Where is Matt?
Popularity: 3% [?]
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
If you have done any sort of self development, there is often the recurring theme of gratitude (see The Secret, Tony Robbins or John Demartini).
First time I heard the concept I dismissed it and belittled its importance. But watching “What the Bleep” and particularly the Love Crystals changed my mind.
I don’t want to get all Yoda on you, either you have an open mind or you don’t. I was skeptical, but have an open mind. If you feel that that isn’t you then perhaps you should stop reading.
So have a look at the site http://thxthxthx.com by Leah Dieterich. Basically she writes a daily “thank you” to whatever is going on in her life.
I know it’s a little ironic, but I can’t remember for the life of me who recommend I read it. If it was you, thank you!
Rock on!
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Telling a story…
In a recent post, Seth Godin wrote
Here’s a $20 bottle of soap. Functionally identical to a $3 bottle, so what’s the $17 for?
He then lists several reasons why someone would pay an extra $17.
I’ve written before on the 6 Human Needs, but I thought it was worth repeating. The quick version:
Every basic human need can be boiled down to one of six:
1. Certainty (I have a ham & cheese sandwich every day because that’s why I have for lunch)
2. Uncertainty – picking a fight, trying something new, a bored teenager wanting a new experience. It doesn’t matter if it is good or bad, so long as it is different
3. Significance – it makes me feel important / different / special
4. Connection / Love – Having a pet, flirting, talking to a stranger
5. Growth – if we don’t grow we die!
6. Contribution – giving back
Take for example an armed robbery. Uncertainty – Anything could happen! Significance – if I pull a gun on you I am the center of your attention. Certainty – I know I will feel significant if I pull a gun on you.
Using the Soap Bottle: the hang tag, mineral botanic, Dead Sea Laboratories, bamboo and pansy, very dry skin, French + velvet!
These are all either Significance (if this is your first time) or Certainty (you know that it is worth the extra $17)
Interesting eh?!
How would this product need to change to meet your need for Growth (by using this you will learn…) or Connection? THAT makes this world a better place 
Popularity: 2% [?]
How to make your point
I’ve been doing the whole low-carb thing since late January this year.
At the moment, I’ve lost a little over 8 kg / 17 pounds – my results are totally unexpected and I honestly can’t tell you how excited I am!
So I’ve been following the Michael Eades vs Anthony Colpo “smack down” (as he likes to call it).
My science is weak, so I have difficulty understanding either. But a few points jumped out:
Take advantage of the situation
(Playing devil’s advocate here) Let’s say Eades’ is wrong, Colpo is right. Anthony has a great opportunity to increase his readership (since Eades’ readers will visit his site), sell some books etc. etc.
Anthony’s opening salvo:
Note: This article contains strong language. Please close this page immediately if you are a minor or easily offended
What??? Immediately I am on edge. Not because I get easily offended, but because it is not necessary. I don’t know why Low Carb works (but it does work for me!) First thing I see is a warning. Anthony if you really are right, and Eade’s is wrong, why do you need to use strong language. The only thing I am looking for is strong science!
-1 to Anthony
Leave out the emotion
Anthony’s next sentence:
Poor Dr. Michael Eades. He’s a hyperbolic book author with an overblown ego and a penchant for belittling others, but when I gave him a taste of his own medicine a couple of years ago, he was rattled to his core.
What?? Where’s the science? Where is Eade’s wrong?
If you really believe you are right and have you think you have the evidence to back yourself, then you don’t need emotion. Your facts will speak for themselves.
Be specific
Next paragraph:
Up until mid-2008, Eades had made a habit of regularly attacking me with a pathetic mix of defamatory lies and easily disrobed references to ‘science’. But after the online whipping I gave him here
Really? Where’s the link(s) Anthony??? A “pathetic mix of defamtory lies and easily disrobed references to science” If it is that obvious, then show me!
The only thing obvious to me: -1 Anthony
If you are going to quote, then quote!
I quite like this one:
Eades writes:
“Even AC agrees – based on the literature – that low-carb diets result in less lean muscle loss and greater fat loss than low-fat, high-carb diets”
Utter rubbish.
I have stated ad nauseum that in numerous studies protein – not low-carb intakes but protein – causes a slight increase in muscle retention at the expense of fat.
Really? Ad nauseum? No link though Anthony. Not even one…
-1
Keep it short, keep it focused
Both fail on this one. I think it would be difficult for Eade’s to ignore Anthony, so he has to respond. But both just go on and on and on…
-1 Anthony. -1 Eade
Honestly, who cares?
“The Straight Facts, Whether You Like It Or Not” – is Anthony’s blog by-line. Obviously he can dish it out but he can’t take it.
[Update] I’ll add one more:
Allowing comments
To his credit, Eades’ allows comments on his blog. He allows links to his article (including this one). He also quickly responds to questions others have posted.
Anthony does not.
Why is this important? Eades’ has both positive and negative comments on his article. From the looks of it, Anthony is a one trick pony. Nothing of real value to add
+1 Eades -1 Anthony
Picking an online fight is funny when your 14. But what’s the point? I would be interested in a few facts:
- Anthony, how many subscribes do you have with your blog?
- How many did you gain / lose after this article?
- What was your daily traffic a week before and after the Eades’ response?
Anthony, if you are really into straight facts, then please answer the above.
A friend of mine reminded me of the quote: Don’t pick a fight with a troll. They will bring you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Reading his article, I don’t know how you could say Anthony isn’t a troll.
So all I can say is that Anthony, clean your act up! You’re better than that and your readers certainly deserve it.
Rock on!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Low carb – the way to go!
Recently, Missy put up a post on how she dropped a.lot.of.weight!
Now I’ve floated between 113.5 – 115 kg (250 – 253 pounds). I added the 0.5 because it seemed an odd barrier. (For what it’s worth, I’m 189 cm or 6’2″.)
Those of you with an NLP or similar background could say “the 250 pounds is your barrier! What would it mean being 249?” But I think you’re wrong. Australia uses metric! And my digital scales just would not go below 113.5!
I can honestly say I have tried it all! I did Jenny Craig, Weight Watches, Light n’ Easy, no carb diet and just plain old gym work.
The funny thing was that (during the past 2 years in particular!) it wouldn’t matter what I did. I could eat crap, I could eat good, but I just couldn’t go below 113.5
That was until I sent Missy an email! She introduced me to Michael Eades and suggested I read Protein Power.
Personally, I wasn’t going to be convinced by the science. (Not that I am a non believer, it’s just that you can twist science either way you like)
So show me either your own personal experience or I’ll look at your anecdotal evidence and we’ll go from there. To cut to the chase, I brought the 30 day low-carb diet solution.
How is it going? I’ve been on this for just over a week and I must say I am very very surprised! If you read the book, one thing that really stuck in my mind was:
If Food is the Problem, then Food is the Solution.
This morning I weighed in at 112.8 kg (248 pounds). I broke through the forbidden 113.5 on the second day!
To say that I am surprised / impressed / convinced etc would be an understatement!!!
I’ll keep you posted on how it goes.
Rock on!
Popularity: 3% [?]
“Deliberate practice” – the stuff of champions!
Over the past week or so, Justine at Tribal Writer has written a great series called “Tyler Durden’s Rules for Writing in the Zone”. In her latest post, she quotes a few sources, but made an interesting point:
“Deliberate practice” is the stuff of champions, more important than innate natural talent, and entirely within your control.
And then finishes with:
Focus on the task, not the outcome. Intrinsic motivation is the best and most powerful kind (and also what leads to external rewards).
Very clever indeed!
Her writing is very much focused on becoming a better writer, but I love how you can apply this to many other areas of your life…
What does it take to become a great violinist? A great basketball player? A great parent?
Rock on!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Upclose and Personal with Triiibes!
A few weeks ago, I decided to expand the blogs I read.
During this adventure, I found author Justine Lee Musk.
Maybe it’s just me, but more than once I’ve found articles from totally separate worlds that seem to talk to each other. Recently, Justine wrote about the concept of using Facebook or Twitter to get up close and personal with her audience.
As soon as I read this, Seth Godin’s Tribes sprang to mind. I’ve joined a few networks and found them to be fantastic.
I think Justine is trying to get a balance of accessibility vs friction. Facebook / Twitter have a low barrier to entry, but (as was suggested in the comments) has far too much noise.
Brilliant cartoonist Scott Meyer recently had a “ask me anything” Q & A on Reddit.
So there are multiple ways of connecting with your audience.
Personally, I prefer the Networks (or Tribes!) over Facebook or Twitter specifically because they have a higher amount of friction for entry.
The one question Justine didn’t answer was why? Are you looking for a forum to push more product? To connect with your audience? To better understand who out there is paying you attention?
One of the interesting things I’ve learnt from reading blogs, is how the right person can easily influenced what I buy. It doesn’t take much for me to buy Seth’s next book, or to try out a new razor.
If someone at work suggested either, I would tell them to bugger off and stop wasting my time.
Who do you trust?
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