I saw a Halloween promo sign at Walgreens the other day (yes, I was at Walgreens) that I thought said “A Threat of a Deal” though it appears it actually said “A Treat of a Deal.”

The Threat of a Deal. One dictionary defined threat as “a person or thing likely to cause damage or danger.”

Buy this or else would seem to be the message. This would go along with the trick or treat motif. Seems sinister and coercive. Perfect.

But how much marketing isn’t coercive. It’s certainly shame based, and I would go so far as to say fear based.

We’re all suckers for fear, aren’t we? We eat it up. You see it everywhere.

Fear-based decision making in the work place. Sucks to be a part of that.  And no matter how many times we call it out, it keeps happening. If you’re not sure what to do always go with the risk-averse, fear based approach. People will at least be familiar with it.

Fear of not keeping up with the Joneses. Nothing new here but I think we often associate keeping up with the Joneses with big ticket items. But it’s not just big tickets. It’s the cell phone you need, the coffee you drink, the foods you it.

Fear of association. Fear of not being associated with the latest craze or being out of the loop. Fear of being associated with the latest craze or being too in the loop.

Well, it’s time to take that threat of a deal and shove it.  Say no to fear-based decision making.

But it’s hard, I know. Those marketers are tricksy people. Always sneaking fear into their positive sounding pitches. Buy this and you won’t have to be afraid.

It’s almost as if you have to tune it all out or find a way to avoid exposure to the insidious messages.

Then maybe you can focus on what you want or at least figuring out what that is. You have to remove all that noise. It’s like you need anti-marketing meditation.

Om.

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