Money magazine recently published an article on the most dangerous jobs in America. “Direct marketer” must be number 11, ‘cause it wasn’t listed among the top 10.
If you don’t think we rank up with timber cutters (1) or roofers (6) or electrical power installers (7) in terms of having a risky occupation, you’re not paying attention. Should the vitriol directed at the industry get any nastier, I’m going to contact the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and claim that we’re being hunted for our pelts.
Where did all of this animosity come from? Consumers wanted a federal do-not-call list and they got it. That should have been the end of it. But I suspect that people are reacting to tough economic times by striking out at an easy target. And our elected leaders in Washington aren’t doing a hell of a lot to discourage the nastiness, as it beats focusing on the country’s real troubles.
But if the level of aggression doesn’t scale back soon, we’re going to have to replace the term “he went postal” with “his number was dialed one time too many.”
I welcome a dialog on this, but sure wish it could be conducted at a reasonable volume. If you see me at any of the upcoming marketing conferences, be sure to stop me and let me know – at a decibel level appropriate to, say, High Mass rather than a motorcycle club rally – your feelings.
I should be easy to identify: I’ll be the one in the Kevlar nametag.
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