Several years ago, I was in a local Subway restaurant, and was offered a small bite of their new brownie to try.\u00a0 I hate brownies – one must have milk with them.<\/p>\n
But it was a small piece.<\/p>\n
Lo and behold, the free sample resulted in me purchasing\u00a0 four brownies to share with people who were coming to the house.\u00a0 They were that good.<\/p>\n
Similarly, I used to do lots of work on the computer at the local Panera coffee shop.\u00a0 I usually ordered coffee, but every now and then it’s a great lunch escape.\u00a0 At the time, their free samples of bread at the door lets me consider something new instead of simply resorting to “the usual.”<\/p>\n
The latest brain research shows that once your mind formulates a “yes or no” decision regarding a choice, it will formulate reasons (whether valid or not) as to why that choice is the right one (whether it is or not).<\/p>\n
Fifteen years ago, research showed that there are up to nine reasons on the average that are created in support of the position taken.\u00a0 Ten years ago, that number had increased to thirteen, and today one’s brain can think of ALL kinds of reasons why one’s current decisions are the “right” ones – whether or not they are associated with proven truths or facts.<\/p>\n
Why is this important?\u00a0 It takes that same number of exposures simply to begin to be open to a new idea, or a change in ideas.<\/p>\n
Think of it this way – each exposure shoots down one of those “sentient” ideas created by our subconscious mind.<\/p>\n
The bottom line to this is that if you really want to be open to all possibilities, say to yourself, “That’s interesting,” rather than choosing a positive or negative stance.\u00a0 A positive or negative response to a stimulus triggers the brain to seek out and evaluate supporting positions for one’s current mindset.\u00a0 Once an opinion is formulated, it takes constant exposures to different information to simply begin to break through the decision that the brain has reached for you.<\/p>\n
It makes sense from a biblical perspective, too. “Say ‘Yes’ when you mean yes and ‘No’ when you mean no” really means that when you take either position, your brain is automatically generating reasons why your stance is a valid one – regardless of whether your position is based on truth, rumor, conjecture or blatantly false information.<\/p>\n
Now you know why people who want to believe “fake news” do so, even when refuted with scientific evidence to the contrary.<\/p>\n
Such findings certainly puts political rhetoric and viewpoints into perspective, doesn’t it.<\/p>\n
Indeed, THAT’s why there are so many commercials out there, offering a rationale as to why the ads for ANYTHING just seem to keep multiplying, as well as impacting you from all different directions.<\/p>\n
It’s also why marketing messages about your school have to be consistent and constant.<\/p>\n
But what’s this got to do with free samples?<\/p>\n
The only other way the mind will change is when is it jarred into a personally\u00a0 uncomfortable position.\u00a0 We see this when people have nothing to say about their school until someone says that their school is closing.<\/p>\n
On a greater scale,\u00a0 it’s one thing for people to say they’re concerned about the unemployed, the\u00a0 struggling, or people adversely affected by the economy or, as we’ve seen, acts of violence and hatred carried out in our local communities and our world – until they suddenly find THEY are one of the unemployed, the struggling, a person adversely affected by the economy or a family member or friend of someone injured or killed by violence.<\/p>\n
On a smaller scale, let’s take a look at your school.\u00a0 Just as walking into a Panera and having a different style of bread offered to me when I walk through the door forces me our of my comfort zone immediately, what would happen if you as a school administrator, teachers, parents and children were standing outside the door after Mass or Sunday services, and offered parents with young children a month of free tuition at your school?<\/p>\n
Want to try it?<\/p>\n
Print up coupons and have a table and a big sign that says “One Month for FREE.”\u00a0 Advent wreathes are sold there; hoagies from the cheerleading squads are sold there; even the Boy Scouts sell popcorn there.\u00a0 So, why not a “Try it\u00a0 for 30 days on us” opportunity?\u00a0 Granted, this might not work with children in grades 3 through 12 when the social aspects of school start to kick in, but for those in Kindergarten and First Grade, it might be worth a shot.\u00a0 Aggressive?\u00a0 Yes – however, you have\u00a0 a product that you know is THE place for the whole child to be formed!<\/p>\n
But you have to bring sound marketing principles into it.\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t just do it for one week, and then say it didn’t work.\u00a0 Just like the “never-ending political campaign,” try it for at least 9 weeks – perhaps now through the end of the year to prepare you for the second semester.\u00a0 Those 9 exposures, especially around the holidays and the mid-year break might be just what’s needed to overcome those 9 reasons parents’\u00a0 brains have created telling them it’s the right choice for their child not to be in your school.<\/p>\n
More on brain research next week – including an experiment with the sense of smell.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2008-2023 (Original Publication Date:\u00a0 20081027)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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