June 3rd, 2007
ABC 20/20 has Mannatech in the news...
In an ABC 20/20 segment (See "Sugar Pill Treats Cancer?") Mannatech is in the news again.
I have removed the original post, because it was probably not productive criticism on my part.
Here's what might be more productive:
How do we answer trick questions by the media so we don't get into trouble with the regulators, and yet stay true to our beliefs?
Here's the question ABC posed in the segment above: Does your product cure cancer?
(We can as easily make the question: Does it reduce weight? Does it grow back hair?)
It's about promises - promises about the future, isn't it?
OK. Now picture this interview...
NEWS PERSON (or customer): Does your product cure cancer?
CEO/you/Rep: I don't know if it does or not
NEWS PERSON (pressing): Well does it or doesn't it?!
CEO/you/Rep: I don't know. We do not claim or promise that it does that [whatever, cure cancer, lose weight, etc.]. So the answer is, I don't know if it does cure cancer or not.
NEWS PERSON (pressing more): Well there are your reps saying they were cured of cancer with your product. Were they?
CEO/you/Rep: I don't know for sure. It may have been a placebo effect. 30% of medical cures are reported to be from the placebo effect. It may have been that. I don't know. We make no claims or promises about what the product will do for people, that's what I DO know.
You're not denying what you may have seen or the stories of others (or your own). And yet you are making NO CLAIMS or promises about what might happen for anyone else.
This reflects the New School approach. No need to deny what you believe you've seen or experienced. Yet, make no promises.
Think?
Posted by Kim Klaver
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