Saturday, May 14, 2011

I AGREE with Philip Morris Int'l CEO: Tobacco not hard to quit!

"Tobacco's not hard to quit!"  This fantastic relief of information came straight from the gullet of Philip Morris International CEO, Louis Camilleri. 

And...

I AGREE!

(keep reading, it'll be worth it)

Here's the whole quote for the record:

"We take our responsibility very seriously, and I don't think we get enough recognition for the efforts we make to ensure that there is effective worldwide regulation of a product that is harmful and that is addictive. Nevertheless, whilst it is addictive, it is not that hard to quit. ... There are more previous smokers in America today than current smokers."


Now the initial instinct is to use some vulgar words and references to connect his I.Q. with specific parts of his anatomy.  But, clearly a man who got paid over 32 million in 2008, speaks 4 languages and runs a company as big as Phillip Morris International is not a dumb ass.  So, why would he say a terrible thing like that?

Because he's absolutely, 100% correct.  It is not hard to quit smoking.

WHAT?!?!?!!  What an irresponsible thing to say!  How can you say that?  Don't you know there's people out there that have conquered heroin but still can't quit smoking?  What is wrong with you?

I'll tell you what's "wrong" with me and it's all semantics.

There is one very easy way to quit smoking that is not that hard at all.  Let's look at that easy method of quitting right now...

Death.  
This is the simplest method of smoking cessation.  What's especially nice about this method is that there are several options on how to die available to you.  Lung Cancer, Emphysema, Heart Disease, Esophageal Cancer, and the list goes on and on.

If you do not wish to quit smoking using the death method, regardless of how effective it is, there are several additional methods available to you and they are not nearly as effective as death but put forth a good effort.

The reality though and get ready for it because it's a harsh reality to say the least.

DEATH IS THE ONLY REAL METHOD TO QUIT SMOKING!

If you smoke, you're a smoker.  Period.  And you will be a smoker for the rest of your life.  Quitting is not an option because our good buddy, Mr. Camilleri has made it so by altering, spiking, and manipulating the great plant that this country was built on in such a way that for folks like you and I, it's impossible to quit...  unless you die.

Hopeless, yet?

Far from it.  And also the principle key point behind my book, How To Stop Smoking Without Killing Anyone.

You have a wonderful opportunity as a smoker, to embrace who you are fully and be that unique expression of infinity.  Shout it out to the whole world, "I'm a smoker damn it and I'm proud of it!"
Once you're clear with your identity and acknowledge who you really are you can then actually do the impossible.  
 
Which in this case is to....

Not quit necessarily, but...?

That's right!  

STOP SMOKING.  Don't quit?  What's the difference?  

You can't, you won't, it's not going to happen.  

Remember, people are knocking off heroin before they can quit cigarettes.  Mr. Camilleri has done what is necessary to protect the interest of his company and the shareholders by making a product that despite warning labels, huge taxation and blatant, clear cut evidence that this crap will kill you slowly but surely, you still go out and purchase and use anyway.

How do you quit that?  You don't.  Besides, look at all the good stuff it does and goes well with.  You can't quit.  Once a smoker, always a smoker.  

But you can stop!  You stop every time you put one out!  Then you choose to start back up again.  Time and time again.  And for what reason?  

Outside of having a death wish, is there a good reason to light up again?  I mean, like a really good reason?  A lady told me she's not quitting because she's afraid of getting fat.    She's concerned about what quitting will do for her metabolism.  I told her about another weight loss drug on the market that will shed pounds like a chainsaw to a tree...  chemotherapy is a phenomenal way to loos those unwanted pounds!
Get the point?

Look, nobody wants to quit smoking.  So, I say, rather tongue in cheek, don't!  Just stop.  Don't quit.  Either way, the next question is usually a resounding, "HOW?"  

That's where I come in.  You make a $15.89 investment in your health and the rest of your life and I will guide you on a path that for those who chose to walk it, stop smoking and stay stopped with a 100% success rate.

All this for a crummy sales pitch?  Sorry folks.  Look, I stopped in 2002.  Haven't wavered since.  Wobbled a few times, but have not had a cigarette since 2002.  What was my secret?  There wasn't one.  It's decide to stop.  Commit to it and ride it out.  I still think of myself as a smoker because I...  well, read the book, damnit!  

Bottom line, Big Tobacco doesn't have to have a hold on you.  You choose that.  Their job is to make it easy for you to choose that and even want to choose that.  They're very good at that.  Now all you have to do is show them otherwise...