The Universal Attraction of Halloween
Halloween is coming in 29 days.
It’s a day that many kids (and adults) love.
And it’s not just because of the candy.
It’s because of the costumes.
It’s one day of the year when we all get to dress up and pretend we’re someone we’re not.
(Unless you’re an actor or actress, then you get to do that a lot more often than the rest of us!)
I haven’t dressed up for many years, but as a kid I loved dressing up in a costume for Halloween.
And I am thinking that I just might get into the spirit this year and dress up when we go out trick-or-treating with my three sons.
Halloween is fun, but can I be serious for a second?
Our Tendency to Wear Masks
Many of us try to wear “masks”, of some kind or another, the other 364 days of the year.
We play a “role” so that people will believe we are who we want them to believe we are.
We act a certain way, we talk a certain way and we dress a certain way, all based on the image we want people to have of us
What is it about us that makes us, by default, want to conceal who we really are?
- Is it fear of rejection?
- Is it the desire to be liked or accepted?
- Is it shame of who we really are?
Whatever the reason, it is a common tendency we all have.
We think it’s the best way to live.
We think it works.
But we’re wrong. It doesn’t.
The Magnetic Attraction of Raw Honesty
You see, there is a sad truth about all of this mask-wearing and role-playing that we do.
The sad truth is that the most important person we’re fooling is ourselves.
What do I mean?
We’re fooling ourselves if we think that wearing a mask and playing a role is the best way to live.
It’s not.
Think about it.
There is something about raw, genuine honesty that is so powerful and compelling.
It’s refreshing. It breaks through the static of all the pretenders out there.
Pay attention closely.
I am about to give you a surprising and powerful example as proof.
Honesty is the Reason This Comedian Isn’t Funny
I want you to watch this video below.
If you do, you’ll discover how powerful honesty can be.
But I have two warnings before you watch this video:
1. It’s not short. It’s 9:22 long. It won’t seem that long, but it will take almost ten minutes of your time.
2. It ‘s gut-wrenching and sad. You probably will be brought to tears. I was.
But watching it will help you understand and really FEEL the impact of what I am about to tell you next.
And after you experience this video, you’ll more deeply understand why you need to harness the power of authenticity in your content creation and content marketing.
The Content Marketer’s Secret Weapon: Being Authentic
Anthony Griffith is the comedian in this video who is tapping into the power of raw authenticity.
He lives in the mountains of California at 5,000 feet elevation in an animal protected community.
It’s much different from the inner city of Chicago where he used to live, but he still travels doing stand-up.
He says that the overwhelming positive response of him telling this extremely personal story at The Moth has prompted him to write his one man show and pen other short stories now in development.
This is what I want us to realize.
His decision to be brutally honest and authentic didn’t push people away.
It drew them in. (The video has been watched 1,262,365 the last time I checked.)
When you create content, don’t ever forget that there is something extremely powerful about being real and honest.
It’s much more compelling than the mask-wearing and role-playing.
The fact is, it’s the only way to really stand out.
And it’s the best way to attract those die-hard fans.
Fight the urge to be fake.
Be real.
Tell your whole story.
Don’t worry about the ones who walk away because of it.
They won’t compare to all the ones who stick around and share you and your content with the world.
P.S. Here is an example of how I’ve used this concept here in the past:
“The Day I Was Kidnapped (A True Story): A Business & Life Lesson”
Photo by Alaskan Dude
Related articles
- A Father’s Dream That Impacted The World And An Overlooked Content Marketing Form (recessionsolution,com)
- 12 Most Effective Ways To Create Irresistible Content (12most.com)
- Empathy And The Power Of Content Marketing Focused On Others (recessionsolution.com)
When Robert Bruce shared a link to my “21 Types of Content We Crave” infographic on Copyblogger he said this about it…
“In the relentless race to deliver what we think the Internet (or its citizens) want, we tend to get cute with our strategies and tactics. What’s forgotten is that people want the same things today as they/we did yesterday. We are an ancient race, and the elemental stories we crave — the ones that truly move us — haven’t changed in thousands of years. Nice reminder of that here, from Mr. Aughtmon.”
Click here to learn more about my
“21 Types of Content We Crave” webinar recording.
I’m a business strategist, consultant, content creation specialist, and speaker. I’ve been studying effective marketing and business methods (both online and offline) since 1999.
===> If you would like to see ways that we could work together, then please click here to learn more.
