“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 […]
How to Get Away With Embellishment: Admit To It Proudly! Read More »
“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 to
To Gain Persuasive Power, Practice Practical Lying in Person… Read More »
“The ability to speak is a short cut to distinction. It puts a man in the limelight, raises him head and shoulders above the crowd.” – Lowell Thomas, Born Apr. 6, 1892. Getting on stage to teach copy at marketing events was easily the biggest factor in my rapid rise to recognition and success –
Speaking Publicly is the Shortcut to Authority on Any Topic (If You Don’t Do It Wrong) Read More »
“I don’t care who does the electing, so long as I get to do the nominating.” – William M. “Boss” Tweed, Born Apr. 3, 1823. You shouldn’t consider yourself as merely the seller of only your own product or service. That’s too limiting. It’s too narrow. Having a product or service of your own to
How To Profit Against Your Competition – And Even WITH Them, Too Read More »
“No writer should minimize the factor that affects everyone, but is beyond control: luck.” – John Jakes, Born Mar. 31, 1932. A positioning secret which probably seems counterintuitive to many, is to admit that your success is due in large part to luck. And I don’t mean like a gambler’s cocky bragging about how you’re
Admission of Luck Makes Success Seem Attainable to Those Who Would Buy Advice From You Read More »
“I have now established myself in a most enviable manner. Those who require something of me must seek me out – I remain apart. I work for no one unless he is a high-ranking personality or a friend.” – Francisco Goya, Born Mar. 30, 1746. Once you are already well known for what you do,
Counterintuitively, The Ultimate Positioning is Being Unobtainable Read More »
“A leading authority is anyone who has guessed right more than once.” – Frank A. Clark, Born Mar. 28, 1860. Frank here probably meant it as an admonishment for trusting self-described authorities. But you know me, I never let appropriate context get in the way of making the point I want to make… If you
Guessing Right Makes You a “Guru” (And So Does Guessing Wrong…) Read More »
“Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time.” – Viktor E. Frankl, Born Mar. 26, 1905. Vic was giving advice on how to live a fulfilling and satisfying life. It’s a neat avenue of thought. But this isn’t the Cult of Philosophical Warm Snugglies.
Positioning for Preeminence the Proper Way… Read More »
“If there be anything that can be called genius, it consists chiefly in ability to give that attention to a subject which keeps it steadily in the mind, till we have surveyed it accurately on all sides.” – Robert Quillen, Born Mar. 25, 1887. If you look at anything long enough, you’re going to notice
The Secret of Acquiring (And Portraying) Mastery Read More »
“Give me a laundry-list and I’ll set it to music.” – Gioachino Rossini, Born Feb. 29, 1792. I hate hearing people say they have nothing to write about or nothing to say. Take a thing. Any thing you find. Scroll way down your news feed. Click “random” on Wikipedia. Then, connect it to your core
Pumping Up Reader Brains With Metaphorical Muscle Read More »
