A friend and I were discussing the James Ray International Spiritual Warrior Retreat sweat lodge incident when she made the observation that this had to happen. I was somewhat taken back because I can see no reason why the death of three innocent people is ever necessary.
Perhaps it was time for a wake up call to both leaders and self-help consumers.
Anyone who has attended their share of personal or professional development workshops can see that James Ray is not alone in his techniques. Granted, I have not attended his Warrior Camp, but I have attended other seminars he has given and he follows the formula. If you take away the wilderness aspect you will find that many of today’s leading self-help gurus and marketing teams use subtle coercive persuasion techniques in their content delivery. Mr. Ray apparently took his techniques a little too far. For an excellent analysis of this see Dave Lakhani’s post: event:http://su.pr/2iD4DT
Here’s the typical flow: You arrive full of expectancy and seeking answers. Leaders (sellers) have a captive audience who wants to have what they perceive this particular guru has, be it more money, better selling marketing, or speaking, techniques, peace of mind, spiritual clarity, a better way to reach clients, etc. The sell, or continued pitch, plays on the feelings of inadequacy, pain, and the tendency of many during these challenging economic and uncertain times of change to look ANYWHERE for some INSTANT relief.
One of the benefits of studying the mind, language and how language is used to change the mind is that I can spot the techniques they embed in their delivery. Many of these people have paid top dollar for instructional design specialists to create a day that is ripe to lead to back of the room sales for the next life altering event or support materials to use back at home or the office.
When the seminar is over, I guarantee they aren’t standing in back of the room asking their team “How many lives did we change?” Make no mistake. They are asking their team “How much money did we make?”
I don’t begrudge anyone selling or making money, even though I might sound a little sour here. I recognize people are in business and in business sales equal profit. However, I do have some question about the manner in which persuasion is combined with fatigue to generate sales and to keep people reaching into their wallets often throughout these events. I have noted a trend of placing a big buying opportunity late at night when people arguably lack clarity and are unable to think as clearly as they should. And yes, this is a purposeful, planned culmination to the day.
Of course, there is the whole scarcity bit put into the pitch so that if you don’t act then, the offer, that opportunity, and that price will go away. Combine that with the group think that was created throughout the day, and before you know it, the end of a day designed for personal or professional growth looks like a piranha pond at feeding time as people trample over each other at that back of the room to purchase their next “magic bullet” .
I want to place some responsibility on the consumer here. A blogpost recently asked if others were tired of the constant pitch fest going on Twitter, Facebook, and a particular Ning site by people in the professional/personal growth field.
Stop whining and start thinking. They are business people, first and foremost looking to meet their goals. You do not surrender your free will when you dial a number, surf the web, or step through the door of a seminar room. If you elect to attend an event, you have paid good money to be there. It is your responsibility to take care of yourself and make sure you get what you need, and that you don’t leave with what you don’t need.
There is no one in charge of you and your mind except you. Ultimately, you are always at choice unless you choose to give up your right to choice. The one thing I have yet to see at a seminar is people tied to their seats or handcuffed to the door until they make a purchase.
So why did this incident have to happen? Maybe it’s a wake-up call for those of us who are always looking to others for answers. Maybe it is an opportunity for those of us who lead to look at how we exercise our authority and the ultimate impact of our power.
The bottom line is the wisdom we all need does not rest with someone else. It’s not out there wrapped in the next product or program we purchase. It is within.
Tags: James Ray, Mind Control, Sweat lodge, The Secret
COMMENTS: 1 Comment
Excellent post. Your points are strong and well reasoned. I’m thrilled to see you getting people to think about this.
Dave Lakhani
Author – Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want