I also want to say that this forum has opened my eyes and mind to the better more optimum ways of considering marketing and just how it is done.

Right now I am reading "Influence". It is an exceptional peice of work about how we are all influenced and manipulated.

This form really brings the book home to and for me.

You and Gordon are masterful instructors who have tremendous patience and empathy.

Thanks for sharing with us.

Taylor

> I found this fascinating quote....

> "We are all in the business for the
> same purpose, to improve the lives of our
> customers. The meaning of life is to improve
> the lives of others. The only reason anybody
> buys a product or a service is that they
> prefer the product or service to the money.
> It might look like a product or service, but
> people buy improvements in their
> condition."

> [ The Ultimate Entrepreneur's Book , by
> Richard Dobbins and Barrie O. Pettman, p.
> 94.] In my opinion, this is one of the
> nicest statements of the meaning and purpose
> of business I have come across....

> What people in business want is
> independence, freedom, or wealth! (Or all
> three.)

> But ultimately what business is about is
> improving the lives of our customers in one
> way or another....

> The sentence, "the only reason anybody
> buys a product or a service is that they
> prefer the product or service to the
> money," reminds me of what Gordon has
> written about chattel.... That when you
> "sell" a second-hand item, it can
> also be seen as you "buying" their
> money with your product.

> This view holds in any situation where you
> are selling something.... In reality, you
> are buying their money with your service or
> product.

> Think about it.... It's an empowering
> perspective!

> - Dien