Sometimes people grow up being told there is something "wrong" with them by family or society. Over time, they begin to internalise it. Psychology shows that repeated labeling and social feedback can shape self-beliefs, forming what are known as self-schemas. These beliefs don’t always arise from objective reality; they are often absorbed from the environment.

Instead of constantly resisting or feeling hurt, people may eventually accept these beliefs simply to function and move forward. This kind of acceptance can be adaptive, but it can also stabilise ideas that were never entirely their own to begin with.

Once accepted as a real problem, the mind starts organising itself around fixing it. People look for solutions. And if something appears to work, it reinforces the belief that the problem was real all along. Cognitive patterns like confirmation bias and self-fulfilling prophecy make this loop stronger. At that point, it becomes very difficult to step back and question whether the problem was ever inherently theirs.

This is where the connection to marketing becomes clearer.
Marketing does not only respond to needs; it also shapes them. Research in consumer behavior shows that perceived problems can be defined, framed, and amplified through messaging. The gap between "how you are" and "how you should be" is often constructed and reinforced, sometimes turning neutral traits into perceived deficiencies.

People then respond to these signals. They invest time, money, and attention into solving these framed problems. And when a product or solution provides relief, satisfaction, or even just the feeling of progress, it further validates the original premise.

Over time, this creates a reinforcing cycle. Social narratives shape perceived problems, individuals act on them, and systems like markets scale and legitimise them. The result is not that all problems are false, but that some are constructed, exaggerated, or externally introduced, then made to feel deeply personal and real.

Which leaves a harder question underneath it all: how many of the things we are trying to fix actually emerge from our own lived experience, and how many have been shaped for us so convincingly that they feel like our own?

Thanks to Arijit Singh for finally making me feel at ease as I was pretty concerned about what I was thinking, visioning and analysing. I mean, m still too young to talk about such "political" or "deep" matters like consciousness and stuff...But phew! After reading a known, cherished by millions and absolutely, 100% influential artist like himself publicly speak, "Leave 5G," I felt at such an unexplainable ease. And, if not now, then when will people sense a deeper plea for presence?

If not now, then when? Sense the concern beneath such an urge. It's more than just about speed or technology.

5G is often described as faster internet. In reality it is infrastructure. It connects devices, data, and artificial intelligence into a continuous network. Such systems do not only carry information. They shape how information flows and who has the power to influence it--through the platforms that host conversations, the algorithms that amplify some voices over others, and the networks that connect billions of minds in real time.

So when an influential voice suddenly urges something bold like "leave 5G" or step away from AI, it is worth listening carefully. Not necessarily to agree, but to understand what deeper signal might be hidden inside the statement.

History offers perspective. The printing press reshaped knowledge. Industrial machines reorganized economies. Digital networks now shape attention, perception, and public narratives.

This is why debates around 5G carry geopolitical weight. Nations compete over networks because infrastructure determines influence. Whoever builds the system helps shape the environment in which societies think and communicate.

Yet beneath this contest lies a quieter human question. As networks accelerate and intelligence becomes automated, what happens to the slow processes that form judgment, creativity, and wisdom.

So, point may be, Be Conscious of Technology.

"Tools extend human capability. Infrastructure concentrates power. Constant streams make thought reactive, and instant answers weaken the habit of wondering. So the call may simply be this. Pause. Choose carefully which systems you rely on, where you share your work, and how much of your attention you surrender. Use technology with intention. Let wisdom shape speed. Keep your inner life sovereign." (You know, AI is itself writing this?)

The traditional marketing pyramid (awareness, interest, desire, action) has guided brands for decades. It assumes audiences can be influenced in predictable ways. Messages are amplified, desires engineered, and attention treated as currency.

But viewed from a distance, through a thinker's lens, this classic content production and consumption model is now 'dysfunctional' at its root. People are no longer passive recipients of information. They are overexposed, hyper-informed, and highly selective with their attention. Truth is increasingly experiential for thinkers. Neither speed nor volume can guarantee engagement.

The pyramid assumes scarcity, which, given widespread access to information and skill-development options, probably no longer exists. What is truly scarce today is judgment, context, and meaningful alignment. Influence now comes from wisdom, not amplification. That's why the race is moving toward something entirely different. Fakeness won't work anymore--masks will drop.

Brands that continue to operate through desire-driven mechanics risk fatigue, mistrust, and disengagement. Brands that focus on understanding, selective engagement, and ethical communication build relationships that endure. This has always been the most human approach, though it was heavily manipulated by generations before us, driven by the very parameters that desire-based marketing exploited.

The shift is structural. Marketing is no longer about how fast or wide you can reach. It is about aligning with human intelligence, respecting cognitive bandwidth, and creating genuine interest and trust at every touchpoint.

The marketing pyramid is 'evolving' if not broken not because it fails to convert, but because its assumptions no longer match reality. The future belongs to strategies that prioritize insight, discernment, and intentional 'influence' over speed and volume.