The "Quick Fix" - An Oxymoron?

Americans spent in excess of $150 billion last year on quick-fix, self-improvement products to lose weight, build muscles, buy/sell real estate, fix a golf swing, etc.* And many of the same people will spend $150 billion again this year on something new that promises the same quick results in the same areas that failed before.

We are a quick-fix society - gimme a pill, a 90-day workout, a 15-day weight-loss program to change my life. I want it and I want it NOW!

So now for the big question...

If many of the same people are spending money on new and "better" quick-fix products, were the others really a fix?

Take fad diets, for example. In a 2007 UCLA study, it was found that 2/3 of the people who lost 5-10 pounds in 6 months on any of the various diets on the market had gained it back, plus some, within 4 years. The study concluded that those who do the quick-fix diets would be better off not dieting at all, as their eventual weight would be about the same and they would avoid the physical dangers of "yo-yoing" over this period of time.

What about the real estate gurus who tell you about no-money-down approaches that can have you "kicking back" on your own yacht in no time? The reality is that the majority of people who buy these particular programs never even buy a property! They just end up out the cost of the program. That's quick money for the seller of the program, but nada for the person who dreams of changing their financial future via the quick fix.

So, if those who try the quick-fix approach in life are further behind in the long run, it's really only a temporary solution at best. It may elicit quick results in the case of weight loss or muscle building but it isn't a long-term fix if the results don't last.

It's been said that nothing good comes easily. Wouldn't everyone be better off if they took the long-term view and focused on a lifestyle of healthy eating, exercise plans for life, no-gimmick golf lessons or career pursuits in areas of passion that would make "moving up the ladder" somewhat enjoyable? Yes, these approaches all take time, but if you don't have the time to do it right in the first place, what makes you think you will have the time to do it over?

So the next time you are watching t.v. (especially late-night t.v!), lured in by that seductive, quick-fix infomercial, remember - most of them don't give you lasting results. Take the time to develop your own plan and approach. Consider your challenge thoughtfully and develop a long-term plan by doing a little research online or at the library, or by asking someone who is currently living the change you desire.

(*according to tapebeat.com, over $150 billion of consumer products in the U.S. are sold through infomercials.)