Feelin' It

You may not realize this, but for most of us, when we buy something, we're not actually buying the THING with the price tag on it.

That new car we drive off the lot. That buzz cut or hairdo. The incredible meal we devoured at the local greasy spoon. The unforgettable vacation in the Tetons.

They are all things we dole out our precious money to purchase, but I would argue that the products and services we consume are simply a bonus, even a by-product of what we are actually paying for: a feeling.

Think about it. That incredibly juicy half-pound burger you wolfed down may have set you free, but if your server was rude, there's a chance you might not return. Your new coif may be the bomb, and you get all kinds of attention from your friends and co-workers, but if the stylist was annoying, or if she just didn't want to talk to (or listen to) you at all, you might look elsewhere for your hair care needs in the future.

The grocery store down the street may have incredible prices - maybe 20-25 percent cheaper than another store. But, if it's cluttered, or if the aisles are too narrow, or the music playing in the background isn't soothing, you'll sacrifice price for something more appealing.

The bottom line is we like to FEEL good. Yeah, we like a bargain. And, we like to get attention. And, we like to be entertained. But, much more than all of those things, we want to FEEL good while we are eating, spending, and living.

That's why stories are such a vital part of the success of any business or organization. People will be much more eager to buy into a story than they ever will to just a product. We all want to be a part of something much larger than ourselves. And, the biggest part of BEING a part of something is FEELING a part of something.

I mentioned this several months ago to some folks, but studies have shown that we remember:

• 10% of what we READ
• 20% of what we HEAR
• 30% of what we SEE
• 40% of what we DO

and

• 100% of what we FEEL

Take note as you go places, do things, and spend money. Analyze WHY you are actually going, doing, and spending. You may be surprised.

And, now that you realize that feeling good means so much to YOU, realize it means just as much to those around you each and every day!