E + R = O
Today’s stories come from Tim Ferriss’s podcast with Jack Canfield. It took me four hours on Saturday morning to write todays email. I could have just got ChatGPT to run a summary of it but that would defeat the purpose of me doing these Sunday emails. When I listen, type, read and write, I subvocalize stories and lessons in my brain. The process becomes the reward. I end up enjoying the work.
Let’s begin!
Being Rejected Is Part Of The Process
The short stories that are present in Chicken Soup for the Soul were stories that got standing ovations in front of crowds. They were tested over and over again.
We knew they were tear jerkers, they were inspirational, they made you laugh, they made you want to call up and tell your mother “I got to read you this story”. We knew that from our experience.
Despite their conviction, both Jack Canfield and Mark Hanson were turned down by 144 publishers. It took them over a year to find someone who published their book.
The Chicken Soup for the Soul series ended up selling over 600+ million copies! You got to see rejection as a part of the process. But get back up and keep going.
If You Are Not Good At Sales, Find A Partner Who Is
When Jack wrote Chicken Soup for the Soul, Mark told Jack that he needed him for sales because he was just much better at it. And he was right. Read this story:
We were doing a book signing at B Dalton bookstore once, and there was nobody there.
So Mark goes out and just starts walking up and down the mall yelling:
“Are you guys crazy? There’s a book signing at B Dalton right now with these two amazing authors about the best book in the world. You all should be in there.”
About 40 people came into the bookstore.
And then Mark walked up to the front of the room where I am ready to do the little talk before the signing.
He could do that.
I was too shy to do that.So it (our partnership) worked out really well.
You have to get the word out. You have to sell. And some people are just born to do that better than others. If you are not great at selling, partner with those that are.
The Rule Of 5
Even after they got published, it took them one full year of daily grind to actually get the word out. They did the Rule of 5.
We did 5 stories a day for a year - whatever it was - talk at a church, do a 2am radio show, sell to the army...
It had to be five actions every single day.
It was a level of non-stop activity.It would be as if you would go to a tree with a very sharp axe. And you would take five swipes at that tree every single day. Eventually even a Red Wood Tree would have to come down.
Consistent effort compounds. What five things are you doing everyday to sell your product or service?
E + R = O
Event + Response = Outcome
Outcome:
We all want a better outcome.
We want to experience joy, freedom, peace, love, success, health, longevity...Event:
When there is an event and you blame somebody or something - the government, the bank, the economy, your mother, your neighbor, the boss - whatever you’re blaming for the experience you’ve just had, that event plus your blaming does not produce a better outcome. You don’t feel better. You don’t solve the problem in a way that really gets you anywhere because you’ve just blamed somebody.Response:
You can’t control what happens but you can control your responses to what happens. So control your thoughts, images and behavior.Start by taking 100% responsibility for whatever happens.
Here is a great story to drive the point home:
One of the questions my friend asks people even when they’re pissed off at the company they work for, is “on a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your quality of life working here?”
And they go 3.
He goes “why so high?”
This breaks their chain of thought.
“Well it’s not 0!”
“What would be an 8 for you?”
They say that this would be happening and that would be happening.
“Ok. What would you do to help generate that result?”
What could you do to help make that happen in your company?”
Because that’s really what you have to do. You can’t just sit there and bitch and moan. Nothing’s going to change if you do that.
So my friends:
Ask yourself what is the alternate to what you’re complaining about? What would make it an 8 for you?
What would you have to do to create that?
That’s all for this week. See you next Sunday.
👋 I’m Harsh. I build with people I like and collect useful ideas to win at business and life.
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Harsh Batra (Connect with me on LinkedIn)