Success... or Just the ILLUSION of Success?

Having been in business for myself for many years — and having been "inside" a large number of mostly smaller businesses — I am often given to reflect on the way the illusion of success is often more important than success, itself.

The "sales pitch" is often that a business is doing really well, even though things behind the scenes actually suck and they are on the edge of bankruptcy. Must keep up the illusion.

Orange bell flowers near my parents' house, Spain

What We Choose to Believe

When I had my last retail store, I would often get the inevitable "How's business?" from usually well-meaning individuals who liked to think they knew me.

I never had much hesitation in admitting that things were "so-so" when things were slow, but I remember many of my retail colleagues would eternally be talking about how amazing things were at their shops, even though I knew perfectly well that they were anything but.

Yes, I understand the basic psychology of it... people are less likely to feel confident about shopping at a place that seems to be teetering on the edge of insolvency. Even if those are the very businesses that could most use a few good sales to boost their bank account... and morale.

Late sun... and rain

Sales... and Lies

The whole thing makes me think about how often exaggeration and "story telling" are used to persuade people to do something they wouldn't ever do if they knew the underlying truth.

I think of such debacles as the "late, great" BitConnect that left a bunch of people pretty high and dry, because the entire premise was based on a good story that really didn't have much realistic truth to back it up.

And what do we do here?

Are the stories we have been told about Steem, Steemit and the vision for the Steem blockchain... the truth? Or a carefully manufactured tale that serves little more purpose than to keep people hanging on, and haning on, and hanging on in hopes of better days ahead?

Ironic, that I write these words as the Steem token is showing the first signs of "life" in many, many months...

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly

"Everything is Just FINE!"

In my late 20's and early 30's I lived in a part of Texas that experienced a serious regional recession (or "depression," even), and I remember well how many people went around talking like they were doing "just fine," while they were actually on the verge of heading to court for their Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing.

Who are we actually doing a favor by pretending that things are "fine" when they really are not? Are we trying to persuade ourselves? Or are we trying to convince other people? Or are we simply in denial, across the board?

Maybe the answer seems obvious to you, but I find myself thinking that if you actually knew someone was struggling to keep afloat, wouldn't that be a more compelling reason to help them than if you had no idea because they kept insisting that "everything is just FINE?"

Whereas we may have been told that we should always maintain a front of success, portraying the public image that we are doing well, I'd submit that it might not really be the best strategy get ourselves through the stormy waters of life.

Thanks for reading!

How about YOU? Do you tell people everything is "fine," even when it isn't? Or are you more honest about the general state of affairs? Have you ever owned or run a struggling business? How did you handle the "how's business" question? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!

(As always, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 190117 16:58 PST
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