Boom is Busting Out All Over

Hello, once again.

From great ideas going missing (see last Thursday's post), I suddenly have three slightly less stupendous things I need to talk about. I'll stick to one for now...

On Friday, I mentioned the recession that's about to hit, and told you how great an opportunity that can be, as long as you know how to make the best of it.

But thoughts of recessions, depressions and weary, worn-down people reminded me of a story I heard quite some time ago, possibly from Dan Kennedy, possibly not.

It concerned a salesman of the old school (still with us, of course, despite 'everything' being online now), who was selling encyclopedias door to door. At one run down looking home, he was invited in. The couple sat him down and offered him a drink, making him feel very welcome. Clearly, they had very little money and hardly any possessions that didn't look old and tired. The carpet was threadbare, the cups and saucers didn't match, there was an ancient radio in the corner of the lounge, etc, etc.

But the husband wanted to buy his encyclopedias - the complete set of which would probably cost as much as the combined value of all their other possessions.

The salesman doubted they could afford them. More importantly, he didn't think they should. They should spend what little money they had on essentials, like food and fuel.

Still he wanted the books.

The salesman, very politely, said no, and decided he should leave.

At which, the gentle, mild mannered husband flew into a rage, chased him out of the house and down the street, shouting after him: 'Who are you to say what I can and can't afford? What business is it of yours to tell me what I should spend my money on?'

Who indeed?

There are people today, who insist they are trying to sell their products, but who nonetheless get squeamish about actually asking people for their money. 'They might not be able to afford it' is just another excuse we make for not trying very hard.

Our concern is whether the product is worth the money we ask for it - not whether someone else 'should' spend that money. It really is none of our business. We really know next to nothing about them. We must offer them good value and let them choose.

That's our job and that's all our job is...

And as an aside, who knows what value we might now put on all the information in those encyclopedias? They were probably a bargain, and it shows information marketing is nothing new!

Roy Everitt, Writing For Results

PS. Speaking of progress (and valuable information), 'Web 2.0 Stampede' represents a large dollop of both, at a very affordable price, even in these apparently straightened times. Clck on the blue banner to the right, and take a look.

What's He Got ...

... That I Haven't?

It seems a fair question to me. I mean, why should some people have all the luck, all the money, and that damn attitude that seems to say, 'I deserve it all'?

What do truly, exceptionally, mind-bogglingly successful people have that the rest of the population lacks?

What is it that divides the self-made 'haves' from the unmade 'have nots' (not counting those that inherited or otherwise got lucky)?

In short; what have they got that gets them everything else?

I think that's the wrong question, however we phrase it.

I think what they actually have is something missing.

Something like doubt, fear, uncertainty - or something that creates those unhelpful feelings, anyway.

I've finished Professor Daniel Gilbert's excellent book Stumbling on Happiness, and if you've read it too, you might well know what I'm talking about. You might have come to a similar conclusion already, anyway.

It's that mental process that seems 'unique to humans' - a dangerous phrase, as the Professor points out - which is so unreliable in most of us we really might be better off without it sometimes. It's called imagination.

It's imagination that shows us the worst possible consequences of an action, and it's imagination that makes us fearful for a child's safety when they're out of sight, even when keeping them in sight might put them in greater danger. It's imagination that makes us wonder 'What if I can't do it?'

And that's something that the most ballsy, seat-of-their-pants, outlandishly flamboyant and successful entrepreneurs in the world never seem to allow themselves to consider. Some of them don't seem able to conceive of the idea.

So, next time you're considering a new venture, and wondering 'Should I try this? What if I can't do it?' Stop imagining and just try!

Who actually knows what will happen if you do try? Not you, that's for sure.

And what's the worst that could happen?

No - don't answer that!

Unless you want to stay exactly where you are, that is.

Roy Everitt, Writing For Results