JEDI MIND TRICKS

On Feb. 8, a photo went viral showing a broken MRT-3 escalator with a sign that read:

“Each step you climb is a gift to your heart, lungs, and muscles.”

Predictably, netizens lost it.

Many called it “gaslighting,” saying MRT-3 management was being tone-deaf and unsympathetic to commuters who were already exhausted, late, and just trying to survive daily life.

While not that malicious, it's probably an overly creative attempt to spin a bad situation into something positive — turning the inconvenience of climbing stairs into a “health benefit.”

The problem is: even if the intention wasn’t harmful, the execution still backfired.

Because in a situation where people are frustrated, tired, and inconvenienced, the last thing they want is a motivational quote. They want honesty, accountability, and a simple message like:

“Escalator under maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Now relating this story to real estate...

I was taught early on that if you want a seller to lower the price, you shouldn’t say “reduce the price.”

Instead, you say:

“Improve the price.”

At the time, I thought it was a classic Jedi mind trick — a way to soften the emotional sting of a price cut.

So I tried it once.

My client looked confused and asked:

“Improve the price?”

I immediately switched back to plain language:

“Lower the price.”

And that made me wonder…

Is “Improve the price” basically the real estate version of the MRT sign? Honestly, I feel it hits the same chord as the MRT sign.

A clever attempt to reframe an unpleasant reality — but one that risks sounding out of touch when the other party is already stressed?

What do you think?