5 ways to market WITHOUT poking a pain point
Today's inspo came from another Human Design provider (for lack of a better word.)
I'm not sure how I ran across them, but their position has some similarities to mine - HD and Business. They offered some sort of free guide on Energy Type, and I downloaded it. I'm always interested to see how other people do things, and interpret things. Plus, #marketresearch.
I open the guide, and it's all....negative stuff.
Now look, I get it.
One of the most powerful things about Human Design is learning that the things you/others think are negative, are in fact explained by your Design. NOT in a bad way. In a "ohhhh, I'm not a job hopper. I'm a Generator, and a sign of when something is off with me, is when I get super frustrated...and go find another job." True story, and not just mine.
But here's the thing.
We don't have to lead with the negative things.
The signs we're out of alignment.
The "here's what drains you."
The... pain points.
You know, the thing we're told to do.
The old school sales b.s. where you touch on pain points and then 'agitate them' so you can get someone to work with you by telling them how the thing you have will alleviate that pain. I wish I was joking. Ask me about the coach I worked with that I nicknamed "Pusher P."
I digress, as usual 😉
I prefer a different approach, and it doesn't mean I don't talk about pain points. It's that I don't lead with them.
And you don't have to either.
Here are five alternative ways you can lead a message without negativity, fear, shame, or scarcity.
1. Lead with Possibility
Instead of "what's wrong," focus on what's possible. Speak to the dream, the desire, the transformation.
Example: Instead of “Are you tired of feeling stuck as a Generator?”
Try: “What would it feel like to finally use your Generator energy the way it was designed?”
2. Lead with Truth
Offer a reframe, hot take, or myth-busting perspective. This satisfies curiosity and builds authority.
Example: “Most Generators are taught they’re ‘too much,' but what if your energy is actually your greatest gift?”
3. Lead with Empathy
Use authentic empathy and mirror your audience’s experiences without dramatizing or “pain-point poking.”
Example: “If you’ve ever second-guessed your decisions or felt like your energy doesn’t ‘fit’ the mold, you’re not alone. Here’s what helped me.”
4. Lead with Insight
Teach something new, drop a surprising fact, or guide them to an “aha!” moment that earns trust.
Example: “Most Generators think they need to initiate, but your power is actually in responding. Let’s talk about how that shift changes everything.”
5. Lead with the Common Enemy
Call out outdated industry norms or practices you don’t stand for, then offer your aligned alternative.
Example: “I’m so over the advice that tells Generators to hustle harder. You deserve more than burnout disguised as productivity.”
And there you go.
You can talk about real challenges. You can be honest about what’s hard. But you don’t have to lead with what's wrong in order to prove your point or your value.
So next time you're writing a caption, crafting a sales page, or mapping out your next email, feel free to try one of these, and see how you feel AND how your audience responds 🙃