Most people don’t like to be told what to do.
And whenever you come up with an idea, a product to sell, or a suggested action, most people will have objections.
Often times, people will object just because they like to feel like they’re part of the decision making process.
For example, your partner might love Mexican food. They may eat Mexican food three or four times a week. If they found a free coupon for a Mexican dinner they’d be pleased as punch.
But if you told them, without asking for their input, that you were having Mexican food that night, they would likely object.
Not because they don’t like Mexican food, but because they don’t like being told what to do.
Because nobody likes to be told what to do.
That’s why the second conditional is so useful in persuasion.
It takes your idea, and puts it into the potential. The imaginary. The hypothetical.
And when we imagine stuff, it’s usually pretty good. Usually perfect, in fact.
No objections.
How do we use this?
Take the main benefit of your suggestions. Put the word “perfect” in front of it.
And put it in the second conditional.
Say your partner particularly likes chimichangas. That’s their “main benefit” for Mexican food.
So, instead of saying, “We’re going for Mexican food tonight.”
Or even,
“Hey, let’s get some Mexican food, whatta ya think?”
Try this:
“If we could go out tonight, and find the perfect chimichanga, would you like that?”
Now they’ve blown past any kind of objections about Mexican food, or being told what to do, and are thinking of the perfect benefit.
Even if you have no clue on how to find the perfect chimichanga, they’ll be thinking of Mexican food.
Which means, you’re idea, (let’s go eat Mexican tonight) will be met with agreement, instead of objection.