July 23, 2006
-
Perception
Looking at where I've been, what I have done, seen, heard, and experienced, I realize how vital perception can be. I am not talking about keeping up appearance, but rather using the way people think things are to your favor and how these difference can be simply astounding.
If you pitch an idea to change the structure of an entity and reshape the organizational structure those who want to keep the status quo will go apeshit. They will call the change poorly thought out, ask for detailed plans on the restructuring, and ask why again and again until they get an answer they can twist to suit their own purposes. In this type of change you are fighting an uphill battle against those who want to keep things the way they are and those that don't see any problem with the current system. Obviously the latter category, which is often the larger category, is were you can find the swing voters. Once the plans for change come out, the race is on and whoever can get to the most first people will have the best chance. The first side to put out a propaganda campaign with a clear plan of action will most likely win its way. Even when reports are proven to be totally incorrect, the first believable thing people hear or read resonates with them. The fact there was a report from the Air Force about aliens in Roswell has kept the "controversy" alive for generations. In this type of PR dogfight, you have to quickly get a feasible story to as many people as possible and preemptively counter the oppositions plans. Sleeper agents often come into play in these situations. The more people you can plant in boardrooms, lunchrooms, meeting rooms, at the bar, and anywhere else people congregate to talk about issues the better off you will be.
I was going to go into a bit about mass media here but that's been done 6 ways from Sunday already.
If you hear hoof beats think "I better go see what that is"
