Why Hope is a Seduction You Can’t Afford
by J.P. Micek · Filed Under: Tribal Seduction
We’ve all been told the virtues of having hope all our lives. God! We’ve bombarded with it this campaign season in the US. But hope is a scam. And it’s one you better understand if you’re going to succeed… in business and in life. Strap yourself in cause we’re going way beyond marketing today.
You’ve probably heard it said that hope is the only thing you can have when facing a crisis. I say BS! Yeah, yeah… blasphemy. I know, I know. Send your letters and emails to….
But follow me here for a minute. It WILL change your business…and your life!
What I just said flies in the face of all you hold as “true.” But where did that belief come from. You or someone else?
For example, over the last 6-months we’ve been bombarded through the media by a “message of hope” from one presidential candidate. The campaign has been a textbook application of Tribal Seduction principles magnified by mainstream media. Now many people think “hope” is the answer. And that is dangerous.
Dangerous! Hope!? Why?
Well, what is hope? Has it ever done one bit of good?
No! Hope is a “wish” for something. A wish that something will happen the way you want. But it could just as easily not. So hope is grounded in uncertainty, doubt, and fear.
Doubt me? Then “hope” the sun will come up tomorrow. “Hope” you’ll have enough money to pay your bills this month. “Hope” you’ll have good health tomorrow. “Hope” you don’t get hit by a car as you cross a street today.
How do you feel now? Like crap right?
Well, snap out of it…
Drop the hope and make it faith
Faith is grounded in absolute certainty. Faith is “knowing” that something is going to happen. You know it in your heart.
Look, as I sat here this morning watching the sun rise over the Pacific, I thought “what a difference from yesterday.” Yesterday started as a crappy day. As I started the day I was pounded by one problem after another. I was frustrated that we’re so close on a project, but yet there were seemingly insurmountable roadblocks in the way.
My focus was there, on my problems and frustration. All I could do is hope. And hope didn’t help me at all. Then Deb and I talked. As usual, spewing the crap that’s in my head out onto the floor acted like a mental diuretic. Only then was I able to drop the hope and muster up faith. And faith is what allowed me to take action.
It’s been said that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. No prophet, no Scripture, and certainly God never said that about hope.
If I stayed in the land of hope, I’d still be the same today. Sitting in the same state waiting for something magical to happen. Waiting for God, government or someone else to come and make something happen for me.
If you’re sitting there “hoping” for more business or a better life — it aint gonna happen.
No, the answer is faith in yourself. Faith in your family. Faith in your fellow citizens. Faith in God. These are the things that will give you the courage to act. And ACTION is the only thing that will change your life.
What will you choose?
I know the sun will come up tomorrow. I have faith in it. I know there will be enough money to pay the bills at the end of the month, because I have faith in my ability to give value and thereby generate cash. I have faith in it and can take it to the bank.
But I also have faith that most people are smart enough to make the shift from hope to faith, get the certainty they need, and take action to change their lives. Are you one of those people?
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John Paul Micek is a co-founder of the international business coaching company RPM Success Group ® Inc. He and his partner Deborah Micek are authors of the hit book Secrets Of Online Persuasion, and creators of the BLOG i360™ New Media Marketing Site Creater. |
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18 Responses to “Why Hope is a Seduction You Can’t Afford”
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wow – you really moved me w/ this morning’s post!
I’m reminded of all those days walking up from the downstairs office and seeing the ocean when I reached the top of the stairs – wondering – will this be my last month we’re able to live in Hawaii?
Walking from one side of the great room to the other – trying to absorb every last image, “hoping” it wouldn’t be my last. Then snapping out of it, and having faith that “this too shall pass” during the rough times, and having faith that we WILL make it with a lil help from our friends and from God.
Thanks for the reminder of what gear to kick in when all hope is gone – and you need something more…
oh – and happy 2 B your sounding board 2
Let me pick up my jaw real quick…very interest post man!
I think faith is extremely important as it pertains to “hope.” Hope might mean different things to different people but the scriptures say…”Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.”
“Substance” comes from the world “Hupostasis,” which literally means, assurance & confidence.” So faith is that ‘assurance/confidence’ in what you’ve hoped for. The problem is, people are having the faith in the wrong things, the wrong people, and for sure not in themselves.
Your Faith & your Hopes need to need to be aligned with the right things or else you’re right JP, hope becomes a scam!
That post took my breath away. You generally have good things, helpful things to say but I physically felt the impact of this one – very profound. We have been taught to value hope too highly and people are lulled into magical thinking and stop short of faith and success. Thank you. I feel empowered.
@CoachDeb Thanks for being the Motivation MD
Alejandro — proving why you are the SuccessFool.
Scriptures are always cut into sound bites to suit agendas. It’s amazing what you find when you read things in context.
And you’re absolutely correct, faith in yourself is priority #1. The saying that God helps those who help themselves is true. There are some people who really need the help of others, but they’re the minority. Too many people are looking for hope and a handout. They’ve given up and given over control of their lives to those “in power.”
What’s more, many of the people who “appear” to need a hand-out would rather have a hand-up. And sorry, but hope is not in that equation.
Sheri – I’m humbled by your comments. Thank you.
Awesome…
let’s face it hope is easy. Doesn’t require any change. Change requires action.
As long as you keep hoping, you can blame somebody else and stay the victim.
When things aren’t going well, hope sounds nice. But hope is empty box wrapped in pretty paper and topped off with a box.
Once again thanks for your inspiration
Ann Rusnak
“The Time Diva”
hope IS a good thing. I hope Obama starts talking about what it is I should hope for instead of leaving us to figure out what the connection between him and Reverend Wright is or what he meant about bitter white dudes with guns and religion. Last I checked I didn’t have a gun and I’m white and unemployed.
I don’t have “hope” in Obama, I don’t have “faith” in Obama, but I do like the sound of a person who can apologize and realize they were wrong once in a while. I have faith that there is a candidate that can formerly apologize and go into detail about what they did wrong. I have hopes that the people will realize that bad people do bad things on the good guy side.
That is why we have apologies, but apologies can’t be bundled up with an argument that your mistake is a diversion. Your apology is an apology. I have seen John McCain apologize. I have seen him do the wrong thing and admit it unconditionally. I have seen John McCain when he made a mistake go out of his way to fix it. That is the real change we are looking for.
Another aspect to hope vs faith is the reciprocity factor. Hope is, for the most part, egocentric.
Faith, on the other hand, goes both ways. I have faith that I will continue to learn immense things from you and CoachDeb. But I also know that you have faith in your clients that they will prosper.
So, there’s where I think faith beats hope hands down. But don’t get me started on the last sister, chastity.
DrTodd, TheAptitudeDoc
http://www.MapYourAptitude.com
Noah — apologies help. And action means much more. But maybe you just aren’t getting it cause you’re clinging to your guns, God and bigotry.
Seriously though, to quote another promoter of “hope,” — I feel your pain. (”Hope” that makes you feel less bitter now?)
Dr Todd — ooooooo…. I love that! You hit it right on the nose!!! “Hope is, for the most part, egocentric.”
Wow! You are right. I have said for years to my clients and sales teams and individuals “Hope is NOT a strategy!” the number of conversations that begin with “I hope…” is just mind blowing. You said it, ACTION is what makes things happen. Hope just makes you feel bad when your hopes are dashed. Action makes you feel like you are in control. If I have faith that I OWN my destiny, i don’t need to hope that something will happen. I just make a plan, act on the plan and readjust if it doesn’t work. Thank you! Great post.
[...] so. Her husband wrote a great article that anyone who has had a bad day should read. Take a look at Why hope is a seduction you cant afford and let me know what you think. Why is this important in sales? Hope is not a strategy. [...]
Great post.
So for example instead of saying ” I hope bob the programmer is done with his script on X date ” I should instead say. I have faith that he will be done on X date or sooner!
Come on Bob… I have faith in you!
Great post. Faith always leads to action…one guy said “faith without works (action) is dead”. You’re right on target!
Faith, hope and love are inextricably bound together. I don’t think you’re suggesting we all should give up hoping, because that flies in the face of this interconnected trio.
Hope has its place, but if I’m hearing you correctly, it’s where most people stop, instead of moving on into faith. Where this action fits in with love, is probably highly individual, yet it’s called “the greatest of these.”
I’m not sure it’s as simple as “loving what we do.” More likely, at least in this context, it’s a matter of taking action motivated by love of something greater than ourselves.
I don’t think this subject is one that can be summarized in a single article and definitely not a comment. But you did a brilliant job of shifting our focus from only hoping to having faith. In other words BELIEVING, knowing with certainty, and living a life that demonstrates that faith – never wavering, never doubting.
Powerful. Thank you.
Deb Gallardo
I forgot to ask you – conventional IM wisdom, based on the psychology of the buying mentality, is to sell “hope.” Revlon’s founder said they didn’t sell lipstick, they sold the hope that the lipstick would make a woman beautiful.
So where does that leave us as marketers? If we don’t cling to hope ourselves, do we then turn around and sucker our customers into buying hope? “Buy my product and reach all your dreams.”
If so, let’s hope they don’t get hold of this article! LOL
I value your reaction to this.
Deb Gallardo
Hey, Aloha Deb!
Re: Hope playing a role, I’ll refer to Alejandro’s comments above. He hit the mark on this point:
As far as the Revlon example, there was a basis for hope there. They make a product, that when used properly, will make a woman more attractive.
The key here once again is that hope (in what will be gained), is backed by a solid product (the lipstick). But the key is having enough faith to buy the product (action #1) and actually use it (action #2), and get guidance on how to use it better (action #3).
The hole in the strategy for the Obama campaign is that “hope” is tied to “change” and faith in a “savior.” It’s powerful for the unthinking masses. But the fact is there is no action plan for believers to help make a change other than put all hope in a “savior.” I believe that is called dependency, not hope.
Yet another reason why I LOVE working with RPM Success. The insight is so powerful and enlightening.
When I was reading this, I was mentally interchanging hope with fear. If you live in fear, you’re blinded by that fear without the faith that it is in your power to overcome it. If you live in hope, you’re blinded in the idea that the problem will take care of itself. I heard a quote somewhere – “Faith and Fear cannot exist in the heart at the same time.” And with this I learned that “FAITH” can clear even the murkiest haze of being passively hopeful or passively fearful.
Bottom line, I choose Faith!
JP,
I totally agree that hope should be released. I see hope as a passive thing that makes us feel better for a short period of time.
Faith is required but the most important is action. As in, Faith without works is dead. Hope never requires action.
Never hear anybody say things like, “I hoped my way to health”, “I hope my way to wealth,” “I hoped my way to marrying my soulmate,” or “I hoped my way to live in O’ahu Hawa’ii”.
It is right to give up hope and pick up action.
Good post.
Susie – we’re blessed to have you working with us! Glad I can still “wow” you even though you’re dazzled by my brilliance on a daily basis. LOL
Darwin – True, true “Hope never requires action.” Which is exactly why hope on its own is so dangerous. It is the expectation that someone OUTSIDE yourself will save you. Even God doesn’t expect us to sit around and “hope” he shows up. If you are capable of helping yourself, he expects you to take some type of action to back up that hope.