Category Archives: How to

Bruce Willis and Resent

Bruce Willis fans stop here.  Or, at least be warned: He’s teaching today.

Why?  According to Kevin Smith, Willis, these days, is just a paycheck player.

On the set of Cop Out, Willis refused to shoot until noon.  Whined on set every day.  And despite everyone else taking massive pay cuts to make the movie, Willis made sure to let everyone know he wasn’t getting paid nearly enough for “this shit”.

Whining about being underpaid transcends Hollywood.  And, if you choose to do it, the outcome is always the same: Your team resents you.  And you aren’t given any more money.

12 eye-openers on Facebook “Likes” and money

“Everyone wants more of two things: Facebook “Likes” and money”

Economists study one.  Social media marketers study the other.  Everyone says the same thing about both.  “I want to get more now.  I want to get more quickly.  And I want to get more for less”  For Facebook “Likes” and money, their true value is different.  But their effect is, in many respects, the same.

12 eye-openers on Facebook “Likes and money

  • People don’t really like reading about “Likes”.  Or, at least admitting that they do.
  • People really like receiving “Likes.”  But the joy is short.  And then they seek more.
  • “Likes” are a currency that everyone can print.  As we print more “Likes”, the less they’re worth.
  • “Likes” can make you happy.  But, once you have enough, happiness plateaus.
  • People can change the world by how they use their “Likes”.
  • Choosing not to like can change the world even more.
  • For businesses, likes get you credibility.  But soon, you can’t become more credible without doing something worthy.
  • The Beatles song “Can’t buy me love” nailed it.  With likes, too.
  • If there’s a “Likes” bubble, what happens when it bursts?  What’s gonna support your business?
  • Getting likes becomes addicting.  Same with money.
  • There is a market of people selling ways to get “Likes” quickly.  “Get Rich Quick” is no different.  Completely scammy.
  • People of modest “Like” accounts help one another grow their pile.  Cross promotion, genuine interaction, etc.
  • People and businesses with extreme wealth of “Likes” are focused on growth and preserving their own.
  • “Likes” can be begged for.
  • When you die, you can’t take “Likes” with you.

From a business perspective

For large businesses, acquiring likes is important.  Save them up and when there’s a good opportunity, deploy the capital.  And, even though the value is decreasing, the race to accumulate more is unchanged.

For start-ups, getting likes early-on is good for building credibility.  Then, it helps organically grow the brand.  And the community.

There’s definite value in businesses having “Likes”.  But if you are getting into the game late, you can’t expect to catch up.  You have to think small at first and build from there.  JP Morgan started with a few dollars.  And a few “Likes”.

Individual impact

Getting likes is fun.  And can be addicting.  But after a while, they lose their meaning.  And value.  And excitement.  Like money.

Giving “Likes” is powerful.  They can help start-ups.  Or brighten a friends day.  Or make them feel connected. Money is similar.

For the individual, the real power is in not giving the “Like”.  Maybe it’s a company you don’t believe in.  Maybe it’s a person you don’t care for.  The “dislike” always has an impact.  Just like with money, you can take your business elsewhere.

But at the end of the day, Facebook “Likes” and money don’t mean anything.  They, however, can be a tool.  A tool for giving or a tool for not giving (in protest).  And choosing how you give is what’s meaningful.  After all, with Facebook “Likes” and money, where are you taking them?

Spare a Like?

How do you make friends on social networks?  For blogs, instagram and twitter, it’s basically the same.  Reblog a post.  Comment on a photo.  Reply to a tweet.

Give, give, give.

The logic is simple.  Give someone appreciation for their work, and they’ll return the favor.  Also a pretty good plan for life.

Facebook, however, lets you skip this step.  Without any giving at all, you can ask for “Likes” in mass.  Please like my facebook fan page.  We’re acquaintances, right?

Just ask, ask, ask.

It’s like a homeless guy asking for a dollar.  Yes, he’ll get some.  But isn’t he more likely to get the dollar if he has already given your facebook fan page a like?

The “Do not Like” feeling

When you “Do not Like” an organization’s fan page, how does it make you feel?

“I’m healthy.  I’ll never give McDonald’s a ‘Like’.”

“I have a quiet facebook newsfeed.  I’ll never give DraftStreet a ‘Like'”

“I don’t like that guy.  I’ll never give Lifeisnoyoke a ‘Like'”

The impact “Do not Like” of varies.  Fortune 500 companies hardly feel it.  Startups are knicked.  The grassroots initiative is bruised.  But, there’s always impact.  And making an impact feels good.

10 ways to enjoy low-hanging fruit

It’s the easy stuff.  The stuff within reach.  The stuff that takes minimal effort, but gets you started.  More than what you got, picking the low-hanging fruit gets you momentum.

Picking the low-hanging fruit gets you first 25%.  Then, the next lowest hanging fruit gets you half way there.  The next 25% is easy since you’ve already done twice that much.  Finally the last 25% takes some strategy, but is why you started.

There are so many opportunities to use the low-hanging fruit principle.  Start with the easy stuff and ride the momentum.  Here are some real-life examples.

10 ways to enjoy low-hanging fruit:

  • At the gym: 4 sets seems daunting.  Doing just one does not.
  • Around the house: Cleaning the house is a huge chore.  Starting with the dishes is not.
  • At high school: 20 page papers are scary.  Creating an outline is not.
  • At grad school: Dissertations are intense.  Fact gathering with note cards is not.
  • In competition: Overcoming a 30 point deficit may seem impossible.  Getting one basket is just one basket.
  • In the kitchen: Having an awe-inspiring kitchen is a dream.  Starting with a Vitamix 7500 is realistic.
  • In policy: Making high fructose corn syrup illegal may take a lifetime.  Raising awareness takes a couple minutes.
  • In education: Learning to read can be frustrating.  Learning a couple words is delightful.
  • In dating: Finding your soul mate might be the goal.  But, going on one date is step one.
  • In your career: Quitting your job and working for yourself is not realistic.  That is, unless you’ve begun to build your email list.

Go one tree at a time

Grabbing the low-hanging fruit will get you started.  And it will get you the momentum you need.  Soon, all that’s left will be the fruit at the top.

But, just because picking the low-hanging fruit is good, doesn’t mean it’s all you should do.  Because if you go from tree to tree without finishing, you’ll be left with a bunch of trees with a little fruit on top.  And that’s not why you started.

Read more about getting the low-hanging fruit by reading “Switch”, one of my favorite resources.

Getting the fruit from the top

Tons of fruit to pick.  It was a massive undertaking.   But, by getting momentum with the low-hanging fruit and then next lowest we were 50% done.  Then, we brought the project to life by getting to 75% complete.  Finally, the top of the tree was all that remained.  And it needs to be picked.

The student’s paper is nothing without diction, voice and tone.  The traveler’s suitcase is worthless without her toiletries.   The weight-loss seeker’s Vitamix is just an expensive decoration if it sits idle.

It’s easy to forget the reason you started.  And it’s easy to be satisfied with simply having started.  Or being almost done.  That’s sort of reverse-low hanging fruit.  And now your brain is really messing with you.

Remember, it often takes the most strategy to finish the job.

And, the fruit at the top is high.  You really have to push.  But getting it all is the reason you started.

Another cool thing about low-hanging fruit

So you picked the low-hanging fruit.  What’s next?  Get some more.

The student can hand-write an outline for their paper.  Travelers can pull shirts they may want to wear.  Weight loss seekers can print a smoothie recipe.

You might have to reach a little higher.  But it’s still low-hanging fruit.  The lowest, anyway.  And once you’ve picked it, you’re 50% done with the tree.

Low-hanging fruit and momentum

Everyone loves to pick low-hanging fruit.  The student who begin the page setup.  The traveler who begins with packing socks.  The weight loss seeker who begins by buying a Vitamix.

Fortunately, picking the low hanging fruit is valuable.  It gets you one step closer to writing that paper, packing that suitcase, or feeling more fit.

All the fruit needs to be picked at some point.  Might as well start with the easy stuff.

Dog breakfast

What did you feed your dog this morning?  Was it full of antioxidants for a healthy immune system?  Was it easy to digest?  Was it loaded with high quality proteins for lean muscle?

Sounds like a breakfast idea from lifeisnoyoke.com.  Or, maybe you just fed your dog dog food.

What did you have this morning?