“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… Read More →
The Ugly Difference Between a Buying Brain and a Selling One…
“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… Read More →
The Difference Between Fiction and Copy is in Where You Put the Confusion…
“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… Read More →
To Gain Persuasive Power, Practice Practical Lying in Person…
“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… Read More →
Speaking Publicly is the Shortcut to Authority on Any Topic (If You Don’t Do It Wrong)
“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 –… Read More →
Honey May Catch More Flies Than Vinegar, But Vinegar Makes More Sales…
“The first thing we become convinced of is that man is organized so as to be far more sensible of pain than of pleasure.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, Born Apr. 1, 1755. The persuader would do well to learn that when it comes to making someone take a desired action, there are two general forces… Read More →
Admission of Luck Makes Success Seem Attainable to Those Who Would Buy Advice From You
“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… Read More →
Conjuring Emotion in Your Reader is Easy – Just EXPLAIN Them
“Things have to be believable, not in a literal, photographic sense, but in an emotional sense – capturing the essence of the situation.” – Michael Foreman, Born Mar. 21, 1938. Emotional authenticity is key. What people frequently call “hype” is when the writer’s enthusiasm is inauthentic. It feels forced and faked, and therefore what you’re… Read More →
How to “Inception” Your Ideas Into Other People’s Brains – With Only a Pencil and Paper…
“A strong emotion, especially if experienced for the first time, leaves a vivid memory of the scene where it occurred.” – Algernon Blackwood, Born Mar. 14, 1869. You ever see that movie “Inception” where that team of mental mercenaries implants an idea into someone’s memory, so that they mistake it for their own? I can… Read More →
Don’t Lie to Yourself – Deception is What Fuels All Persuasion
“THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them.” – Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, Born Mar. 13, 1911. Get out the Preparation H because every time his topic comes… Read More →
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