It’s not often that I’m moved to tears. There are not many people I consider heroes. And, regrettably, it’s not often enough that I feel overwhelming gratitude.
But today, not even yet 9am in Hawaii, I’ve already experienced all three. And when you watch this video, I’m confident you’ll feel the same way.
Memorial Day in the USA… Yes, we’re having a barbecue today. But no, that’s not what I’m thankful for.
Yes, we’re hanging with friends, laughing and having a good time. But no, that’s not what I’m thankful for.
Yes, I have a beautiful wife and a wonderful life, but no - today - that’s not what I’m thankful for.
My heart, my tears, and my thanks go to the men & women, brothers & sisters, mothers & fathers that protect the blanket if freedom under which we’re enjoying today, and every day, here in the greatest country on earth.
Remembering is not enough. Who do you have to remember to thank today?
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We’ve all been told the virtues of having hope all our lives. God! We’ve bombarded with it this campaign season in the US. But hope is a scam. And it’s one you better understand if you’re going to succeed… in business and in life. Strap yourself in cause we’re going way beyond marketing today.
You’ve probably heard it said that hope is the only thing you can have when facing a crisis. I say BS! Yeah, yeah… blasphemy. I know, I know. Send your letters and emails to….
But follow me here for a minute. It WILL change your business…and your life!
What I just said flies in the face of all you hold as “true.” But where did that belief come from. You or someone else?
For example, over the last 6-months we’ve been bombarded through the media by a “message of hope” from one presidential candidate. The campaign has been a textbook application of Tribal Seduction principles magnified by mainstream media. Now many people think “hope” is the answer. And that is dangerous.
Dangerous! Hope!? Why?
Well, what is hope? Has it ever done one bit of good?
No! Hope is a “wish” for something. A wish that something will happen the way you want. But it could just as easily not. So hope is grounded in uncertainty, doubt, and fear.
Doubt me? Then “hope” the sun will come up tomorrow. “Hope” you’ll have enough money to pay your bills this month. “Hope” you’ll have good health tomorrow. “Hope” you don’t get hit by a car as you cross a street today.
How do you feel now? Like crap right?
Well, snap out of it…
Drop the hope and make it faith
Faith is grounded in absolute certainty. Faith is “knowing” that something is going to happen. You know it in your heart.
Look, as I sat here this morning watching the sun rise over the Pacific, I thought “what a difference from yesterday.” Yesterday started as a crappy day. As I started the day I was pounded by one problem after another. I was frustrated that we’re so close on a project, but yet there were seemingly insurmountable roadblocks in the way.
My focus was there, on my problems and frustration. All I could do is hope. And hope didn’t help me at all. Then Deb and I talked. As usual, spewing the crap that’s in my head out onto the floor acted like a mental diuretic. Only then was I able to drop the hope and muster up faith. And faith is what allowed me to take action.
It’s been said that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. No prophet, no Scripture, and certainly God never said that about hope.
If I stayed in the land of hope, I’d still be the same today. Sitting in the same state waiting for something magical to happen. Waiting for God, government or someone else to come and make something happen for me.
If you’re sitting there “hoping” for more business or a better life — it aint gonna happen.
No, the answer is faith in yourself. Faith in your family. Faith in your fellow citizens. Faith in God. These are the things that will give you the courage to act. And ACTION is the only thing that will change your life.
What will you choose?
I know the sun will come up tomorrow. I have faith in it. I know there will be enough money to pay the bills at the end of the month, because I have faith in my ability to give value and thereby generate cash. I have faith in it and can take it to the bank.
But I also have faith that most people are smart enough to make the shift from hope to faith, get the certainty they need, and take action to change their lives. Are you one of those people?
You see it everywhere…. You Tube, Bright Cove, and MySpace. In-stream and overlay ads that marketers and advertising agencies count as New Media Marketing. Don’t give me that crap! That’s not New Media — especially when those overlays auto-open in the middle of a video. That’s the same old marketplace molestation on a new channel.
“YouTube, Hulu, Joost, Brightcove, and endless other content providers are seeking fast, scalable advertising models. Now, with announcements from companies like FreeWheel, such interruptive models (in-stream video and overlay ads) will soon prevail.
The question: where do real conversations fit into these models? Sure, we can now market a car racing show within (or on top of) a video about cars, but what about the interactivity and conversations we keep hearing about?”
Now you guys and gals already know my thoughts on conversations. I feel like pulling a Bill Clinton circa 1992 whenever I here that word related to New Media and saying “It’s the CONNECTIONS stupid!” Conversations without connection are useless if your goal is to build a Tribe.
But that fine point aside, Christine hits the mark here in identifying the next freight train of pain to hit advertisers, marketers, and PR pros trying to use New Media Marketing.
Old school marketplace molester tactics will not do!
Online marketers better get the new rule book for the game. Or they should plan to get booted out of the game altogether, (at least the profitable end,) very soon.
Winning at the game of New Media Marketing has a new set of requirements. Whether you’re a mega marketing firm, PR agency pumping out promos for your clients, or an eager online entrepreneur fighting to build your business, expect to give extra:
- Attention to strategy
- Creativity in production
- Attention to emotional connection
These are the basic requirements. These are what will create, as Christine says so well, “experiences people want to seek out, rather than click away from.”
You do as your Tribe does
If you want to attract a Tribe, instead of trick the “herd” — then start to think about what YOU do online. Think about your natural actions and activities when it comes to developing your New Media Marketing strategy… instead of what “experts” write about in magazines or “gurus” tell you in emails that end up in your Spam filter.
Side note: In the last month or two we’ve been so busy with traveling, software and course development that I’ve admittedly (and quite obviously) neglected sharing insights and thoughts here at Tribal Seduction. But when I cam across Christine’s article and shared my thoughts with several clients I heard the same thing — “why don’t you share that type of stuff at Tribal Seduction?”
Well those comments opened my eyes to the fact that not everything has to be a major article or video to have a helpful impact. Short posts and commentary can make a big difference in helping improve the sales and marketing efforts of the group we’re so passionate in helping — business owners.
I will be doing my best to heed the advice of those wise men and women and open up my 3lbs. of gray matter in a more “free flow” format here from now on. It’s a long road to recovery, but I’m on my way.
To all our heroes, retired from active duty or hard at work protecting our freedom here and abroad — a BIG thank you! God bless you all.Living here in Hawaii, the strong military presence is a constant reminder of the critical work these men and women do. Having friends in all branches of the U.S. Military allows me to see up close and personal the sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms here and abroad.
(Deb and I at the U.S. Marine Corps Anniversary Ball in Honolulu)
Veterans day was yesterday. And if you’re in the US, you’re probably “celebrating” it with a day off work today.
That’s cool. Just remember, when you have the opportunity to thank our brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, please do so. It means more to them than you could imagine.
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WIMME conference in San Francisco hosted by Mike Filesaime, Tom Beal, Donna Fox and Paulie Sabol had a very special speaker flown in on Saturday night.
Here are pictures from WIMME (World Internet Marketing Main Event) and if you’d like some video of this secret event, I was able to sneak in a video camera - because I knew both the guys standing guard that evening.
So - with the appropriate bribing - er - I mean begging - via comments on this post - I’ll share some secret, behind the scenes video of the speaker shown below.
Ok - I’ll admit - I actually have a HUGE crush on the guy on the right guarding the man. Shhhhhh!
3 good men
Making sure no libs are in the audience posing a threat.
“Hey! I think that’s Mike Koenigs from Traffic Geyser! How’d he sneak in here?!”
(Long story - but it involved a heated discussion at the Elephant Bar the night before. A worthy debater - and now a great friend.)
Apparently, two shakkas make a “Dubba” (W)
Oooooooh! I got to take a picture with the guy on the right!!! How EXCITING! Boy, Paulie Shore - I mean Paulie Sabol sure knows how to entertain “us girls” at the WIMME conference!
Who IS that masked man?!
Is Donna Fox REALLY giving Da Man her digits?! She ROCKS!
Hope you enjoyed the pictures from this year’s secret speaker at WIMME. Let me know if you’d like me to share some videos from this night - and I’ll risk my life to share them with ya. You’re bound to get a good laugh too - guaranteed or your money back!
Microfinance, like New Media, puts the power in the hands of the little guy. Rare thinking entrepreneurs like you know what it takes to go at it on your own. You are willing to risk it all and reap the rewards. If you are grateful for what you have, and you’d like to discover how you can quickly and painlessly give a poor person a hand up instead of a hand out — take three-minutes to review this report. You’ll quickly realize how big of a difference you can really make with a very small action.
In India, Vadla Baguma with her buffalo business is one small example of the power of microfinance. To date she has repaid in full all her loans up to $600. With her most recent loan, Baguma decided to diversify beyond their buffalo milk business. She purchased a sewing machine and does mending for hire. With this additional income she is able to send her son to school. He’s the first in their family to do so.
Women stepping up
In the world of microfinance, most loans go to women. Industry averages run at 95% repayment rates with women. The money when repaid cycles back in and is re-loaned to other micro-entrepreneurs. The money supply grows with interest being added to the repayments.
Microfinancing is a way for poor people to get access to the same economic power that creates wealth in every capitalist economy in the world.
The poor of the world seem likes such a big job. We all want to do it, but it’s difficult to get your hands around. With microfinance you — yes you, one single person — CAN make a significant, and direct impact on the lives of dozens and possibly hundreds of people.
You can change a family’s destiny right now
This weekend, September 13-16th, as speakers at the World Internet Marketing Main Event in San Francisco, we’re proud to be part of a special funding drive for Unitus called “Internet Marketers Against Poverty.” And you, as an independent, gifted business person, can help an entrepreneur change her family’s destiny this weekend.
Unitus is one of the world’s leading microfinance accelerators. They won the 2006 Fast Company Social Capitalist Award. Unitus invests in microfinancing organizations in the world’s poorest countries with finances and consulting. They are decreasing poverty by increasing access to finance, and that is where you come in.
With just $5.50 you can help one micro-entrepreneur fuel their dreams to better the lives of their family. And while you can do that anytime, this weekend’s funding drive is rewarding you for taking action now.
Normally I shy away from “rewarding” people for helping others. But this venture is so different, so powerful — because it’s a “hand up” rather than a “hand out” — that Deb and I just had to participate.
We, along with dozens of other marketers and entrepreneurs have donated products that are bundled together as thank you gifts for your taking action during this funding drive.
Depending on your donation, you can get up to $2,200 in high quality products as a reward for taking action. (Note: rules for contributions of products required that these be products that are currently sold, not given away free. So this is a real bonus package.) The goal is to raise $300,000 in four days.
When the Wright brothers flew their plane for the first time, it stayed in the air for 20-seconds. It covered 120-ft. At that time we could have said “so what.” But that little flight changed the world. For the first time a human being flew.
Microfinance is the Wright Bothers plane in the fight against poverty. It is covering that 120-ft in the efforts to help poor people. If you could, (and you can,) wouldn’t you be willing to help get it off that ground and help the poor around the world help themselves?
You’ll be rewarded not just with the knowledge that you’re given a hand up to entrepreneurs in the world’s poorest countries, and directly impacted the lives of hundreds of people in a tangible, lasting way — you’ll also get the bonus gift packages listed as our thank you gift for helping.
OK, from all the feedback we’ve gotten from subscribers and clients — the new site name Tribal Seduction is a hit! And so is the focus on identifying, tracking, gathering, and profiting from Tribes within the New Media Marketplace.
Yet some people have been asking why we decided to not just take up the same topic over at Advanced Business Blogging. Well, to be perfectly honest, one big reason is that we feel the site has run it’s course.
The short story is that it just didn’t meet our long term strategy for helping business owners, marketers, and sales professionals like you really master the New Media Marketplace.
More specifically though, there are MAJOR advancements we wanted to make for you like:
1. Every week some of the videos, podcasts, and posts here at Tribal Seduction will be part of our next book. We needed a site where members of the TS Tribe could actually be part of the book.
2. We have a team of weekly guest contributors (all experts in areas of mass persuasion) lined up for Tribal Seduction. Plus regular contributors as well, “knights of the round table” you might say. Advanced Business Blogging was too closely brand associated with Deb and I personally.
3. Advanced Business Blogging was way too restrictive of a site name. Sure there are many people interested in learning about blogging for business. But our coaching, consulting, and speaking engagements over the last 18-months have all been focused on helping business people develop complete “Mortar and New Media Marketing strategies.”
The response to that unique blending of persuasion with technology has been very well received. If we’re going to help as many business people as we want, the entire Web experience needed to be upgraded.
4. We want to expand on the New Media Marketing Matrix we reveal in the popular Pushbutton Persuasion course. That exposition would be ‘lost’ on Advanced Business Blogging.
5. Our research and work with offline businesses and politicians has shown that there is an unbelievable potential for using New Media channels as a way to capitalize on the Tribal Marketplace. The ability to gather, serve, and seduce Tribes of hungry people is where the true wealth and power is. Tribes, Tribal Seduction, and the role of courtier must be the focus.
6. A lot of the hype you hear about blogs, podcasts, and social networks really needs to be dragged into the light of reality. Helping business people profitably bask in this light would be hindered by a name like “Advanced Business Blogging.” It would seem hypocritical to expose the facts about blogging dangerous to business people there. Plus, the very people we are helping might likely be turned off by such a site name.
7. Blogging (by technical terms) for business, no matter how “advanced,” seems like a lot of work to business people. With the release of our New Media Marketing system, BLOG i360, we needed a new platform to show how well it compliments Tribal Seduction strategies. After all — it’s the ONLY Web site that works FOR you!
Associating BLOG i360 with Advanced Business Blogging would be like trying to associate a Gulfstream 550 with a lawn-mower-engine powered Prius. Both will get you across the country. But the Gulfstream does it in style. And it gets you to your destination in a tiny fraction of the time that the Prius could ever hope to achieve.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Bottom line is this…
If you are migrating over from Advanced Business Blogging, you’re going to feel right at home. You may feel a little stretched at first with some of the strategies covered here. But you’ll settle in quickly.
If you’re just being introduced to our team and these powerful strategies, joining the TS Tribe will bring you up to speed real quick!
In both cases — you are going to be simply blown away by the advantage you gain over your competitors.
With each new article, podcast, and video you’ll agree that this Web site is one of the most innovative and ground breaking expositions of online influence, persuasion, and seduction of the masses you will ever see!
From simple, practical, hands-on coaching; to strategic analysis and guidance — it all starts full speed next week!
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