Author: Karol

Why You Suck At Change

The cure for “what if?” …

When people think about change, many times they’re gripped with fear because they future-think. Do you future-think? It goes like this …

– “If I quit eating tortured, raped, and brutally slaughtered animals today (the food you’ll eat for lunch), what will happen in 3 years when I’m hiking through the forest?”

– “If I quit smoking today, what will happen if I start again next week?”

– “If I stop drinking soda, what will I drink with dinner?”

– “If I quit my job and travel the world, what happens if I get tired of traveling?”

– “If I go on a date with this girl (or guy) what if it’s boring?”

– “If I stop hanging out with my toxic friend, who will I hang out with?”

– “If I start a blog today, what if it’s not popular in a year?”

– “If I say “yes” more instead of “no” what will happen with my free time?”

– “If I begin a workout program, what if I don’t lose enough weight?”

Or whatever.

All of this “if-ery” only results in one action: no action.

How To Embrace Change

How about this? Do what you need to do, today.

Tomorrow is another day. And you haven’t lived it yet. So don’t think about it yet.

“But it’s not that easy.”

Yes, it is.

Can you stop eating meat for this minute? Yes. Cool. How about just for one meal? Yes? Cool. How about just for one day? Yes? Fantastic! Now whenever it’s time to eat ask yourself that again.

Can you stop smoking this minute? Yes? Cool. Can you get through the rest of the day? I think you can. What can you do in place of smoking the next time you have a craving?

If you don’t think you can make change happen I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. We’re amazing creatures and we can accomplish great things, but sometimes we talk ourselves out of doing epic shit.

Stop talking …

Sweet Shit Saturday #030 (2 Legit 2 Quit Edition)

In which I discuss upcoming launches and share some sweet links!

This is a weird month and I’ll tell you right now that if you ever start a blog, you probably shouldn’t work on 2 product launches within 2 weeks of each other. :)

I’m launching Mind Control Method in 9 days and then on Cyber Monday, November 29, we’re launching another 72 Hour Sale at Only72.com. This one is going to be strictly business products and we have a lot of really big bloggers involved. (When we reveal who’s in it you might flip a lid!) I say we because I brought in my friend Baker to work on this particular business with me.

Two product launches in 2 weeks is not really a good idea, but sometimes this is how things work out. I apologize in advance if you’re not interested in the stuff I have for sale because you’re going to have to go through 2 launches in a short time frame. I still want you around even if you never buy anything, but if you need to leave then no hard feelings. :)

That said, I’m really proud of these launches so I don’t apologize for releasing kick ass content. ;)

Mind Control Method will initially only be available for 24 hours (although I’m considering making it a bit longer), the 72 Hour Sale will be for just 72 hours (duh!), and I’m not going to do a big launch sequence for either one. So the launches will be easy breezy.

Here’s what it’ll look like: on November 15 I’ll post an article talking about Mind Control Method and on November 29 I’ll post about the 72 Hour Business Product Sale. I might mention them here and there otherwise, but that’s pretty much it!

And because I’ve already had a bunch of questions about this: Mind Control Method will not be in the 72 Hour Sale.

How about some sweet links? Done!

Go Hunting by Steve Pavlina

This is an article idea I’ve had written down, but never actually turned it into a fully formed article. Which is cool, Mr. Pavlina did that for me. :)

What 17 Million Americans Got From A College Degree by Ben Casnocha

This article can be described with one word: fascinating. Go to school, get student loans, work as a janitor. Success?!

10 Proven Strategies For Decimating Fear by Lachlan Cotter

Lach has commented on this blog a lot. What I like about his comments is he doesn’t always agree with me and he challenges my thoughts. That takes balls. Or … audacity. :) Lach just launched his blog The Art of Audacity with this article about Fear which I contributed to. I’m looking forward to seeing what else is in store.

You Don’t Need A Job – You Need Guts! by Ash Ambirge

Ash rocks. It’s a simple as that. And holy shit her Freedom Fund idea is so good I want to steal it! :)

Ten Questions For Mark Cuban on Forbes.com

You probably already know how much I love Mark Cuban. He is simply one of the smartest people alive today. And yes, I would still quit everything I’m currently doing to be his janitor/personal assistant/whatever he needed just so I could learn from him in person.

That’s all for this week. Enjoy your weekend and see you Monday!

How To Create A Successful Web Series [Video]

In which I interview Hilah and Christopher from HilahCooking.com about how to create a successful Web series (or video podcast) …

This past Tuesday I had the pleasure of being a guest on Hilah Johnson’s cooking show. You can check out our episode here: How To Make Vegan Chili. It is, by far, the most fun cooking show online.

I’ve been in contact with Christopher Sharpe (Director / Co-creator) since last year and it has been fun seeing HilahCooking.com grow since the time he and Hilah launched it earlier this year.

In the middle of making vegan chili I interviewed Hilah and Christopher about what it takes to create a successful Web series.

If you’re reading this through e-mail or RSS click here to watch the video.

If you can’t watch right now, here are some tidbits that will make you want to watch as soon as you can. ;)

[00:40] Why they created Hilah Cooking.

[00:41] Before they answer, we try to catch a fly. :)

[01:37] Using the “crap that they had” to make a show on the cheap.

[01:57] Taking action first, figuring it out later.

[02:25] More important than anything was building an audience.

[02:52] How they began connecting with an audience.

[03:10] Hilah Johnson, social media superstar. Pay attention to what she does!

[03:28] Where they found their audience. Facebook / YouTube / now Twitter.

[04:20] The Twitter audience is different.

[04:31] Is Hilah a professional cook?

[04:54] This is what pisses Hilah off about cooking shows. [note from Karol: and *this* is why people are attracted to her show!]

[05:31] Being yourself to your audience.

[05:44] Cursing on camera and how Christopher attempted to censor it for a minute before realizing it won’t work.

[06:35] Do you need to censor yourself to get a mobile syndication deal? The answer will surprise you.

[07:24] The right people you attract are who?

[07:40] What would they say to someone who’s trying to start a Web series?

[07:59] How video games and leveling up relate to starting a Web series.

[08:13] The importance of sticking to a schedule.

[08:27] We’re interrupted by the chili timer. :)

[08:44] The importance of consistency, producing a lot of content, and tenacity.

[08:55] What to do when you start something and don’t get an immediate response?

[09:11] Carving out your place in a massive niche like cooking.

[09:33] Spicing up and tasting the chili.

[10:01] Tangent: Discussing vegan beer.

[10:25] Discussing Christopher’s article How To Build An Audience For Your Web Series.

[10:40] Learning from their mistakes.

[10:48] Hilah introduces us to 2 new words you need to take advantage of to connect with your audience.

[11:11] People are attracted to your personality as well as your content.

[11:20] What Hilah and Christopher have planned for the future of HilahCooking.com.

[11:56] The importance of surveying your audience. Free article –> How To Use A Free Survey To Get Infoproduct and Article Ideas

[13:08] Wrapping it up with one idea each from Hilah and Christopher for someone who wants to start a Web series.

Links Mentioned In This Episode

– http://www.HilahCooking.com

– http://www.ChristopherSharpe.com

– How To Build An Audience For Your Web Series

– How To Use A Free Survey To Get Infoproduct and Article Ideas

Wrap Up

Thanks to Hilah and Christopher for doing this interview and for having me on their show. We made my top secret vegan chili recipe (no longer top secret!) so you have no reason not to watch! Check it out here: How To Make Vegan Chili

If you enjoyed this video please click the Facebook Like button below. If you want me to do more videos please definitely click the Facebook Like button below. :)

Everybody Is Your Peer (or How To Connect With People)

Most people get connecting all wrong, but it’s so simple …

There are times in life when you may want to connect with somebody more “famous” than you. I mean famous relatively speaking. It could be a blogger, business person, government official, or even maybe just the hot girl/guy you see regularly at your local coffee shop.

The first thing you have to remember when you want to connect with anybody you admire is that we’re all human. You, me, and that person you want to connect with. Huge revelation, huh? ;) Lesson #1: treat people like people, not like gods.

Whether you believe it or not, everybody is your peer. Don’t act like a fanboy. Praise is OK, but don’t fawn/obsess. It’s weird, it’s creepy, and it won’t get you anywhere. (Except the brush off.)

I can’t think of a single instance in my life where I’ve connected with someone by supplicating. Again, praise is OK, but don’t go over the top. Treat people like friends. What would you say to a friend who wrote a great book or song or something of that sort?

“OMG! You are so awesome! You’re the best! I love that book. What’s your favorite color? Do you like cookies?! Want to hang out? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Probably not. :)

If it was a friend you’d treat them normally. (I’m not saying you shouldn’t tell your friends when they do something you think is awesome. I’m saying you’re not going to go over the top and make them feel weird because you see them as peers.)

If you’re trying to connect with somebody who is a “superstar” in your field don’t take up too much of their time. Better to end the conversation first than to make them antsy wanting to leave. Make the first contact briefly, and follow up again later (via e-mail/phone or maybe later in person). If they ask you to sit down and chat or ask you to lunch that’s another story. Obviously in that situation you can take up more of their time. :)

A small example: I think Leo Babauta is amazing and I’m a huge fan of his work. But I don’t treat him like he’s anything other than another guy. It makes it weird for people when you treat them differently.

Just be cool and you’ll connect with the people you’re supposed to connect with. You might not connect with everybody, but at least you won’t creep everybody out either. :)

Sweet Scary Saturday #029 (Devil’s Night Edition)

Boo! It’s (almost) Halloween!


John McEnroe circa 1978 (with a beard)

Like many people in the States (and increasingly, around the world) I love Halloween. It’s the one day a year when people let their guard down a bit and aren’t afraid to act silly.

But something scary has happened this year: I didn’t get excited for Halloween and I didn’t think of an awesome costume. Nothing like what you see pictured (Halloween 2008).

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that last year I was in the middle of exploring rainforest fragments in Queensland, Australia during Halloween. Taking 1 year off from Halloween may have killed it for me. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’ve been outside of the US for most of the year and Halloween is never mentioned. There was nothing to get excited about. By the time I got back into the States (4 weeks ago) I was focused on other things to the point of not even considering Halloween.

If nothing else, one thing is for sure, I’ve been listening to a lot of Type O Negative’s October Rust lately. Halloween traditions are Halloween traditions, after all. I know many of my friends scattered around the US have also been listening to Type O so that’s fun to think about.

This year I’m still not sure if I’ll dress up, but I am tentatively planning on going to the Die Antwoord show tomorrow. Today? Heading out to tape an episode of Hilah Cooking. Prepare yourself!

Oh, and I guess I should explain Devil’s Night, huh? I didn’t realize this was only a Detroit thing until I got older. October 30 of every year is Devil’s Night in South-East Michigan. This is when, traditionally, Detroit ruins itself even more by setting hundreds of houses aflame. In the mid-90s the local government instituted Angel’s Night, a volunteer group of citizens roaming the streets to dissuade or at least immediately report arson. That has strongly diminished the number of Devil’s Night fires, but it hasn’t stopped it completely.

As an aside: my favorite movie The Crow (which I hear is, unfortunately, being remade by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch) is set in Detroit on Devil’s Night.

Don’t mean to scare you, how about some sweet links?

My Life Now: Two Years Without A Car by Darren Alff

I sold my car in August of 2009, so I’ve been at just over 1 year without a car. When you’re outside of the US it’s much easier. Inside the US you’ve got to be in one of the select cities with good public transport and bike friendliness.

Here Darren talks about his experiences getting rid of his car and why, just recently, he decided to get a motorcycle.

Pushing Back On Mediocre Professors by Seth Godin

Every student and every teacher must read this.

100 Items or Less by CBS News featuring Everett Bogue

You probably already know Everett from FarBeyondTheStars.com by now. But what you may not know is he was on CBS News last week! Congrats on being able to spread the message to people who need it most Ev!

Focus On A Freedom Fighter #002: Courtney Carver

I really dropped the ball on this, huh? The first Focus was at least a month ago.

Today’s Focus On A Freedom Fighter is with Courtney Carver from http://www.bemorewithless.com.

Karol: Why did you join Freedom Fighters?

Courtney: I initially joined Freedom Fighters because I really enjoyed your blog. The more I read, the more I became inspired by the way you live your life and the message that you deliver.

K: How has Freedom Fighters helped you?

C: Not only am I inspired, but I am learning new things about how to deliver my message in a very authentic way.

K: What are your goals with your website?

C: I want to inspire readers to discover their dreams by getting rid of everything else that is in the way. Sometimes you have to start with something as simple as a closet, gain momentum and excitement for getting rid of excess, and then you can jump into the life changing stuff. As an aspiring minimalist, I see how quickly the small changes I make in my life result in big rewards and I want to share that. I hope that my blog will be a gateway to connecting with readers for ongoing personal coaching, public speaking opportunities and other ways to spread the message that living with less makes for a much fuller life on purpose.

K: Is there anything in particular you’d like to tell the world?

C: You don’t have to wait for the right time to start. The right time is right now.

Paying off debt = freedom.

Killing TV = time.

Uncluttering = space.

With freedom, time and space you can really BE with the ones you love.

With freedom, time and space you can do meaningful work that you love.

With freedom, time and space you can change the world.

###

Thank you so much Courtney! I love your message. Be sure to check out Courtney’s site http://www.bemorewithless.com.

If you’d like to be featured here you’ve gotta be a Freedom Fighter. ~45 days into the course you’ll get an e-mail with the subject line “[FF] get featured on RidiculouslyExtraordinary.com”. Respond to that e-mail and you might get featured! Join the Freedom Fighters here.

Happy Halloween!

You Are Somebody (Not Just A Number)

Are you more than just a number? Yes, you are …

I regularly get e-mails with statements like “I know I’m nobody and you probably won’t even read this, but …” or “I’m probably just a name on some list, but I wanted you to know …” and countless other related introductions.

You are more than just a number to me. More than just a name on a list.

That’s why this type of thing always surprises me.

Like when I mailed a postcard to 132 of you from Goa, India … many of you responded with something along the lines of “WTF! Thank you! But WTF?!” :)

It’s like showing appreciation has become the exception not the rule. If you’re the type of person who shows appreciation for others that’s a good thing. It’s easy to show appreciation and by showing appreciation it makes you the exception. It makes you stand out. You’ll be remembered. Being the exception can be a great thing.

But what I want to know is …

Why is it the exception to show appreciation?

What has happened to us? Are we too busy road raging and watching Dexter to relate to people on a human level nowadays?

Maybe it has something to do with what we discussed regarding good deeds? Maybe since so many people think “good deeds don’t count if you talk about them” people have become conditioned to not bother performing any good deeds that involve human interaction?

Originally this article was really long, dissecting this whole “I’m just a number” thing. I scrapped all of that because I learned a lot from you in the comments on the good deeds article. So I want to know what you think without tainting your ideas with my own thoughts.

Comment below or contact me here (feel free to exceed the 5 sentence e-mail rule on this one) and let me know why you think being a normal human being and showing appreciation for others has become the exception. Why do so many people feel like nameless faces, numbers, cogs in a machine? How can we fix this? Help me help us …

Good Deeds Always Count

About the disturbing notion that good deeds spoken out loud don’t count …

It's OK to tell people you help people. :)

A few weeks ago when I launched my Facebook page I asked you to share with me and the world something nice you did for somebody else that week.

A few of the public responses (as well as some private e-mails) were along the lines of “Good deeds don’t count if you tell people.”

That is crazy to me and I don’t know who started that rumor. Whoever it is I’d like to give them a talking to. ;)

I think I understand where it might be coming from. If you tell someone you did something nice for someone else it might come across as bragging. Or maybe it will come across like you only did it to tell people what a great person you are. Like maybe your motivations weren’t genuine.

To which is say: who cares?

Brag.

Tell people what a wonderful person you are.

If they have a problem with that then guess what? It’s their problem.

And as far as being genuine: if more people were nice, even if they didn’t feel genuine about it, we’d live in a much happier place. Although I definitely appreciate honesty, I’d much rather someone be nice to me even if they’d rather not be. What about you?

Maybe you get pissed off at someone who cuts in line at the coffee shop. Instead of getting pissed off, you let it go. It’s on them. Maybe you get cut off by a crazy driver on the road. Instead of getting pissed off, you let it be. Maybe you even let some people in front of you even though you’re angry and running late. Not genuine, but it would be a nice thing to do. Maybe when the person in front of you at the grocery store is struggling to find the change you toss them a dollar. Maybe you’ll feel good about it, maybe you won’t. But being nice shouldn’t be kept quiet.

I guess I could quietly give to third world entrepreneurs through Kiva. But maybe, just maybe, by telling you I made a loan it will inspire you to make a loan as well. Which is the reason I set up the RidiculouslyExtraordinary.com Kiva Lending Team. Sure it’s only 15 members strong as of this writing, but 15 members can do a lot more than I can do on my own. So I tell people about it and I link to it. Maybe some people will think I do it to brag. That’s OK. I am bragging. In sum, we have loaned over $11,000 to Third World entrepreneurs this year! That is phenomenal and it is something to brag about. Thank you for that. :)

Scream Your Good Deeds From The Rooftops

What I’m trying to say is, don’t feel like you can’t share your good deeds. If you helped someone, if you’ve done something nice, you don’t have to keep it quiet. It still counts. Maybe it doesn’t count with everybody. But it counts with me. So you’ve got at least one person on your side. Any maybe, just maybe, out of all the people you might (but probably won’t) annoy, you’ll inspire someone to do an extra good deed.

So who are you going to inspire today?

Sweet Salt-lick Saturday #028 (282 Feet Below Sea Level Edition)

Death Valley, roadrunners, licking the ground + sweet & salty links …

Last Sunday I went to Death Valley with my friends Catherine and YanYan. It was the one attraction I really wanted to visit and the main reason I stayed in Vegas after BlogWorld. Why? Well, besides the name … OK … just for the name. :) Death! Valley! It’s always had a very mysterious vibe in my mind. I’d never actually seen photos though, so I was expecting stark isolation instead of an absolutely beautiful landscape.

The photo you see above is at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. 282 feet below sea level! I’m only licking the ground because it’s a salt flat! I don’t go around licking the ground on a day-to-day basis. :)

Two more Death Valley photos before we go onward with sweet links:

So *this* is what a roadrunner looks like!

Growing up my favorite cartoon characters were Speedy Gonzales and the Road Runner because I loved running fast (short distances). Never thought I’d see a roadrunner in Death Valley! I guess they’re quite vicious animals, but they sure look cute, huh?

I'm so small, Death Valley is so big!

I highly recommend the 3 hour drive to Death Valley if you ever make it to Las Vegas. Great day trip.

Now sweet & salty links …

Passion Blogging Guide: 11 Steps To Freedom, Independence, and Getting Paid To Do What You Love by Henri Juntilla

This really shouldn’t be free, but it is. And that’s all I’ll say about that. :)

How To Make Difficult Decisions by Everett Bogue

I get this question a lot: “I have a difficult decision regarding [insert here], what do I do?!” This is a what you do: read Everett’s article. ;)

What Would You Do If You Knew You Would Not Fail? by Chris Guillebeau

I love giving people this exercise. It’s similar to “Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway.”

Focus: My new book on simplicity in the age of distractions by Leo Babauta

I actually have a review in my WordPress drafts folder of Leo’s beta version of the Focus Manifesto that I never published. I guess that’s good, because now he has released the full version! If you’re having trouble focusing, download this book, turn off your internet, and read. :)

Vagabonding Case Study with Yours Truly by Ted Beatie

Ted was kind enough to feature me on Vagablogging.net, Rolf Potts’s blog. Woohoo!

See you Monday when we talk about good deeds and why you shouldn’t keep them to yourself …

How To Do “Too Much” and Live To Tell The Tale

I used to only work on one project at a time. I’ve figured out the secret to working on more. It’s so simple …

I used to have a “problem.”

Like you, I always seem to have an overflow of ideas.

But if I’d try to work on more than one project at a time, all of the projects would suffer, and none of them would come to fruition.

You already know I preach focus. Especially if you’re just getting started in business or blogging or some other creative endeavor. Pick one thing and work on it until it’s successful or not.

But once you’ve reached a certain level of success (I don’t know what that is exactly, you’ll feel it) more opportunities begin opening up.

Some of them just aren’t right.

But some of them are absolutely kick ass.

The old me would put the kick ass ideas aside. “Ehh, I can’t work on that, I don’t have time.” Or “Ehh, I can’t work on that, I don’t want to lose focus.”

But lately I’ve completely changed my tune.

And here’s why: partners.

Partners! It’s so simple.

Find someone you get along with. Find someone who rocks. And co-create the idea. Not only does this take up less of your own mindspace, but I think it can result in a more kick ass product.

An example of all the projects I’ve been working on recently …

Just a couple of weeks ago I did the Minimalist Book Sale (aka Luxury of Less Launch). This involved 13 other kick ass people.

On November 15 is Mind Control Method. I hope I’m right in thinking that Mind Control Method will change your life. I absolutely loved creating How To Live Anywhere and writing Luxury of Less, but Mind Control Method is something unique. It’s the anti-Law of Attraction (which is a BS “law”) and it has worked for me since I was 8 years old. That’s 21 years! I’m having a ball writing/creating/mapping/brainstorming Mind Control Method. If you’ve sent in questions or suggestions I really appreciate that.

And that’s all well and good. But I’m also working on 3 other projects concurrently. One of them will see the light of day in 2010 (another 72 hour sale involving another bunch of kick ass people) but the rest are scheduled for 2011. I’m fully in the present, but that doesn’t mean the future isn’t going to happen. :)

The only reason these 3 other projects have any possibility of seeing the light of day is because I’m working on them with 3 different people. 3 other rockstars, I should say.

I love doing what I do and, as long as I have bad ass people helping out, I can take on more projects. Sometimes these partnerships just come together, but in case you could use some help …

5 Tips For Finding and Working With A Kick Ass Project Partner

Maybe finding a project partner isn’t for you. That’s cool. But if you’ve ever thought about it, this should help.

1) Don’t force anything.

If you force a project, if both of you aren’t fully into it, then don’t continue. It’s not going to work out. It won’t be easy quitting or changing directions on a project that you’ve already begun, but sometimes that’s the best option.

2) Be clear about who does what.

There will probably be overlap, but be clear on who’s creating what and how the project is being worked on. Again, there will probably be overlap where both of you work on the same things, but in general you should work on your strengths and your partner should work on theirs.

3) Be clear about your goals.

If both of you have different goals for the project it could result in lots of bad blood. Before getting started be sure you are both on the same page with what the project will and won’t be.

4) Set accountability deadlines.

When I’m working solo I don’t really deal with concrete deadlines. When working with a partner it helps for each of you to have deadlines so the project is consistently being pushed forward. A specific launch date helps to get both asses in gear. If there is no launch date then have “module launch dates.” That is, dates when certain parts of the project need to be completed.

5) Keep it light, keep it fun.

In my late teens I ran a company with 2 of my friends. I swore off ever working with partners again. I realize now that the problem wasn’t the partnership, but the fact that we didn’t have clear ideas, clear goals, accountability deadlines, and we forced it. The partnership was doomed from the start. The projects I’m currently working on all flow because they’re with people who rock *and* we keep it light. It’s not a formal, stuffy business environment. (It really can’t be since I haven’t even met 2 of them in person!)

There Is No Competition If You Build Something That Matters

There is no competition blogging and this is why …

Interesting observation.

A few weeks back at Chris Guillebeau’s Ann Arbor book tour stop (BTW, I’ll be at the Dallas stop on Oct 22 with some friends from Austin; see you there?) a group of us were talking about how great the blogging community is.

Spending time at BlogWorld this past weekend has only reinforced these thoughts. (I have lots of written/video ideas as a result of the past few days. Video will have to come later since I can’t edit on a netbook.)

Blogging is the only business I’ve ever been involved in where your “competition” wants you to go out and kick ass. It’s the only business I’ve been involved in where I genuinely feel like people actually care about me. And, to be honest, it’s the only business I’ve been involved in where I genuinely care about my fellow “competition.” (OK, enough with the quotes!)

I don’t know if it’s possible to find another business where this is the norm. (If you’re involved on one, please let me know!)

But there’s a key to get that support. See, there are millions of blogs and hundreds of thousands of bloggers. The majority are not doing anything worth a damn. And that’s OK, because a majority are probably also personal blogs that aren’t meant to be used as anything more than a journal.

If you want to parlay blogging into any sort of business, whether part time or full time, what you need to do can be best summed up by Darren Rowse:

“Build something real. Build something that matters.”

If you build something real and build something that matters, it will be impossible not to find support. The whole reason I do my Sweet Shit Saturday posts is because I like to give back and support others who are building something that matters. Sometimes that’s a newer blogger, sometimes it’s an established blogger. It doesn’t matter where you’re at at this moment, if you take Darren’s advice things will progress positively.

So the next logical question is …

How Do You Build Something That Matters?

It’s simple and it’s not so simple.

It boils down to this: solve problems.

If you solve problems you’ll create something people care about. Every single thing you do doesn’t have to solve a problem, but the collective whole should.

I’ve come up with 3 simple ideas that will help if you’re stuck solving problems.

1) Solve your own problems.

If you have problems, other people probably have that problem as well. If you chronicle solving your problems, others will learn from you because you’ve created something of value to them, something that matters to them.

You’ll see this from every single person you probably pay attention. Some way, somehow, they are solving one (or more) of your problems.

Quite a few of my articles, especially my early articles, were based on my own problems I solved. Like dandruff or excruciating stomach pain. From the beginning most of my thinking revolved around how I can solve problems. Even how to stop having problems.

2) Ask your readers what their problems are.

This is easily accomplished using a free online survey.

If you have a very small audience you can still use this. Even if only 1 person fills out your survey, at least you know exactly what one person would like you to help them with. Fantastic! As your audience grows they’ll give you more and more ideas.

A variation of this is to pay attention to your comments and e-mails. These days I get more than half of my blog ideas from comments or e-mails. Not only does this make writing what you want easier, it means I’m writing exactly what you want.

3) Add your own commentary to problems that others have solved.

Let’s say that you’ve taken another person’s advice and solved a problem using their ideas. Write about your experiences and be sure to give that person lots of credit. (Remember the beginning of this article, support each other!)

Follow these 3 strategies and you will building something that matters.

So take some time right now and ask yourself: “What problem can I solve today?”