competitor . The fans are emotionally spirited when faced with an adversary . They feel threatened and obliged to support in the face of a competitor . That ’ s why politicians create opponents and rally their fans toward that contender . Opposition strengthens the fans ’ sense of belonging . If our team wins , we boast over our opponents and sleep well . When the group or person we love loses , we are upset , demoralized , and annoyed , not because we lost anything but because our opponents have won .
There are many benefits when celebrities , leaders , teams , or brands get into the hearts of their ardent admirers . It ’ s an excellent position to acclaim . You get loved , and as they say , love is blind . Fans excuse you for even the apparent wrongs that you do . We overlook bad quality in brands and excuse the non-performance of teams we support . We also excuse the mistakes of the politicians we love . We also believe in them , maybe even more than they believe in themselves .
Monarchies enjoy royalty lifestyles funded by a happy and willing average Joe . Besides cutting some slacks , we are also willing to give emotional and material support . We have seen fan communities materially support a company when in the red . We have given out money and time to politicians we want to win . We travel far and pay for tickets to support a team we like . By doing that , we feel we are answering a higher calling and contributing to the win , hence feeding towards our satisfaction .
A healthy fan community can lead to significant publicity , profit , and even constructive feedback , whether in business , politics , or society . People in love are ready to give more than they expect to receive . Building a fan base is one thing and keeping them engaged for a long time is another . People will remember Queen Elizabeth II for her ability to develop and consolidate a solid fan base for the monarch for close to a century . Some brands , too , have kept their consumer base intact for a long time . Tropical Menthol candies , Blue Band , and Apple products are legendary brands with a solid fan base .
Being a fan is all about the shared experience . When you ’ re a fan , you ’ re not just someone who likes something . You ’ re someone who has a relationship with the thing . It ’ s not just what you want ; it ’ s what you care about . And when you care about something , it can be hard not to get caught up in the excitement of the moment . Being a fan is about being passionate about something and deeply connecting to it .
An extraordinary passion for politicians made Kenyans line up for hours to vote . Enthusiasm is demonstrated when fans queue for days to be the first to get the new iPhone , and others camp outside the stadium for days to be the first ones to get tickets to watch their team play . Customers of a Korean Barbeque Restaurant in Melbourne exhibit deep commitment when they queue outside for hours for a dinner experience . The British showed care when they lined up for days to pay their last respect to the Queen .
Obtaining that optimal love and support from fans may look like a coincidence or luck , but it takes a strategic , deliberate decision and hard work . And as a fan , you know you ’ re in love when you defend and excuse your current partner for the same behaviours that made you hate or leave your ex .
Herman Githinji is a Management Consultant and a Director at Rhombus Ready Mix Concrete Company . You can commune with him on this and related issues via email on : Hermangithinji @ gmail . com .
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