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Everything Old is New Again – If You Just Try a Little Bit

Everything Old is New Again – If You Just Try a Little Bit

April 18, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“The secret of good writing is to say an old thing in a new way or to say a new thing in an old way.” – Richard Harding Davis, Born Apr. 18, 1864. I wouldn’t say it’s THE secret… But it IS a great trick. Can’t think of something to write? 1. Take some old…
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Positioning, Productivity, Quote, Writing

The Real Reason People Do What They Do (And How To Use It Against Them)

The Real Reason People Do What They Do (And How To Use It Against Them)

April 17, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“A man always has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.” – J. P. Morgan, Born Apr. 17, 1837. Morgan was talking about parsing the reasoning behind the market moves his competition were making. But we are going to approach it backwards. If you want to persuade and influence people…
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influence, Persuasion, Psychology, Quote

How to Make Your Writing Delicious, and Thus Make Prospects Crave More and More

How to Make Your Writing Delicious, and Thus Make Prospects Crave More and More

April 16, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“The truth is that life is delicious, horrible, charming, frightful, sweet, bitter, and that is everything.” – Anatole France, Born Apr. 16, 1844. Who are you writing to? Robots? No, people. So why write to live, breathing, ambulatory meat bags full of emotion – about boring old “stuff”? People don’t care about stuff. They care…
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Psychology, Quote, Writing

Over-complication Leads to Under-performance – So Simplify, Stupid

Over-complication Leads to Under-performance – So Simplify, Stupid

April 15, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci, Born Apr. 15, 1452. Y’all are making it too complicated. Drowning in options and possibilities? Start slapping some arbitrary limitations on yourself and see what you come up with. Innovation and elegance come from making the best solution out of what you have at hand. So…
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Mindset, Positioning, Quote, Success

The Ugly Difference Between a Buying Brain and a Selling One…

The Ugly Difference Between a Buying Brain and a Selling One…

April 14, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“We imagine that we want to escape our selfish and commonplace existence, but we cling desperately to our chains.” – Anne Sullivan, Born Apr. 14, 1866. This one is going to be really uncomfortable. Ready? See in that quote where she says “imagine”? That imagination is why we can sell people stuff all day long…
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influence, Persuasion, Psychology, Quote, Selling

How to Get Away With Embellishment: Admit To It Proudly!

How to Get Away With Embellishment: Admit To It Proudly!

April 13, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“There is no persuasiveness more effectual than the transparency of a single heart, of a sincere life.” – Joseph Barber Lightfoot, Born Apr. 13, 1828. Let’s define a term temporarily for the purpose of this piece. I’m talking about your average bullshitter. And by “bullshitter” I mean the kind of person that is just always…
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influence, Positioning, Psychology, Quote

The Difference Between Fiction and Copy is in Where You Put the Confusion…

The Difference Between Fiction and Copy is in Where You Put the Confusion…

April 12, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“The purpose of narrative is to present us with complexity and ambiguity.” – Scott Turow, Born Apr. 12, 1949. Scott writes fiction, unlike us. But his point holds, because we DO use complexity and ambiguity. The purpose of narrative in copy is to give COMPLEXITY to the problem the prospect is facing. We give it…
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Advertising, Persuasion, Quote, Writing

Decide what to do, and do it now.  End indecision and procrastination IMMEDIATELY.

Decide what to do, and do it now. End indecision and procrastination IMMEDIATELY.

April 11, 2021 Colin Theriot No Comments

“Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.” – George Canning, Born Apr. 11, 1770. Do you have these problems? Procrastination? Overanalyzing? Thinking too much? Over-planning? Inability to just get started on your grand plans and possibilities? It all boils down to what old George is saying. Indecision, and delay. If you can’t decide WHAT…
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Productivity, Psychology, Quote

To Gain Persuasive Power, Practice Practical Lying in Person…

To Gain Persuasive Power, Practice Practical Lying in Person…

April 10, 2021 Colin Theriot 1 Comment

“Lying increases the creative faculties, expands the ego, and lessens the frictions of social contacts.” – Clare Boothe Luce, Born Apr. 10, 1903. Lying is powerful. Whether you call it telling tales, self delusion, pretending, make believe, whatever – if you want to get good at what we do, you need practice. If you want…
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influence, Persuasion, Psychology, Quote

If You Want to Get Paid to Write, Write Where the Money Is

If You Want to Get Paid to Write, Write Where the Money Is

April 9, 2021 Colin Theriot 1 Comment

“For each letter received from a creditor, write fifty lines on an extraterrestrial subject and you will be saved.” – Charles Baudelaire, Born Apr. 9, 1821. Practical advice there – shockingly from a POET, no less. Poetry being the most useless kind of writing. But even in Baudelaire’s time, he knew that if you’re going…
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Advertising, Productivity, Quote, Selling

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