Category Archives: Life

Please scan your mafia card

Ask any mobster.  The mafia business model is simple: Offer convenience and cures.

If you need a loan, you can get it from the mafia quickly.  It’s convenient.  Then, if you get over your head in debt, they’re there to help.  They’ll burn your restaurant down and collect the insurance.  That’s the cure.

Need something else?  They’re open all day.

So, how is the CVS business model any different?  If you need a snack, you can get it quickly.  It’s convenient.  Then, when you’re sick with diabetes, they’ll set you up with some insulin.  That’s the cure.

Need something else?  They’re open all day.

No, CVS won’t burn your house down.  But, they might kill your family.

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.

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.

The invisible “Do not like”

You’re asked to like facebook fan pages all the time.  When you decline, or say “Do not like”, what is your message?

If you say no to McDonald’s, you’re saying no to their products.  No to their impact on society.  No, don’t market to me.

If you say no to Draftstreet, you’re saying no to their services.  No, I don’t want to play.  No, I don’t want to join the conversation.

If you say to lifeisnoyoke, you’re saying no to their content.  I don’t like your ideas.  I don’t want to change my views on food.

The exact message varies when you “Do not like”.  But, it’s always clear.  And always yours.

Own it.

What do you like?

When you “Like” an organization’s fan page, what is your message?

Let’s say you “Like” McDonald’s.  That’s great.  You buy their product and are not ashamed to admit it.

Let’s say you “Like” DraftStreet.  That’s great.  You use their service and want to join the conversation.

Let’s say you “Like” lifeisnoyoke.  That’s great.  You appreciate their content and want more.

The message varies when you “Like” an organization’s fan page.  The result, however, does not.  “Liking” a fan page is a recommendation.  A recommendation to your entire network.  And their network.  And their networks.

That’s change-the-world stuff.  Powerful.

So, what organizations did you “Like” today?  My recommendation is that you think about it.

Like.

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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.

The fruit that brings the project to life

When the low-hanging fruit is gone, what’s left?  You’re 50% done, so doing another 25% should seem easy.  It’s only half of what you’ve already done.  And, it will get you to 75% complete.

The student fills in the outline with sentences.  The traveler chooses outfits.  The weight loss-seeker goes to the grocery store.

When the low-hanging fruit is gone, and the relatively low-hanging fruit is gone, the next step is bring the project to life.  It’s sometimes the toughest step.  But, knowing that afterwards you’ll be 75% finished makes it easier.  And seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (or in this case, the fruit on top of the tree) makes it worth it.

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.