“Movies are full of leading men, most of whom aren’t working. It’s much harder to find a good villain.” – Lee Van Cleef, Born Jan. 9, 1925. The secret of creating a powerful persona in your marketplace is to help your prospects find good villains to add a little adversarial psychological opposition to their lives. […]
Sometimes a Villain is What the People Need Read More »
“It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you.” – Baltasar Gracian, Born Jan. 8, 1601 As Harvey Danger once put it, “if you’re bored, then you’re boring.” And you DO want to frustrate the plans of people who stumble across you, so they stop what
Inscrutability is Fascinating Even to People Who Don’t Know What It Means Read More »
“If at first you don’t succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.” – William Lyon Phelps, Born Jan. 2, 1865. Finding success as a slacker has had a lot to do with figuring out how to plan things so that even if I don’t get the “Plan A” result, there is still a “Plan
Second Prize is Still a Prize Read More »
“Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers.” – Elizabeth Arden, Born Dec. 31, 1878. This is 100% true. Many people may read this and nod, and yet still struggle with it. They’ll struggle both with achieving it, and with understanding the success of others who you feel are inferior to your own bad self. Here
This Is the Perfect Day to Decide to Start Showing Up Every Day Read More »
“It is important to know that what I do is not artistic. I am just a film-maker. I live how I live and I do what I do, which is recording moments of my life as I move ahead. And I do it because I am compelled to. Necessity, not artistry, is the true line
Don’t Wait Until the Summit – Help Those Two Steps Behind As You Climb Read More »
“If we would have new knowledge, we must get a whole world of new questions.” – Susanne Langer, Born Dec. 20, 1895. In groups I run about copywriting, a lot of newbies ask the exact same questions. How do I start? What books do I need to read? Is this course I found any good?
Through Working, We Discover Deep Questions People Will Pay Us to Answer Read More »
“If you have extraordinary bread and extraordinary butter, it’s hard to beat bread and butter.” – Jacques Pepin, Born Dec. 18, 1935. Something simple, like bread and butter – can be elevated to a level that is sublime. All it takes is for the two components of that simple recipe to be extraordinary. I love
Do You Wanna Live Deliciously? Here’s the Recipe. Read More »
“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.” – Ludwig van Beethoven, Born Dec. 17, 1770. The main thing I like about this advice is that it’s about putting in the work. Not on some kind of 24/7
Discovery of Hidden Value Always Requires THIS Read More »
“We have nowhere else to go… this is all we have.” – Margaret Mead, Born Dec. 16, 1901. What are you waiting for? Some new software to be released? A new laptop to work on? One more big client to fund your escape? A perfect idea to put your passion into? Another golden once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Time is an Illusion – The Only Available Moment to Work is RIGHT NOW. Read More »
“Great genius takes shape by contact with another great genius, but less by assimilation than by friction.” – Heinrich Heine, Born Dec. 13, 1797. I don’t think I am a genius. You’re probably not one, either. But discounting that, there is something for everyone to grab onto in this quote. Whatever your craft is, study
Sharpen Yourself Through Friction and Testing Your Edge Read More »
