*Yawn* Cookie Cutter Marketing

I’ve heard it all by now. A friend sent me a message about an upcoming event and mentioned several authors, one of whom I said I did not follow his work.  I wrote, “I know who that (popular and famous) author is, I am not a fan of that whole genre of mass marketing, however I know it’s valuable as some can only “get” an idea once it’s been rehashed and diluted down to a homeopathic dose.   Being in the business, I am at the receiving end of many authors and publicists and get everyone’s promotional material. I see what the market gets flooded with and am amused at what and who becomes popular with the buying public, and why.”  I was referring to one of the writers who became popular after The Secret came out.

I’m talking about the second version, the revised The Secret which left out Abraham-Hicks — without which, ironically, there was no secret.   Many of the teachers in the revised movie all subsequently came out with similar product lines, coaching services, paid subscribers, online conferencing, seminars and courses.   Since I’m on everyone’s mailing list, I see everything that comes in and recognize the cookie cutter nature of it.  Yes, in the midst of the hype and crazy costs there are some gems to be found, but nothing new by any means.   So much of the language used is self promoting.   No true and relevant “teacher” has to constantly drum into you what an expert they are and “wait until you hear this next lesson, it will blow your mind” and  constantly solicit you.  That is just someone who has been taught that the way to make money is to hype everything way up.  Write a 100 word message then have another author at the same publishing house — more famous than you — endorse it and another write the intro and a few more on the back cover.  Then have your rep promote it to the right people and voila ~ you can become an expert too.

 7-21-12 Note: I wrote the above as a draft several years ago and just now discovered it.  I’m struck by how critical and complaining I am in it.  I know I’ve let myself out of the flow anytime I am in a whining mode, and the way back in is to find the better feeling thought, find something to appreciate, step into the Now moment and silence myself enough so I may fully experience the vastness of the very moment.  Just make myself sit and breathe it in. And having said that, despite the first part being written by the critical lower s self,  I publish this post anyway.  My mind is always subject to change upon the further illumination of my consciousness.

RELATED:  Andrea’s meditation links