? Map out where you want to be in five years. This vision gives you something to work toward. Remember, in order to reach your vision, set clear goals. Work on them daily. Break down your vision into clear steps. Keep moving in the right direction.

4/x
3) Strengthen your network. Surround yourself with people who create solutions. Get involved. Create grassroots solutions. Collaborate with those who share your goals.

3/x
2) Reframe the narrative. No victims, only strategists. Look for the opportunity behind the challenges. Rights are lost when we passively accept changes. Use the media to counter disinformation. Tell your story. Educate others. Inspire action.
More to come.

2/x Ways to flip a "harsh reality" into a "happy ending."
1) Only do what only you can do. Let go of those events you cannot control. Focus on what you can control. Call your Congressman (talk to their representatives, no voicemail), vote strategically, adjust your spending. Do something!

The actuaries know. They have the best models. 🤔

Some will say that marketers have always had liars in their ranks. True. But, lying destroys professionalism. In the case of marketing, much of the profession is at risk. Newsflash: The marketing profession will cease to exist as we know it if it just comes down to "My lies versus yours." My 2¢. 5/5

Further, if the Pinocchio Concept of Marketing becomes pervasive, every marketer is just a liar. Not sustainable. What is more, it is wrong.

As a parent, do you want your kids to think it is OK to just lie to you? About ... Everything? Is that what you want the educator to teach your kid? 4/x

Some kids think the Pinocchio Concept of Marketing is cool. Just lie to get what you want and bank the dough-re-mi. As one student said in class, 💯 "I'll take the money."

But, if students use the Pinocchio Concept of Marketing, it destroys the credibility of the profession. 3/x

Marketing is often based on the Marketing Concept. The marketer achieves its objectives by satisfying another's needs.

The Pinocchio Concept of Marketing is based on the idea that the marketer achieves its objectives by lying to its customers. Is that bad?

Hell, yes. 2/x

💙

Clear Spies, your are right about one thing. They will lie. Which makes it even more important to conduct the analysis. Watch what they DO, NOT what they say. Expect lies. Plan accordingly. My 2¢.

6/6 Finally, bring it all together. The big idea: Generate alternatives using scenarios when faced with a high level of uncertainty. This can get very complicated. But, even a simple analysis makes you think creatively. When there is a lot of uncertainty, scenarios are much safer than forecasting.

5/6 Synthesis: Look at the trends 📈 and uncertainties 🔺. Create causal stories to explain what is going on that is impacting your world. Explain the logic! Always ask, "Why?" Why are all these people collecting Social Security? Why are they so worried? Why are Congressmen inclined to cut benefits?

4/6 Then, evaluate each uncertainty in both a positive and negative light. A) Create a scenario with all positive outcomes for Social Security. The "happy ending." B) Create a scenario with all negative uncertainties. The "harsh reality." C) Then, synthesize with another scenario. Tell the story! 📖

3/6 Simple example using #SocialSecurity. A) Predetermined elements: the number of people collecting Social Security. B) Key trends: the increasing number of people worried about Social Security benefits. C) Key uncertainty: the number of Congressmen who will vote to cut social security.