Everyone's favorite four letter “F” word
There are many words in the English language that begin with the letter F but only one word will motive people to do crazy things. If you can imagine it, they will do it all for this four-letter F word.Do you know what this word is? I bet you’ve got a few guesses, maybe some you’re afraid to say; some that you’re thinking I wouldn’t dare blog about, but if you’re thinking about that word—you’d be wrong.
Over the years, I have discovered everyone’s favorite four-letter F word is FREE.
Yes, FREE. What other word in the English language inspires people to do just about anything for nothing?
Think about this. How many times have you walked by a sign that read: “FREE take one,” and you did. But you didn’t need that free pen or free yardstick. But you took it. Why? Because it was FREE! The four-letter F word made you do it.
This fascination with FREE has always made me wonder at what lengths people will go to receive something at no cost. Of course everyone likes to save money. But what intrigues me is that fact that society loves to get stuff, even horde stuff.
Stop and ask yourself what happens to that pen you picked up at the county fair, that yardstick? Do you use them?
How many pens does one person really need? I find myself using less and less pens. I use my Blackberry more and more and write less on paper. Pen and paper is becoming old-fashioned to me.
And what about those yardsticks; who uses those sticks? When I was a little girl, my grandparents had a corner full of those wicked, whacking sticks. I never saw them use the measuring tools. Those colored sticks just collected dust in the corner and were devices used to threaten to me with a quick whack on the behind if I got out of line. Those yardsticks could have surely stayed at the fairgrounds!
I’ve been working at fair booths for years, at GPI and other companies, and the result has always been the same. Tell someone it is FREE and if they want it or don’t want it, they will take it because it’s FREE.
Picture this: Two people begin to browse the items at the booth. Instantly, I can tell they are not really interested in what they see. But wait, it’s my job to make sure they take something with them. I’ve got to push my product. OK, I’m in a dilemma here. After some small talk and nothing really working, I pull out the big gun, the F word.
“Go ahead and help yourself,” I say. “Anything on the table is free. Feel free to take a pen or brochure with you.”
The first lady looks at the other, crinkles her nose but then she does it. Yes, I’ve got her. She picks up a pen and two brochures, stuffs them in her bag, thanks me and moves on.
She didn’t want anything but I said it was FREE. And immediately, she picked up stuff. She had to have it, because it’s FREE.
The word FREE is like crack to an addict. As I ponder this more and more, I think it is a sad commentary on our society. We want and want and want. Nothing is ever enough. Whether we are man or woman enough to admit it, it’s true. We live in a give-me society. And the word FREE feeds this addiction.
So the next time you see the word FREE and you really don’t need what is being offered, I challenge you to think twice before taking it.
But then, I’m just offering you some FREE advice.