I got a message from a good acquaintance yesterday asking me for my opinion on whether he should craft a specific herbal remedy to sell. It’s a very trendy thing that has gone viral over the last year and made some people millions of dollars with zero medical or scientific evidence to back up their claims.
So I told my friend as much. I said “if you look in any herbalism book, you will find that herb IS medicinal but that it doesn’t have the same properties all these marketers are claiming. You could make your remedy if you want, but if it was me I would tell people the truth, in that your remedy will do [the actual herbal action] rather than [what all the viral posts say it does.]”
He became upset with me. He basically said well everybody else I know is doing it and making tons of money off it, and I need money so I can buy land and do what I want to do and why should they get to make all the money when I, at least, harvest the plant sustainably?
He said he wasn’t planning on making medical claims, just making and selling the product. I said yes, but you’re insinuating that it has those medicinal effects because that’s what all the viral posts are saying. He insisted again that he really could use the money.
I told him that I’m not stopping him or controlling what he does or doesn’t do. I simply said that if it was me, I wouldn’t do that and I wished him luck.
This interaction brought up an important thought for me. I need money too, but I’m not willing to mislead people to get it.
I am not saying this to be arrogant or egotistical, but I am starting to realize how rare it is for me to be an honest businessperson.
I don’t lie to you or make exaggerated claims just to sell a product.
I do my best to help you if you have a question to ask, while at the same time doing my best NOT to give you medical advice and to gently nudge you toward one of my products IF it’s something I think will seriously help you.
I’m not lying when I tell you that I have lost thousands of dollars over the course of this year due to my integrity and unwillingness to deceive people. Not only because I won’t sell garbage, but because I made what I thought were alliances with people who could help me who in return walked away with all my money when I refused to use unethical business tactics.
The ones who make the most money are the people who lie to you. They tell you “my product will solve all your problems!” or “I just need $197 to teach you everything you’ll ever need to know about making a million dollars!”
I prefer to let my products speak for themselves.
I also will not lie to you about your blood pressure, losing weight, reversing your diabetes, or helping you with any other health problem you have.
You HAVE to start by assessing your diet.
If I ask you what your diet is like and you immediately turn away or feel guilty, THEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. You’re just asking me in the hopes that I’ll give you some magic herb that will solve your problem so you don’t have to change anything about your current life.
Change is hard. But the ones who are willing to go through with it win in the end.
If you ask me for help I will give you an honest answer. I do one on one Consultations if you’d like a personalized plan for your to get your health back. But I’ll help you the best I can if you just want a quick short answer to something.
With thousands upon thousands of AI-generated books and blogs flooding the market, I hope you are making the wise decision to follow actual humans with firsthand applicable knowledge.
Every testimonial on my classes website (on each individual class) is real. Every review on my Shop website is real. I can definitely recommend a product or class if you have a need and there’s something I make that can solve your problem. But I’m not going to lie to you or push you toward something that won’t help you.
I’ll end this by offering again to answer a question or help you if you need it. I’m going to answer you honestly. You can join my Foraging and Herbal Healing Group Membership if you’d like to talk with me on zoom and ask questions in a safe and trustworthy space. Or you can comment and let me know what you need help with.
Should I start offering Mini Consultations? Tell me what you’d like from me.
What I’d like is to make a big chunk of money before Christmas so that I can afford to sit and finish writing my new book… the one you guys keep begging me to write. My Christmas wish is freedom.
What’s yours?