The Richard Simmons Theory

I don't know how old Richard Simmons is, but it seems like he's been around forever.  At times I've wondered how this guy has had such a long career based on such little substance.  I don't think his Oldies video tapes or Deal-A-Meal (or whatever it is) can really do much to help a person lose weight.  Yet he continues on, selling tapes and appearing on tv.

A conversation with a friend helped me understand things better.  My friend mentioned that, in general, people are consumers, not necessarily thinkers or philosophers.  And so I began to think, what are people seeking when they "consume" Richard Simmons and his products?

My answer: positive emotion.  The guy is more entertainment than anything else.  When he's on radio or tv, he always gets the crowd fired up.  So when people buy Richard Simmons, I think they're mostly buying good feelings and a bit of hope about getting in shape. 

This gets to the big problem in the weight loss industry: people buy products and services based on short-term thinking.  Losing weight or gaining muscle takes time.  But someone can pop in a Richard Simmons videotape and feel better right then, not 6 months later.

From this perspective, what's he's selling isn't all bad then.  Yes, it would be better if he gave people better advice about diet and exercise.  But if someone really wants to find that stuff out, they can over the internet (for free).  And so if someone wants to buy the tapes or kit to feel better, then hey, it's a free country.  People spend millions in discretionary income chasing positive emotion.  Simmons just happens to be better at producing it than most.