Tag: want

I wouldn’t bet on it

Years have gone by since it happened, but I only recently began to recover. While lying in bed this morning, I began pondering the reason why, because it didn’t make sense to me. How could one person cause this much emotional damage by leaving? While in that half asleep state I love some much, a state where I can think so clearly, the answers began to filter into my mind.

They say life is a gamble. I realize now that there is a lot more truth to that old saying than I first imagined. Each one of us has a stack of poker chips, but these chips don’t represent money necessarily. They instead represent our happiness. Every day we place our bets on something, hoping the gamble will payoff big time. What we don’t realize is, we are actually gambling with our own happiness.

For instance, when I committed myself to my studies in college, I knew I was sacrificing some of my present happiness for the hope that I would eventually win something bigger. It was a small bet I made every day, tossing a few of my happiness chips onto the table with every hour of study, waiting for the cards to eventually be played.

It didn’t have to payoff though. There are no guarantees in life. I could have sacrificed all that happiness in vain. Many people waste countless hours and a small fortune, just to find themselves smothered in debt and working at a low paying job. They could also face health issues before raking in all their winnings. Any number of things could actually happen. It really is a gamble. You could lose it all.

She did something to me that few people ever did before her. She made me happy, very happy, immensely happy. I loved that about her. I also knew she could give me unimaginable happiness in the future. I just had to keep her around somehow. Unfortunately, there were so many things I had to give up for her, so many chips I needed to toss onto the table. It scared me how much actually.

It was very hard to do, but I wanted her so badly that I decided I was going to go all in on this bet. I really needed this win. I also couldn’t afford to lose what I had already put on the table. It was foolish, but I felt like I had no other choice but to push all my chips onto the table, every last one of them. It made me horribly sick, just realizing what I was willing to sacrifice for her.

I felt like there was a chance, because I was on a good winning streak at the time. I was just about to graduate with a masters degree, and was even considering a Ph.D. More lucrative job opportunities were also opening up for the first time. I think I was blinded by these successes and temporarily forgot that I could lose everything. Basically, I made the same mistake all gamblers make. I didn’t realize it was time to step away from the table, because my luck was about to run out.

The cards came back, and I watched as the entire table was swept away by the dealer. I had lost everything! There was literally zero happiness left. I had basically done the equivalent of betting the house on a game of poker and lost. Except it wasn’t a house I lost. It was myself. It was my heart, my mind, my soul, everything. I stepped away from that table emotionally broke and bankrupt.

It was the most foolish bet I ever made, but I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t see myself going on without her. I realize now that I must have actually wanted her more than everything else. I kind of hate myself for that. I should have loved myself more. I should have loved other people more. I sacrificed everything in the hopes of winning that one bet, and just like that, I became the world’s biggest loser.

I think I am slowly recovering from this catastrophic loss, one chip at a time, and hedging all my bets this time. Maybe if I’m lucky enough, I will one day gain back all the happiness I sacrificed on this one person.

Have you ever bet the bank on someone? Have you ever felt emotionally bankrupt? Do you think this is a good analogy? Are you someone who takes big chances? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Coping strategies

Today’s question is what strategies do I use to cope with negative feelings? This is definitely an area where I need to improve. I have been dealing with about seven years’ worth of negative feelings, so I should be good at it by now, but I don’t think I have any strategy that works perfectly.

Before I get started on my list, I want to relate something I do that helps me get the motivation to get out of bed. On the days I can’t sleep the day away, I will hit the snooze on the alarm and just lay there thinking. I have this memory of my late grandmother stroking my hair on the days I was ill and feverish and telling me it would be okay. Even though I felt sick enough to die, it somehow made me feel like living. I found that memory also works on days when I am just sick of life. I will lay there in bed and imagine my grandmother stroking my hair and telling me the day will be fine. That memory is really the last time I felt true affection from another person. It was pure and unconditional love. Somewhere along the way, affection became tainted by people using it to get what they want. Pure unadulterated affection is probably the most powerful medicine in the world. Unfortunately, I can only find it in my distant memories now, but it still melts away all the suffering. Thank you, grandma, for healing me through endless ages with your love.

  1. Prayer. I pray to God a lot. It’s not like a traditional prayer, but like a very long conversation, sometimes spanning hours. There has never been a time when I thought I lost God’s attention though. He’s pretty much the only person who listens to me. I am reminded of David’s very famous line, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Psalm 139:8). It really is true. He is always with his children, wherever they may find themselves.
  2. Games. I sometimes play video games. I’m not super into it like some people. I think this stems from the fact that I am not at all competitive. I mainly use games as a distraction. There is one thing about them that drags me into them. I sort of connect with the hero archetype that is personified in many games. If the right cause awakens me, I will slay all your dragons. Basically, I have a hero complex, otherwise known as a savior complex. If my people need me, I will rescue them.
  3. Conversation. If I meet the right person while I am out, we will have a wonderful time together, just talking the night away. I love conversing with those people. Sometimes I get to hear their whole life story, and I love true stories! Sometimes they are unloading emotional problems, and I’m totally there to hear them out. There’s also a surprising amount of intellectual, philosophical, and political discussions that happen at bars. I’m a great listener, and it’s definitely a good distraction.
  4. Dreams. Occasionally I have bad dreams, but for the most part my dreams are tolerable, sometimes even pleasant. In my dreams, I am not myself. I am free to be whoever I want. It is so liberating! I sometimes wish I could just change my name, move far away, and start over, meeting all new people. Dreams are the closest I come to that wish.
  5. Reading. I read a lot of books. My record for a year is over one hundred books. That used to be the goal I set each year. I don’t read as much as that anymore, but it has always been a part of my life. A good book is one of the only things that can sufficiently distract me from my troubles. I also listen to audiobooks when I go on walks or drive long distance.
  6. Writing. As you know, I write blog posts quite often. It helps me to get things out in the open. I am probably too open with strangers, but they are mostly supportive in the blogging community. There is some degree of protection from the anonymity of it all I suppose. To me, blogging is very therapeutic. I also dream of being a novelist one day, if I can ever straighten my emotions out enough stay on it.
  7. Women. I’m not going to lie, a lot of the negativity that encroaches on my happiness is from the heartbreak women have caused me. That being said, those same women filled my life with incredible happiness when they were with me. That’s why losing them hurt me so badly. I don’t think women realize how much power they have to heal. I know if the right girl came along, she would easily be able to wipe away all the hurt of those who left me in shambles. It’s almost too much power for any person to wield. I suppose there are women who feel the same way about men.
  8. Thunder. I don’t know why, but rolling thunder and rain help me to relax. I have an app that just plays the sound of thunder and rain. I use it to fall asleep some nights. It also seems to reduce the chances of me waking up over in the night. I suppose it is the remnant of childhood memories where the rain on our tin roof helped me sleep, or maybe thunder just scares off negative forces. Either way, the thunderstorm is one of my dearest friends.

Are there any memories from your childhood that get you through the day? What is your view of affection on mental health? Did you have a good relationship with your parents and grandparents? Do you have any good coping strategies you would add? What’s the biggest source of negativity in your life? Do you have a savior complex?

Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Also, thanks for being here! Love you all!

I want what I want.

When I was growing up, I loved toys, as most children do. I can still remember going to department stores with my parents. I always wanted to go to the toy aisle. I could literally sit for hours just staring at all the toys in their little boxes with the clear plastic windows. I know I pleaded with my mom to buy me a toy more times than I could count. My parents were not wealthy, so more often than not I didn’t get a toy, but that didn’t stop me from trying.

I also loved birthday parties as a kid. I knew this was the one time of year when I was almost guaranteed to have some toy to unwrap. What a brilliant idea this birthday party thing was! Most of my presents came from my parents of course, but sometimes I would get presents from other relatives on my special day. The more the merrier!

I think it was about this time that I noticed something about gifts and toys. As I went tearing through the pretty wrapping paper on the boxes, I was secretly looking for that one special toy that I had dropped hints about all year. That’s the toy I wanted most. It was a little like the search for the Red Rider BB gun in the movie A Christmas Story, which I see every year during the holidays.

As I tore through all the boxes of clothes and other necessities, I remembered to appreciate the gift, but secretly it was a mild disappointment. I would then toss that box aside and frantically jump to the next one. The toy search continued! When I found the toy, my face lit up with a smile of course. I’m sure my parents knew what I was hoping to find all along. It probably brought back memories from their childhood. I think parents live vicariously through the lives of their children sometimes. After all the gifts were opened, I would spend countless hours playing with my new toys in complete bliss.

The thing I ponder though, is all those other presents. I feel a little sad for them. I didn’t express that much joy from opening them. If they had feelings, then they might think they were unwanted. I know many of them were very important things to have, like socks, shoes, and shirts. These were actually things I needed very much, but they didn’t bring me any happiness.

The problem is not really my fault, and I recognize that now. I will always want what I want. I can try to prod my desires in this direction or that, but my emotional side pretty much has a mind of its own. It’s like a separate entity from me. The only thing I can do is point my finger at it and scold it. You should like those socks more than those useless toys! They will keep your feet dry and warm all winter! I know I’m delusional in thinking I can train my desire though. It’s more in control than I am most of the time. I mean, how do I know what I want, if I don’t consult with my desire?

I guess I spent a lifetime pursing the things that I wanted, and gradually acquiring them. Each one brought me happiness along the way. They were also the source of most of my motivation. Without desire, it’s hard to stay motivated, because you know there is no happiness waiting for you if you didn’t want it in the first place. Without desire, I would have spent my whole life opening boxes that brought me no joy.

There’s a problem I have now though. I’ve desired a few things very intensely and it’s starting to look like I’m just never going to get those things. This defeat has left me heartbroken. I still want what I want, but I just can’t have it. I have to settle for something else or nothing at all. I could try to make myself like the things I don’t like, and dislike the things I want most, but I think doing that would just have me living in denial.

That’s not the worst part though, because continual frustration has a way of grinding on you. Sooner or later, you are ground away to nothing. That’s about where I am right now. If I can’t have what I want, then I’m starting to not want anything at all. I’m starting to give up on everything. My wants and their fulfilment were the source of great happiness and motivation. Without desire, I really find it hard to get out of bed. Sleep becomes my new want. This, I believe, is the definition of depression.

Were toys a source of joy for you growing up? Did you ever hint to your parents about what you wanted? Did you like the toy aisle in the store as a child? Do you feel joy from getting what you want? Do you think motivation stems from desire? Do you struggle with your emotional side? Let me know in the comments, and please remember to like, share, and subscribe.

Objects I couldn’t live without.

The question of the day is what are three objects I couldn’t live without? The obvious one is my body, though I kind of believe there is some sort of life without it as a spirit. There are other objects related to the body that I need, such as air, water, food, shelter, etc. These are simply the things that keep my body alive. Another object I need is people. Although we shouldn’t objectify people, they really are a type of physical object in our environment. I probably couldn’t do all the things needed to survive by myself, but even if I could, I would die of loneliness if there was no one else around. There’s also a very special person that I need. I wish they were here right now. In reality, I need very few objects, which is why I’m a minimalist. It’s really my heart that keeps me alive. It’s the hope of love that makes me want to live.

What objects could you not live without? Are you a minimalist or a hoarder? How long could you go without people? Let me know in the comments, and please remember to like, share, and subscribe!

The perfect girl.

I see her every night. Usually, she has blond hair, but sometimes other colors. Sometimes she is dressed in a sexy outfit, sometimes in an elegant dress, other times in athleticwear and sneakers. It doesn’t matter. She will be desirable in whatever clothing she chooses. It will always be in good taste, and other girls will want to wear it just by seeing her in it. She smiles at you, and you think you have a chance, but you don’t. That’s just her charm. She is liked by everyone, except for maybe those who envy her. She makes your palms sweat and your heartbeat faster. You can’t stop yourself from being super courteous to her, even though you know she hasn’t done anything extra to deserve it. There are a hundred other guys with a better chance than you, but you still feel special just for being in the same room with her. She’s the perfect girl.

The middle school girl.

When I was in about middle school range, there was a girl in my grade that I still remember very well. She might have been the first perfect girl I ever saw. I liked everything about her, the way she looked, the way she talked, the sound of her voice, even the cute little things she did. Her seat in math class was at the desk just left of me. I can remember that until this day. I used to look over at her from time to time and dream that she might one day be my girlfriend.

My shyness at the time caused me to keep this to myself. I would have never been able to tell her how much I liked her. That would have been way too unpredictable. I knew she might not feel the same way about me, which would cause her to reject me. This was not something I wanted to find out about the hard way. I would almost rather just go on unknowing, as I could at least have hope that way.

Unfortunately, there came a day in gym class when it was just too much to keep to myself. I had to tell someone! It so happened it was my cousin, who was also my best friend throughout childhood. Perhaps when I told him I didn’t quite make him understand this was supposed to be a secret. No sooner than the words came out of my mouth did he run down the court, grab her by the arm, and basically dragged her up to the bleachers where I was standing.

She was kind of shocked by his actions as I recall, as he didn’t really tell her anything but to come with him. This essentially left me and the girl face to face with each other, her with a dazed and confused look on her face. He then blurted out, he likes you and wants you to be his girlfriend! I felt my insides dry up, and I just wanted to run away and hide, but it all happened too fast. As soon as she figured out what this was all about, she glanced over at him and energetically said, no way! That’s grody! I will never be his girlfriend! Then she ran away as fast as she could go.

I don’t think I had much of a reaction to it in the moment. It all happened too fast, but it wounded me quite a bit to hear those words come out of her mouth. I thought of all the future times she would have to avert her eyes while passing me in the hall, or what she might say to the other kids. Mostly though, it hurt me because I knew I would have to let go of all my hope of being with the perfect girl. As I recall, she moved a year or two afterward, and even though she didn’t like me, I was still a little sad to see her go. I liked her in spite of everything, I guess.

I found out later through classmates that she become a teen mom shortly after entering the next school, making her the youngest girl from my grade to become pregnant in their teens. This really cemented the idea that I probably wouldn’t see her again, because she now had a husband and a child to raise. As predicted, I never really heard from her afterward, though she did leave me with my first real emotional scar, and something to spend the rest of my life pondering.

The high school girl.

A few years after I lost the perfect girl, I found myself in high school, and there was a girl in my class that seemed to be very nice to me. She would always pick a seat right behind me. She would even carry my books sometimes. She liked listening to me and would laugh at anything funny I said. She also followed my interests it seemed. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. It kind of made me feel like a rock star, and she was one of my biggest fans.

An odd thought entered my mind during this time. Was she as infatuated with me as I was with the girl who didn’t like me? If so, then I was experiencing the same problem again, except in reverse, because I wasn’t attracted to her at all. She just wasn’t my type. I never even dreamed of it and couldn’t even imagine being with her in that way. I would never be a good boyfriend for her, and I knew it.

I sometimes wondered if there would be an equally awkward moment where I had to tell her I didn’t like her that way, that we could never be anything but friends. I did consider her to be one of my best friends. I wouldn’t use cruel words like grody, but it might still be a big letdown for her. She would have to accept that her perfect guy was a hopeless dream. I didn’t have the heart to break that to her on pure suspicion, so I just didn’t say anything about it. We were friends for many years after high school, and thankfully that moment never came.

The search continues.

Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the last time this problem would surface in my life, and I also believe it’s plagued many other people. It seems cruel that we have to go through life constantly meeting the perfect person, only to discover they don’t like us, and vice versa. I find it especially sad because I really do believe that every person needs to find and be with the person who makes them truly happy. I assume that some people do just hit it off early and end up living happily ever after, but I think that’s incredibly rare. For most of us, something very different plays out.

Everyone faces a rejection or two, but if the rejections are harsh, or it happens too often, you eventually begin to lose self-esteem. It becomes more and more difficult to approach anyone you like for fear of a repeat rejection. This can very quickly lead to loneliness and depression, because you begin to lose all hope of meeting the right person. This can be very devastating to a person’s mental health.

Another thing that can happen is you begin lowering your sense of worth. You assume that you are just not good enough to attract the right person, so you begin to settle for less and less of what you desire. Settling for someone helps with the loneliness, but if it’s not a person you truly desire, the relationship can be less than satisfying. You may also be left with regrets for not holding out longer. Occasionally, a much better prospect will appear after you have already committed to a lesser relationship, which can lead to a painful breakup or possibly cheating.

Probably one of the worst things that can happen is when someone dramatically lowers the bar. They pretty much accept anyone, just to keep from being alone, then drop them quickly when they find other prospects. This leads to a string of broken hearts, and maybe a few infections. It might be fun for some people, but the resulting relationships are not very meaningful. At some point, people begin to think you are just about short-term gratification.

In some of these situations, you might be the person who is with someone who is settling or lowering the bar. It can be very painful to discover this is the case. Being with them may have boosted your self-esteem and now you have to face the painful realization that you might not be able to meet a comparable person. I believe I have experienced something like this before, and I would compare it to an eagle lifting you up to the heavens, then just dropping you to the ground. The fall to a low self-esteem can be brutally painful, depending on how high they lifted you up.

When you are trying to figure all this out, there can also be quite a battle from within. One side of you might think logically about who the best person is for you, but the other side wants the satisfaction that comes from being with the other person. It’s like a war between two distinctly different people living inside you. It’s also not uncommon for friends and family to try and reason with you on your choices, but it’s often the subconscious emotions that make the decision, not the rational mind. That doesn’t mean there are no regrets when things go awry.

I think one of the reasons why this problem seems so ugly to me is I feel like we are born with an immense amount of love to give to a very special person. It always disturbed me that you can’t give it to the person you want. Love was meant to flow, not be all cooped up inside you. At some point, it just becomes a bubbling cauldron of black tar in your heart making you sour on the inside.

I hope you never find the perfect person, and then lose them, like I have done on a couple of occasions. It is a positively wicked thing to endure. My wish for everyone is that they find their soulmate, the person who matches them perfectly, that they have no regret in choosing, that truly completes them, and they keep them for as long as their life permits.

Have you had similar relationship experiences? What happened? Do you believe settling is good or bad? Has anyone ever destroyed your self-esteem? How? Have you ever cheated or been cheated on? Do you feel torn between the person you think is good for you, and the person you really want? Do you think it’s hard to find the perfect person? What was your first crush like? What are you really looking for in your person? Do you believe in soulmates? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

The Lost Souls

Having a religious background, I remember hearing people talk about lost sheep growing up. I know there’s a scripture about it also, where it says that God is unwilling to have a single soul perish. It also says that you are so important to him that he even knows how many hairs you have on your head. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.

I’ve lost people in a variety of ways, some though death, and some because of other life circumstances. I’m also sure I’ll continue to lose people. It’s just a matter of time really. That’s just how life goes but it is so incredibly heartbreaking. I simply don’t want to do it anymore!

I also know there are so many people in this world. I could never meet them all. For every person I lose, I could probably gain ten if I wanted, but this isn’t as satisfying as it sounds. I’m so concerned about that one soul I lost!

I am like God looking for his lost sheep. I know there’s a flock around me, but you are lost from me. I can’t tell if you are in danger. I don’t even know where you are right now. I am so filled with worry about you that I can’t sleep some nights.

This is because deep down, I know there will never be another you. Your soul is yours and yours alone. No one else in the whole world has that soul. It is uniquely you. You cannot be disconnected from it, but I can be disconnected from you, and the pain of losing you is so unbearable!

I know if I lose you, I may never find you again in this big universe, and there is absolutely no replacement for you in all of time and space. You are more precious than all the gold in the world, because you are utterly rare. I just wish you could see that and not wander or leave, because I need you! Because I love you!

This is why I know I was not made for this world. I am a soul that was made for eternity. I don’t want to meet a person, come to love them deeply, and then just lose them! It damages my own soul every time that happens. I just don’t see how any of this could be normal or healthy. We should not lose each other, not ever!

Each night I pray, that my precious lost soul returns, because I need them beside me forever. Amen.

Top 10 list of human motivators.

There are many things that can motivate a person. Below is a list of some of the most important human motivators.

  1. Living. When people are alive, they tend to want to stay that way. The will to live is a fundamental motivator. There may be a time when extreme suffering eliminates this motivation, leading to extreme depression and sometimes death. If you lose this one, the other motivators might not have much of an affect.
  2. Survival. Everyone alive needs to survive. This is a base need. Some people have more difficulty with it than others. It might be because of health issues, food shortages, extreme poverty, homelessness, etc. If you still have a will to live, you will be motivated to survive.
  3. Liked. People want to be liked by others. They will often go to great lengths to be liked. Sometimes it is because they want to be accepted by their peers, be one with the group, or in some cases, just have mass appeal and popularity. The like button is popular for a reason. People are motivated to be liked, and it improves their chances for survival.
  4. Love. Some people are engaged in the pursuit of finding true love. This is a pretty big motivator for me personally, I must admit. It’s very elusive. It also requires a mutual feeling, which makes it even more challenging. Even when you have it, you question, are they in it for the same reasons? Will it last for both of you? It can be very fragile.
  5. Sex. It is often associated with love, but is definitely a different thing. It’s also closely related to lust and beauty. It can become an obsession and lead to addiction, constantly pursuing the next conquest, living only for sensual pleasures. It’s definitely a huge motivator for human beings.
  6. Materialism. I’m not a very materialistic person, but a lot of people are highly motivated to buy material things. They are like a maximalist I guess. Their garages become brimming over with junk at some point, then it’s off to the landfill, but it keeps the economy going I guess.
  7. Wealth. Not everyone wants to collect tons of material objects. Some people want to collect money, and lots of it. When they get there hands on it, they invest it to make even more money. It might eventually become even more money than they can spend. It can greatly aid survival, and is definitely a huge motivator.
  8. Power. Wealth can lead to power, and money might actually be a storage system for power, because if you have enough money, you can get people to do things for you. Power is the ability to control those around you, and society at large. It is definitely a big motivator, especially for the control freaks.
  9. Perfection. Making really bad mistakes can reduce your chances of survival. Most people try to act wisely and make good decisions. This can be perfection in daily tasks, or even extend into the realm of morality. Perfection can never be had, of course, but perfectionists are highly motivated by it.
  10. Meaning. Sooner or later, someone will ask the question why. Why am I here? What is the purpose of all this? For some reason, people get tired of doing the same old thing forever if there is no greater meaning to it all. Having a sense of purpose is a great motivating factor, and can come from various sources, like family, religion, afterlife, humanitarianism, spiritual attainment, etc.

Possible discussion ideas.

  1. Do you think this list is accurate?
  2. Would you add something to this list?
  3. Which are your biggest motivators?
  4. Do you think your motivations change?
  5. Are any of them irritating to you?
  6. What is the meaning of life?

Can’t wait to hear what you have to say! Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!

Top 10 things every seller should consider.

Sellers often get a bad rap. Lately, I’ve been asking myself why that is. We all have to buy things, but sometimes we don’t like it when people try to sell to us, and practically no one likes advertising. I put together a few touch points that I think might improve a seller’s long-term success.

TOP 10 THINGS EVERY SELLER SHOULD CONSIDER
  1. Pick a safe product. Take steps to verify that the product is safe for the intended use. You don’t want to get sued when someone’s hair falls out after using the shampoo you sold them. Also, read the product reviews, and pay special attention to those who rated it badly.
  2. Pick a product you would actually buy. If you wouldn’t even buy the product, it’s going to be hard to sell it to someone else. You haven’t even made your own mind up about it, and you are trying to make their mind up about it. It’s going to be a hard sell.
  3. Determine who your customers are. If you don’t know who you are selling to, you won’t be able to pick the best products to sell to them. Some customers might stumble upon you, but targeted advertising might come into the picture at some point. It’s helpful to know where to send the ads.
  4. Understand your customer’s needs. You are not going to sell me a brassiere. I’d never be able to fill it out properly and I’m not sure I’m qualified to pick the best one out for someone else. If you have a customer base, think in terms of what they actually need.
  5. Don’t be the pushy salesperson type. It does sometimes work, but customers walk away with a bad feeling afterwards, and probably won’t be coming back. You will be that person they avoid eye contact with and unfollow because they get tired of being hit up. Take no for an answer.
  6. Conduct market research. If you are going to sell books for example, recognize that you are going up against Barnes & Noble and Amazon. This will be a hard sell unless you have something that they don’t offer already. Finding a niche market will probably improve your chances of success.
  7. Don’t forget the customer after the sale. If you really believe in the product, consider offering a full refund for dissatisfied customers. It’s really expected these days. Also, some products may need some form of customer service after the sale.
  8. Strengthen customer relationships. Do as much as possible to strengthen the tie that customers have with your business. If you treat your customers right, they are more likely to make future purchases, and your business will be spread through word of mouth.
  9. Take care of your reputation. No one wants to buy from a shady dealer. Keep your own reputation clean and make sure your business has a good public image. Seek to maintain good PR and quickly fix any customer problems that become publicized. Become someone they trust.
  10. Don’t involve your personal politics in your business. It does get you noticed in the news sometimes, but frankly it looks bad and drives some customers away. They might even boycott you. Your business is about the products and services you sell, not who you vote for in the election.

Possible discussion ideas.

  1. Do you know a pushy salesman?
  2. Have you bought any products you totally regret?
  3. Have you ever owned a shop or business?
  4. What products or services do you believe in?
  5. Have you ever been injured by a bad product?
  6. Ever feel like you are buying from an unscrupulous person?
  7. What type of products and services work best for bloggers?
  8. Do you think businesses should get involved in politics?

Thanks for being here! Let’s hear what you have to say in the comments! Subscribe if haven’t already, and please like and share!

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