Three Things I Learned This Week
Let’s try something a little different this week. I have a notebook where I write a lot of notes and quotes. So I figured, why not share some of my favorites!
Though, the third one needs some work.
4–10 May 24.
People are not suddenly terrible. They drift to it.
The more I observe the news, the more it teaches me about the human condition. The idea that people don’t wake up one day and suddenly become “terrible”, that they drift into it.
There are all these little instances and accumulating moments, that lead to a person’s character changing. It’s not like they just snap and become a total asshole. Nah, it’s a gradual process, shaped by all sorts of external influences and personal choices.
We tend to just see the end result, the sudden “terrible” act, without really understanding the journey that got them there. Hell, we excel at curating such stories across the news and social media. I want the quote to challenge that notion of inherent evil or moral depravity. It suggests that people aren’t predetermined to become these negative caricatures, but rather undergo a gradual moral decline.
And that’s where personal responsibility comes into play. Individuals have a real agency in shaping their own character and moral compass. Moral deterioration isn’t always the result of active malice, but passive acquiescence to those external forces.
Now, that’s not to say there aren’t deep-rooted societal and cultural factors at play here. I definitely want to prompt us to examine the structures and norms that might contribute to the erosion of moral values. There’s a lot of complexity to unpack the root causes of this kind of gradual moral decline.
But by acknowledging that complexity, by recognizing the role of both environment and personal choice, we can better understand the nuances of ourselves.
It’s a thought-provoking perspective, for sure. It is a messy one too. But it is one that encourages us to look beyond the surface-level judgments and really dive into the deeper currents that shape who we become.
Good news takes time. Bad news happens instantly.
This quote really gets at the inherent biases and sensationalism that dominate media coverage and public discourse. There’s this tendency for bad news to grab our attention in a way that good news often doesn’t. And that leads to a skewed perception of reality, with an overemphasis on the negative stuff.
It speaks to how we process information. Our brains are wired to prioritize negative stimuli as a survival mechanism. We’re hard-wired to pay more attention to threats and dangers than anything else. As a result, bad news spreads like wildfire, while the slower, positive news is hard to find.
After all, threats must be immediately solved.
I touched upon this a few months back in Lessons About Human Nature The Military Taught Me. As soldiers, we’re trained to react with lightning speed when someone’s injured, as evident by the 9-liner procedure. But when one of our teammates achieves something amazing, that news trickles back to us much more gradually.
It highlights this fundamental truth about how we relate to news. Bad news, the crises and threats, they demand our immediate attention. We’re wired to respond to that urgency. But the good stuff, the hard-won victories and positive developments?
Those take time to materialize and gain traction.
People buy the sizzle for the steak. But they remember the steak.
I wanted to the get to the heart of a fundamental truth in marketing and consumer behavior. While flashy marketing tactics and enticing promises will initially grab people’s attention and drive those initial purchases, it’s the inherent value and quality of the product itself that truly resonates. This leaves a lasting impression.
It’s all about substance over style while acknowledging that style does have a part to play. Those captivating ads and persuasive messaging might reel customers in. But it’s the actual experience of using the product or service that determines their overall fulfilment.
And for businesses, this quote serves as a crucial reminder. Don’t prioritize superficial appeal over genuine value. Sure, the flashy marketing might generate interest, that is only for the short term though. It’s the quality of what you’re offering that’s going to determine your long-term success.
The “sizzle” in marketing serves a purpose in capturing and sparking initial interest. The sizzle generates curiosity and creates an emotional connection with the offering. It it the mouth watering phase that customers will expirence.
However, while the sizzle is important in grabbing attention, its ultimate purpose is to lead consumers to the “steak”. It is the substance or value proposition of the product or service. The steak represents the tangible benefits or qualities that fulfill the needs and desires of the consumer.
I want this quote to encourage businesses to stay grounded in substance, rather than getting caught up in the allure of their sizzle. Because it’s the steak that people will remember, long after the sizzle has faded.
See you next week for another reflection on the week’s learnings.
