“One should use common words to say uncommon things.” — Arthur Schopenhauer
Get clear on what you want.
Get clear on why you want it.
Get clear on what you have to offer.
Get clear on who it’s for.
Figure out how to explain all that clearly and the rest will take care of itself.
Now, on to this week’s ideas…
1. WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE A GREAT LIFE
“You’re the only one who can stop you from living a great life.”
A great life can only be earned and it begins where excuses end.
In this post I break down what it takes to live a great life including how to do great work, be great to others, and be great to yourself.
RELATED: How to have a great day tomorrow.
2. HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY PITCH AN IDEA
“People buy emotionally and justify rationally. Therefore, the end of the pitch must heighten the client’s emotions.”
If you’ve got something to sell or an idea you hope to spread, this will drastically increase your chances of success.
Seema Menon explains how to successfully pitch an idea including why you should start with a “dynamic change story,” pitch to the senses, and create a sense of urgency.
RELATED: How to pitch an idea like a Pixar producer.
3. HOW YOUR BRAND CAN MASTER INSTAGRAM
“Brevity is the soul of wit. So, keep your Stories or Stories Ads short and concise. The agenda should be clear.”
If you use Instagram for anything more than showing the world that “crazy” thing your cat did yesterday, you’ll probably find this helpful.
Wiish breaks down how your brand can master Instagram including tips about how the algorithm works and best practices for feed posts, stories, IGTV, and ads.
(Side note: My For The Interested ALL ACCESS members will get a great idea next week about how to use Reddit for marketing, so become an All Access member here if you’d like me to send it to you too!)
RELATED: A collection of my favorite Instagram tips.
4. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR FUTURE BY DEVELOPING PRINCIPLES FOR YOUR LIFE
“The point of having principles is that it shifts you from short-term survival to long-term thriving.”
You probably don’t need any more inspiration these days — it seems to be floating around everywhere (including, admittedly, in this newsletter).
But principles are much more valuable than random inspiration and Brianna Wiest explains how to improve your future by developing principles for your life.
Her advice includes to figure out what you value, what you want to experience, and what makes you uneasy.
RELATED: 25 principles of adult behavior.
5. THE ONLY CONTENT SYSTEM YOU NEED
“Everybody wants viral, but what actually works is consistent content.”
Please stop trying to go viral. That’s not how social media, content marketing, or audience growth actually works.
Gary Vaynerchuk echoes my core belief about virality in this two-minute video that breaks down the only content system you need and suggests the key to success is to play the long game and stop looking for a quick fix.
RELATED: The two secrets to creating content people love.
COMING NEXT WEEK TO ALL ACCESS MEMBERS…
Here’s a sneak peek at some ideas All Access members will get in next week’s newsletter:
• How to save money on groceries without using coupons
• How to use Reddit for marketing
• How to become a better mentor
• Two words to avoid using if you want to get more subscribers to your email list
• How to get your writing featured by curators on Medium
If you’d like me to send you these ideas, sign up here to become an ALL ACCESS member before next Sunday.
This newsletter is 100% reader supporter (no ads!), so it’s your support that keeps the ideas coming.
Thanks!
WHERE I FOUND THIS STUFF
I got some of this week’s ideas from Greg Roth, Jessica Williams, Scott Monty, Tijmen Rumke, and Khe Hy — they’re awesome and worth checking out.