I agree with you, but I’m so torn. I believe creatively promoting your product, or any product you really believe in, is appropriate and I would encourage it. That being said…there is no way to draw a black and white line on what would qualify as malicious mental hijacking like mentioned above and an earnest creative attempt to persuade someone that what you are offering is awesome except having a solid moral compass. Pure intentions by the seller, and promoting awareness (which I think you exemplify in your experiences in this post) are the keys to noble buying and selling. I’m encouraged because most lifestyle designers I’ve come across seem to have that knowledge.

Are your intentions to earn as many dollars as you can, and sell some stuff, or to create value and meaning, then make some dollars? Thanks as usual for making me think. The site redesign is bangin too. .-= Robert´s last blog ..The Workflow of Work | Momentum Building =-.

It's like Bill Gates telling people not to drop out of college, yet that's what he did. Spielberg telling people to not hassle studio executives, yet that's what he did. Richard Branson telling teenagers not to set up their own businesses and not to take risks, yet that's what he did.

Ok maybe there is a bias in that we only hear about the successful 'risk takers' and not the ones that lost it all. Still you have to take some risks in life in order to get ahead.

Just want to point out that you are not alone in this kind of 'fake it till you make it' approach.

The most memorable case I can think of is Steven Spielberg who found an unused office in a hollywood studio and turned up every day with a briefcase (in which he kept his lunch).

Reminds me of: 'Be, Do, Have'

My problem isn't with you or anyone selling a book. I hope to sell a few books myself some day soon. My biggest problem is when marketers use less-than-honest techniques. For example, when Toyota launched the Yaris, they paid MadTV to do a sketch parodying it. There wasn't a disclaimer mentioning that the parody was actually a paid advertisement. Most marketers encourage parody because any exposure, even "negative" exposure, really just promotes the brand. This subliminal highjacking of our mental landscapes is unacceptable.

Still, though, I think rewarding yourself by buying objects (tangible or intangible) isn't a particularly good habit to pick up since it reinforces this concept of "more is better". Buying an experience is much more acceptable. The costs of a day trip are secondary to the experience. I think the less we buy, though, the better off we are, the more content we are.

By the way, if there's something I might buy in the near future, it'd be InDesign. I'm really getting into typography and the printing process. I'll have to download the trial and just play around with it.

I'm also happy to learn that I'm not the only one who had an imaginary motorcycle!