Real Deals Changing Lives: Robotic Marketing & 'The Greening of America'

As anyone who reads this blog knows, it’s about helping others. Whatever I find that’s beneficial, I post. I’ve removed some things because technology has moved past these tools, or they turned out to be something I found useless. And I’m ever looking for solutions that are not on the beaten path necessarily. I don’t have to tell you about Internet phones, or automated email. You can simply find those kinds of things anywhere online. No, I’m after something else. Perhaps you could say I’m after the personal touch. The hope that what I share makes a difference. And today I want to vent some frustration. By doing this, perhaps you will understand how strongly I feel about helping people change their lives.

The Internet is synonymous with cutting edge technology, and that's how the big corporations are approaching the traffic led to their sites. And, encouraging every marketer on the planet to do the same. Whether with Adwords, SEO's, automated email, instant communication tools (I suppose so you can hurry up and answer a question, get a sign up, and move on to the next customer), or whatever form of reaching the most people the fastest, in the furtherest reaches of the universe. Yep, the big companies are all for the newest ways to make a buck, faster and faster. It feels like we're running in place in front of our computers. I envision the gofers with lasers on their rollers blades now days. And the clamor for attention is rising to a dull din.

Who are these “big” companies spurning on this faster and faster, better and better ways and means to generate a buck? They’re the same ones that thirty years ago were the young lions of their day… the revolutionary, the visionary, the flower power people who didn’t dig the commercialization or The Greening of America**. The same who have forged ahead and changed with the seasons, because after all, the times they are a changing… Indeed. Changing for what? Into what? Pretty soon we will have robots doing all our business for us. I suppose that will mean we can move even faster into other forms of generating leads.

Then there’s the Mentor movement happening out there again. They have The Best Arrangement. The Best Business. The Most to offer… so you too can become an instant millionaire (while making them instant billionaires, I suspect). Assistance is wonderful. But these mentors so called are alleging that they and they alone have the answers. If you do exactly what they say and how they say it you too will be successful like them. It looks like good old fashioned brain washing to me. And this kind of thinking goes to the philosophy that people are stupid. I myself think people are smart. And they are darn well smart enough to think for themselves.

I can’t help being cynical. I think how far and how fast we have moved, and how truly disconnected we have become. Disconnected should be the mantra today. Not make the customer happy. Not work hard to earn your cash. Not give back to help the greater good of our society. No, it’s moving faster – that disconnected mantra of get more, get it faster, and get by whatever means you can get it. It’s: Hurry~! Hurry~! Hurry~! And if you can, do it through your voice mail, fax, Skype conversation, automated conference (pre-recorded) the better, or whatever technological miracle machine you can use to get the business.

And, these things are great to use. They’re fun and interesting. And demonstrate the times in which we live. That’s good, really. But, what about making a friend or two? How about a trusted partner? Are there really organizations out there that want to help marketing business professionals succeed while using the personal touch? Do we have any patience anymore? Can we see something through to the end and be happy we worked hard and long on a project, without having to get instant gratification and move on even quicker to the next buyer of whatever we are selling? Doesn’t there need to be some kind of balance between technology and the human touch? I think so.

I love my computer too. But have found few people interested in stopping and talking to me on a one on one basis. And forget it if you have questions. The attitude is that there’s plenty out there to use to get answers on your own. Why bother with those who are not ‘with it’ enough to ‘keep up’. (‘However, for a cost of approximately $300.00 a month, we will be glad to let you in on our trade secrets and marketing strategies’).

The Old Fashioned Notions?

Be Available – I actually talk to people on the Phone!
Have Patience - Take time to Help People
Listen and be Willing to Learn- For goodness sake, you are not the guru of the universe Enough with the mentorship already
Respect Others - Realize everyone has something to contribute
Treat People Kindly - Allow people to express their emotions!

When I am frustrated, I cry! Or, when I am happy, I cry! – Its called being ‘Human’...Get Over it! The reason for writing this is because of actual experiences I have had in the last six or so months. I’ve spent hours listening to conference calls, talked to marketing professionals new and old, and have received numerous offers from automated email telling me I must do this or do that. I wonder sometimes, when is this trend going to end? I suppose that as a society we have forgotten that technology is a tool. It is Not The One controlling the show. We are human beings and need to remember that the people seeking to improve their lives, (you know- the one you blew off because they were too green, or too slow or too stupid – you know- the one you hung up on, or lied to about having a meeting to go to – that same one) are human beings too. Don’t we have any respect for that anymore?