Day 8 - 6:41 AM
I spent the last four few days preparing.
My website is ready for production and I have a basic plan of attack.
Meanwhile, I’d like to address a thing I personally like to refer to as “consumer apathy”.
Consumer apathy is the tendency for the consumer to lack any personal interest or empathy towards the seller or distributor of a service. It may sound terrible but it is natural.
If a person is engaged with your personal story or difficulties, they are not engaged with your product or service. If they are engaged with the well-being of your ego and feelings, they are not providing the brutal and honest feedback needed to produce quality and value in your product or service.
Yes, people can be gratuitously cruel or shallow, but that isn’t the point. The point is that we have been trained to receive modest compliment and ornamental award for our efforts rather than increased compensation and patronage.
Sure, dogs like a pat on the head and a treat, but that is not for wolves. Wolves want the meat - the venison, the roast, etc.
My point is, if you are out in the cold, don’t be faint due to the frost. Consumer apathy is the norm because the people coming for your products and services are in a variation of the hunter gatherer mindset. Their thoughts are: “what can you provide me with to trade for my value?”, not , “What can I mindlessly purchase to make you feel validated?”.
The best way to prepare to deal with consumers face to face is to indeed take cold showers. It is a somewhat metaphorical preparation, but it will give you the mental toughness to withstand the minor social discomfort you’ll feel while shaking off your old puppy tendencies.
-Barry B
Brushfair.com
Graphic Design & Illustration














