Right around Thanksgiving, an avalanche of holiday-themed ads tumbles down on consumers as predictably as losing daylight right around five o’clock.
If you happen to be a football fan, the deluge of ads with an “of the season” theme for every good attached to your niche is particularly intense. (And one of the drawbacks of watching an event in real time.)
From heavy duty crew cab trucks to the newest iteration of the Smartphone, companies everywhere both large and small are finding a way make it crystal clear that if we come in today to buy their gadget or gizmo, we will enjoy some incredible “of the season” benefit (read: save tons of money).
But hurry — this offer won’t last long.
It’s no coincidence that words like “hurry” and “rush” often bookend that three word phrase in a 30-second commercial.
Those words work.
The beauty of framing events (and not just buying ones) in terms of a phrase like “of the season” lies in the urgency it creates. If we’re being honest, urgency is necessary if we are intent on making any kind of change, of getting things done. As much as we like to make noise about being penned in or not having the freedom we believe we are due, the truth is the results of our behavior are predicated on having clear limitations set for us by either an external or internal force.
From losing a few pounds to improving relations with a friend or loved one, tacking on “of the season” to any initiative can accelerate desired outcomes in a short amount of time.
Boundaries deliver.
As with any approach, though, there are exceptions. Short-term thinking isn’t always the best way to frame a goal. Which is why it’s important to be super clear about the intentions behind any endeavor before setting out on a course of action.
Choose wisely. But choose.
