Edward Snowden is making waves and roughing political feathers.
He’s the guy all over the news for leaking top-secret information about government phone and Internet surveillance while employed as a private contractor for the NSA.
No matter how you feel about the whole ordeal – traitor or hero – there are a few things we can learn from Mr. Snowden (as a strategic entrepreneur, I look for lessons everywhere!).
Here you are:
1. You Can’t Please Everyone
By leaking information, Ed Snowden quickly became an enemy to TONS of people, and a hero to just as many others. People are viciously divided, but they are certainly talking…
Some people try to make a difference by being friends with everyone – trying to please everyone all the time – and they quickly realize they’re being forgotten or ignored.
If you want to create a raving fan base, you must be willing to take a stance to aggressively turn off everyone who doesn’t agree with you.
Just like with my Predictable Profits Insiders’ Club – the last person I want to be a Member is the get-rich-quick junky who’s addicted to chasing silver pennies. But if you’re a no holds-barred, do whatever it takes, serious entrepreneur – you’ll find your home here…
Snowden reminds us to be bold. Be different. Take a stance.
2. Controversy = Conversation
People can’t resist talking about a hot topic. From local gossip to international scandal, people just love to talk about controversy…
And this goes hand in hand with #1, but it’s not just about making friends and enemies…
No one would bat an eye at a headline that said “Lose Weight Through Diet and Exercise,” but they would jump at “Lose Weight With Big Macs Every Meal!”
Now that’s a pretty extreme example, but you see what I mean. When Snowden first spoke out, there was immediate controversy about his actions… People across the planet formed opinions, and in our super-connected world, they all had a chance to express them…
If a brand or company was to make a controversial claim (remember, controversial doesn’t mean “bad,” it just means something that stirs the pot… like an outrageous guarantee or a totally redesigned version of a popular product), people will start talking to each other about it… and that translates directly to word-of-mouth marketing!
3. Opinions Show People’s Values
The division of opinion over Ed Snowden’s actions shines some light on the nature of the people themselves…
The people who support Snowden likely want and value privacy – his opponents place a higher value on national security… Either way, this is some valuable insight into the larger principles, needs, and wants of these people that goes way beyond this particular event.
The same is true with reactions to marketing messages… and even customer reviews of your product or service. Reading between the lines of a particularly angry or enthusiastic message can tell you a lot about your prospects.
This is at the heart of getting to know your audience, because they aren’t necessarily going to volunteer their opinions about your products and services in direct language… You have to gauge their reactions and feedback, and put the big picture together yourself.
…And here’s a bonus tip that fits the theme of this article: lessons are everywhere. When you see a name in the news, an emerging fashion trend, when your friends talk about some hot new restaurant…
These are all opportunities for the strategic entrepreneur to learn something new about human behavior.
In your corner,
Charlie