“I never invite idiots to my house.” – Elizabeth Montagu, Born Oct. 2, 1718. I’m not saying they don’t squeak in from time to time, but I try to run this “cult” community of ours as an idiot-free environment. And I’ve tried to create products and content at my own level, rather than aiming at […]
Avoid Idiots In Your Business and Life By Earning the Power of “No” Read More »
“Because nobody wanted to play bass, I was instantly in a band.” – Les Claypool, Born Sep. 29, 1963. There is a lot of opportunity in doing the things no one else wants to do because they don’t think it’s cool… Then you MAKE it cool by the way you do it. Let me back
Don’t Compete on Coolness – Make “Boring” Things Seem Cool Read More »
“If we all tried to make other people’s paths easy, our own feet would have a smooth even place to walk on.” – Myrtle Reed, Born Sep. 27, 1874. This really is the fastest and easiest way I know to get into business – especially online. Find or create an audience, and serve them what
“Is it not dangerous to have students study together for years, copying the same models and approximately the same path?” – Theodore Gericault, Born Sep. 26, 1791. People who study marketing WITHOUT doing much ACTUAL marketing will all learn the same way. They read the same books. They copy the same winning ads. They learn
It’s Easy to Stand Out When Everyone Else is a Copycat of Some Long-Dead “Guru” Read More »
“I started doing ’30 Rock’ and started writing ‘Mystery Team’ at the beginning of that. While I was doing ‘Mystery Team,’ I started practicing stand-up. While I was doing stand up, I got ‘Community.’ It’s like I planted trees six years ago, and now they have fruit.” – Donald Glover, Born Sep. 25, 1983. Here
Stuff You Choose Today Must Bear Fruit in the Future (Or Else Don’t Waste Time) Read More »
“If you really don’t care what an audience thinks, make a home movie and show it on your wall.” – Ned Tanen, Born Sep. 20, 1931. Maybe some kind of artist types can get away with not caring what an audience thinks of their work. But most artists care. And business people definitely should care.
Caring About Customers, And Showing It In Writing, Are Two Different Things Read More »
“We’re living in primate heaven. We’re warm, dry, we’re not hungry, we don’t have fleas and ticks and infections. So why are we so miserable?” – Steven Pinker, Born Sep. 18, 1954. Why not, Steve? Because we are all damned with the inescapable knowledge of our own eventual demise. It’s a pants-shitting fear that constantly
Why We Buy: To Forget We Will Die Read More »
“I was a pretty good imitator of Roy Acuff, but then I found out they already had a Roy Acuff, so I started singin’ like myself.” – Hank Williams, Born Sep. 17, 1923. When you get started in a field you want to pursue, it’s completely valid to begin as an imitator of the most
Become Yourself By Imitating All Your Heroes At Once Read More »
“A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.” – James Cash Penney, Born Sep. 16, 1875. Well, J. Cash, I think times have changed. Service is still key. But you no longer need to be concerned with serving “the public” at large. We
Figure Out Who You Will Serve, And Then Satisfy Them (Fully and Repeatedly) Read More »
“I finally got to the point where I decided I don’t care if it’s good art or bad art – it’s what I do. I enjoy doing it, and people like it.” – Margaret Keane, Born Sept. 15, 1927. There is a fear when people start a freelance career, especially in a field like copywriting.
The Only Opinions About Your Copy That Matter Are… Read More »
