What’s your default answer to the question “How are you doing?” Do you say “fine,” “well,” “better than I deserve” or “doin’ grrrrrreat!”
Does your answer change if someone who really knows you asks the question? Would your honest answer be “overwhelmed” or “tired” or “doubtful” or “embarrassed”?
Yes, people look for solutions to their external problems. But people buy to make an internal problem go away. We don’t like to feel discomfort. We’ll do almost anything, and spend up to the top of our budget, to make uncomfortable feelings disappear.
And don’t think this just applies to therapists and life coaches. Every customer has an internal problem.
Let’s look at an asphalt paving company — not what you would think of as a “touchy-feely” business.
- External Problem: Asphalt is in disrepair and looks bad.
- Internal Problem: Frustrated and embarrassed by how it looks. Intimidated by the idea of fixing it themselves.
Now look at where those feelings (or their inverse) show up on their Website: