Oprah, The Secret & The Fleecing Of Naive Wannabe Millionaires

On Monday Peter Birkenhead posted a story about Oprah's advocacy of "The Secret." I confess that I purchased a copy of the DVD before it was released - and my order was filled as soon as the release date hit. Why did I buy it? Marketing. I was curious what these guys were up to - and how they had created such a stir.

It's slick, polished and well produced. It's garbage, but it's well done. Humanism. Fantasy. Dream it and it will come true dribble. As a Christian, I disagree with the sentiment that each of us are our own god - capable of doing anything we want if our desire is strong enough. It's simply isn't true. We're mortals. We lack the full control these people preach.

I know few people, if any, who do not fantasize about having a better life. I know sick people who fantasize about a healthier state. I know less fortunate people who fantasize about having more wealth. I know childless couples who fantasize about having a child. Fantasizing won't alter any of those conditions.

There is a difference in fantasizing about having something and doing something to see if it can be accomplished. For years I dreamed of being more fit, but I never went to the gym until last summer. Since then I've gone daily and now my fitness is better than it's been in the last 25 years. Dreaming and visualizing that didn't make it happen. Sweating every day in a gym while watching what I eat did.

Want to get rich? Dream on. Or, go to work finding out ways you can make more money. Dreamers buy DVD's of "The Secret." Doers are busy getting closer to their goals. The only secret about "The Secret" is that it's a brilliant marketing ploy fleecing many people.

Note:
On February 25th, Allen Salkin wrote a nice piece in the New York Times entitled, "Shaking Riches Out of the Cosmos."