“A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.” – Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenber (aka Novalis), Born May 2, 1772. There is a lot of talk in our line of work of becoming an authority figure in a market – a recognized expert. And this quote speaks to the […]
Stick it Out, Take it Further, and Discover Something Worth Selling to Other Seekers Read More »
“I really don’t think records should be made in the manner where you sit and write, and when you’re finished writing, you start recording. That just seems conventional and old-fashioned to me.” – Jay Reatard, Born May 1, 1980. Writing for the internet, for yourself, is pretty fucking punk. You don’t have time to engineer
You’re Not a Classical Composer – You’re a Punk Rock Shredder Read More »
“Theories are always very thin and insubstantial. Experience only is tangible.” – Hosea Ballou, Born Apr. 30, 1771. If you want to shift from being a consumer of information to a producer and seller of information – positioned as an expert in your chosen topic, learn this. Take whatever you’re consuming, learning, reading, watching –
Create Valuable Unique Information You Can SELL – Just Stop Learning and Start Doing Read More »
“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” – Edward “Duke” Ellington, Born Apr. 29, 1899. Hey, guess what? Everyone has problems. Big whoop. What do you do about your problems? Take them? Endure them? Or do you put them to work? As motivation. As fuel. If you’re not yet
Failure and Bad Feelings Can Be Burned as Fuel – and They Produce Powerful Work Read More »
“Folks don’t like to have somebody around knowing more than they do.” – Harper Lee, Born Apr. 28, 1926. When you’re trying to position yourself as a trusted advisor, your audience can’t ever feel like you are holding out on them. They can’t feel like you’re keeping secrets or withholding valuable knowledge for yourself. Countering
Make Them Believe You Would Tell Them All Your Secrets, And They Will Love You Read More »
“I am indeed rich, since my income is superior to my expenses, and my expense is equal to my wishes.” – Edward Gibbon, Born Apr. 27, 1737. I’m really not qualified to give anyone financial advice. But here is some unqualified financial advice. For the freelancer or entrepreneur just starting out… freedom can cost less
The Overlooked Secret to Self-employed Freedom: Live Small Read More »
“I’ve always worked on the principle that if it interests me enough to write about it, then it must interest a lot of other people.” – Morris West, Born Apr. 26, 1916. First, cultivate the ability to muster a genuine interest in absolutely any topic. Next, figure out the topics your target audience cares about.
To Be InterestING, BE interestED. Enthusiasm is Contagious. Read More »
“Not only strike while the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.” – Oliver Cromwell, Born Apr. 25, 1599. Do you write every day? I do. I could be better about writing more promotions, but hey. I’m working on it… Tomorrow. That’s not what I want to write about here, though. Today I
Always Be Working Already When the Muse Decides to Show Up Read More »
“All the best stories are but one story in reality – the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape.” – A. C. Benson, Born Apr. 24, 1862. We tell stories. Stories about the reader. Stories they haven’t heard about themselves yet. The ending
Escapism Motivates: Where Will You Go When You Get Away From Here? Read More »
“If I could find anything blacker than black, I’d use it.” – J. M. W. Turner, Born Apr. 23, 1775. This one isn’t about the content of the quote, but more about the implications of it. Turner couldn’t find paint that was any blacker than the paints he used. He could never actually accurately show
Programming Imaginations With Impossible Imagery is the New Black Read More »
