Becoming Un-Exploitable

Many years ago, I noticed how easily people are taken for a ride — in business, politics, even personal life — and I vowed to try not to be one of them.

After much thought, it really came down to two core principles:

1️⃣ People try to take advantage of us because they want our money — either directly or indirectly.

2️⃣ To do that, they must exploit our vulnerabilities.

The direct route is simple — get our money through overpriced sales, manipulative marketing, or outright scams.

The indirect route is through power — win our support, loyalty, or followership, and eventually convert that influence into money.

But to make either route work, they must override our ability to think critically.

That’s where the vulnerabilities come in:

Family and Identity — religion, nationality, language, tribe

These are powerful emotional levers — and they’re used masterfully by both businesses and power seekers.

Once you’re emotionally charged, critical thinking goes out the window.

When I hear anyone — marketer or power seeker — touch on those vulnerabilities, my red flags start screaming.

So the next time you see an ad or message that demands your money or support, pause for a moment.

Look for the vulnerabilities being played on.

If you spot a combination of two or more vulnerabilities — RUN!