Sales

Manipulation

One word all by itself with nothing before or after it. No story or situation presented. But that doesn't really matter does it? Your mind conjures up a story of its own and more than likely it is not a positive one.

Why? Because there are countless stories of people being tricked into doing things that they really did not want to do but at the time, due to the clever shaping of events by the manipulator, they felt they had no choice. In truth, manipulation in this sense, could be considered evil, certainly not good.

There is more to manipulation than that though. Far more in fact. It is not a thing solely reserved for clever tricks and brainwashing others. Advertising, presenting and enrolling are all part of good salesmanship. And selling is manipulating. In order to make an effective sale one must show the prospective buyer that there is  a hole in their life, one that their product can adequately fill. And all we as people do all day long is sell, though you probably don't even realize it when you are doing it.

Advertising is nothing but manipulation. There are tons of commercials showing how great someone looks or how happy they are once they start using whatever product it is that is being sold with it either being inferred or outright stated how bland life is without that product. In some cases the concept is ridiculous but in others the advertising is spot on and the product really does make your life better.  But regardless if you did not buy before the commercial and you did buy after seeing it, you were manipulated. If the product makes your life better be happy you were manipulated.

People believe that they do not like to be manipulated. They say they do not like being sold to. But that is just not the case. Just as the purpose of advertising is to sell you something, many of the products are designed to help you sell yourself to others.  You probably do like being able to get things that increase the amount of enjoyment that you get out of life. If you were to avoid ever being manipulated it would mean avoiding finding out about new things that can make your life better.

Take for example cosmetics, hair care products and other ways that we draw attention to ourselves.  Drawing attention to oneself IS a form of manipulation. You are in a crowded room and you look over and see some guy with gorgeous well maintained hair or a woman with the most luscious red lips thanks to her lipstick. Then you take in their overall attractive shape, tight fitting jeans and come hither look. They have taken the time and effort to discover what it is that other people like and to present themselves in a way that will get a positive result. They are selling themselves to you. Not necessarily in a trashy way, but selling all the same. They want to hook your attention and because they are willing to advertise their best features, they are able to manipulate you into taking notice. Whereas if they did not do those things, they would likely just be a face in the crowd.

Every person who has ever put on a presentation for a room full of people has used his or her thoughts and ideas to manipulate the thoughts and ideas of everyone else present. Whether it was to get a good grade from a teacher and respect from the rest of the class or to close a deal in business, it is all the same.

Everyone who has ever shown someone how an old way of doing something could be improved has manipulated the person they were showing the better way to. In fact any time any person introduces new information to another person manipulation is occurring.

Every time you tell people about all the crappy things that happened to you in a day you are enrolling them in your story. You are selling them on your victim stance so you can get some sympathy.
I am right now using this very piece of writing to manipulate your way of thinking. And at the very least I am manipulating you into thinking. Again I say, all we do all day long is manipulate others.  It is actually very difficult to take actions or to speak in ways that do not manipulate others. Merely by being present you alter the course of what would have happened if you were not there.

It is my belief that manipulation gets a bad rap from a bunch of jerks out there that really do want to cause harm, but it doesn't have to be that way. We can take it back though. And I propose to do so. I am a powerfully positive leader in my own life and I am proud to say that I spend a great deal of time and effort going out of my way to craft my thoughts, words and deeds in such a way as to positively manipulate those around me.  I do this, not as a puppet master, mischievously controlling all those around me, but as a concerned caring person that wants to see the best for all that I encounter.

Join ME.