One of the lessons in The Forbidden Keys to Persuasion focuses on the power of context.  The reason is simple: context is one of the most overlooked aspects of communication.  Especially persuasive communication. 

People often spend far more time and money honing the specifics of their message than they do contemplating the frame around their message.  In other words, context gets lost in our effort to polish and perfect our messages. Yet, if the context itself is weak or confusing, all the detail work in the world will be for naught.

Many people dismiss this idea in their rush to concentrate on more important issues. 

“What should they say?” 

” How should they say it?”

“What should they include?”

“What should they exclude?”

These are important questions – but ONLY once the issue of context has been addressed.  Until a context has been chosen, these decisions cannot be made with any degree of accuracy.

I just stumbled upon a short video that might help drive this point home. It’s a remake of a movie trailer for The Shining, Stanley Kubrick’ classic horror film.  It uses actual clips and dialog from the original film but places them within a context of a “family comedy.”  The result is very funny and most people will get a quick laugh and then keep on surfing.  But if you’e looking to learn something, it can actually teach you something very powerful.  It can help you appreciate the power of context.

Take a look and see what a difference a little thing like context can make:

The Shining – A Comedy the Whole Family Can Enjoy

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If you liked what you just read, you will love what you discover in The Forbidden Keys to Persuasion.  Click the title to learn more.

P.S. In case you haven’t heard about him yet, Blair Warren is a television producer, writer, marketing consultant and self described “voracious student of human nature”. He’s been working in the field of television production and marketing for nearly 20 years, producing over 300 half-hour episodes and nearly 50 one-hour episodes of niche programming. Blair has also worked on countless commercials, promotional tapes and marketing campaigns for such clients as Diamond Shamrock, La Quinta Inns and Suites, The Cancer Therapy and Research Center, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Old Milwaukee Beer.

During a brief hiatus from television (92-94), Blair was a Programmer Analyst for Shell Oil, where he worked on high-level computer system designs as well as provided technical field support for some of their refineries onsite computer systems. He said, “While I loved the work, I soon found myself longing for the excitement, unpredictability and freedom that television had provided me, so I hung up my programmer hat and haven’t looked back”.

The move has allowed Blair to not only exercise his creative side but has given him ample time to pursue his near-obsessive fascination with human nature.

Blair created The Forbidden Keys to Persuasion  as a six week e-class taught in 2003 and 2004 for as much as $1,950.  (Now it is available as an affordable e-book. Click here to view more details.)

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