Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya!
TLDR: Exploring how misleading marketing claims and unclear definitions can lead to deception in business and ministry. Christian leaders must maintain integrity and transparency, especially when communicating success metrics and achievements to others.
What?
I was listening to my friend Vincent Puglisi, who runs a membership community that helps people build membership communities. He made a post about someone who claims to be a “six-figure coach” and entrepreneur. As Vincent investigated, he discovered this person had been an entrepreneur for multiple years, and over that entire period had reached six figures – not six figures annually as most would assume. This creates a misleading impression about their success level through unclear definition.
Why?
This matters because definitions and transparency are crucial in how we communicate. When most people hear “six-figure entrepreneur,” they understand it to mean earning at least $100,000 in revenue annually. By using this term without clarification, this person was intentionally inflating their progress and success. This kind of deception, even if through omission or different definitions, is fundamentally dishonest.
Lesson
We need to communicate with complete transparency and shared definitions. If our definition differs from common understanding, we must clarify: “I am a six-figure entrepreneur over the last five years combined.” Even then, we should be careful about potential misunderstandings. This reminds me of my own past struggles with sexual addiction, where I portrayed myself as righteous while hiding secrets. My unconscious and conscious were out of alignment; my internal and external were disconnected. God sees all these parts of us. Other examples of deception include misleading domain registration notices designed to steal business.
Apply
Examine areas where you might be inflating your success or using definitions that could mislead others. If you can’t identify personal examples, consider instances you’ve witnessed of misleading marketing. Consider where your internal values and external presentation might be misaligned. Ask yourself: Am I being completely transparent in how I present my achievements and status to others? As Christian leaders, our integrity in communication reflects our commitment to truth.
You be blessed.
The Deception of “Six-Figure” Marketing Claims: Truth in Leadership
