There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad. I invited Adam Alter, NYT best-selling author, and professor at NYU, to explain the difference. I find myself walking the line between these “good” and “bad” passions. Especially when it comes to my business. You may notice the same thing. So, […]

There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad.

Before I got started packaging up my skills and expertise as online courses, I had a HUGE mental block standing between me and my success. I kept telling myself, “Why would anyone buy this? If they just buy these books, read these sites, and start testing things on their own, they’ll be able to figure […]

The psychological reason why you should sell what you know

Tim Ferriss thought about killing himself… …Now he’s a best-selling author, wildly successful investor, and entrepreneur. On this new podcast, for the first time ever, Tim Ferriss talks about his troubled beginnings — and how he became the Tim Ferriss we know today. And you can listen to the whole thing for free. We go […]

Tim Ferriss On Suicide, Fear of Failure, And The Secret to Success

I recently read Adam Braun’s new book, “The Promise of a Pencil(affiliate link)” And let me tell you – it was GREAT. I could spend this whole blog post raving about how great the book is… …But instead, I’m going to share just one story inside his book that SHOCKED me (and I’m not easily […]

HA! You won’t BELIEVE what this guy did at dinner. And that’s why he’s successful.

According to Adam Grant, the New York Times best-selling author of “Give and Take,” there are three types of people in the world. Givers. Takers. And Matchers. Which one are you? And does it matter? As you’ll soon see, the answer is YES. The most successful people in the world are Givers. But some of […]

There are three types of people – who are you?

This past weekend, the day before I was set to give the closing keynote at the financial bloggers conference, a woman walks up to me, interrupts my conversation, and says, “I won’t be at your talk tomorrow, but don’t be a douche.” “Oh?” I said. And she went on. “I don’t subscribe to your site, […]

You can’t make everyone happy – stop trying

A few weeks ago, I was browsing a book store – yes, I still do that – and I stumbled on this book called “Fooling Houdini” by Alex Stone. The title grabbed me by throat and said, “Take me home.” So I did. As I started reading the book, I realized something: I needed to […]

Crazy magician shares GREAT marketing and psychology tactics

Today I’m pumped to share the unusual story behind how Marc Ecko turned his love of street art into a billion dollar clothing company. You see, like most artists, he got the “itch” early on, but he abandoned his craft for a much more stable career move – pharmacy school. He didn’t last long though, […]

How Street Artist Marc Ecko Launched A Billion Dollar Clothing Company

When you break down some of the best sales pitches, you’ll notice something that can change your business. You’ll notice that being GREAT at sales has nothing to do with “natural talent.” (As far as I know, there’s no “sales gene.”) Instead, when you break down the pitch, you’ll find that the world’s greatest salesmen […]

Use this framework – close your next client (the return of the Social Triggers podcast)

A few weeks ago, this guy asked me “Should I quit my job to start my own business?” This guy, and many other people who read Social Triggers, need help making tough decisions just like this. Decisions like: “Should I quit my job?” “Should I start a business?” “Should I invest in my education?” “Should […]

How to Make Better Decisions In Life And Work

What’s the secret to successful viral marketing? An Ivy League professor, Jonah Berger, released a new book this week called Contagious: Why Things Catch On&lt; And in this book, he reveals a simple framework that you can use to make your content and products go viral. (That means you'll be able to entice your readers […]

Viral marketing secrets revealed by Ivy League professor Jonah Berger

This guy spits in the face of “old school sales tactics,” and I’m happy that he did it. Here’s the deal: We live in a world where we’re all in sales. You. Me. Everyone. Whether we’re trying to convince our bosses to give us a raise, persuade our children to do their homework, enticing investors […]

To Sell is Human by Dan Pink (Free Audio Download)

With the new year fast approaching, I’m setting some new goals for myself, and I’m sure you are, too. My New Year’s resolutions include breaking some of my annoying habits and making some useful ones. How will you keep your New Year’s resolutions this year? Well, that’s why I invited the New York Times best-selling […]

The science of making—and breaking—habits (with Charles Duhigg)

Before you become a highly-paid expert, you must first BE an expert. Yep… That means you can’t “fake it til you make it,” but instead, you’ve got to be a REAL expert. “How?” Ever since Malcolm Gladwell released Outliers, the world believes it takes 10,000 Hours or 10 years to become an expert. But what […]

The simple path to becoming a highly-paid expert (new podcast with Tim Ferriss)

There are words that REPEL your customers… Words that stop them—dead in their tracks—from buying whatever it is you’re selling. Words that are so prevalent that you’ll be SHOCKED to hear that they’re HORRIBLE when it comes to communicating with your prospects and customers. But today, on Social Triggers Insider, you’ll see what those words […]

How to Eliminate “Wallet Closing Words” From Your Emails, Sales Pages, and Speech

If you think, “Derek, I’ll never have to give a presentation,” consider this: You may have to land a big client, create a compelling sales video, speak at a huge conference, or go on a job interview… …It doesn’t matter. Each scenario requires a presentation, and if you want to get what you want, you […]

How to Create Great Presentations (tips from the CEO of the top presentation design firm)

Today I’m super excited to introduce the latest edition of Social Triggers Insider. You’ll learn: Why people buy what they can get for free Why you should design your website for the “Homer Simpsons” of the world Why people overvalue their work (better known as the Ikea Effect) And much, much, more In addition to […]

Why We Buy What We Can Get For Free

How would you enjoy suddenly having an influx of people, “chomping at the bit,” ready to buy whatever it is you’re selling? It would be insanely great! But what holds those people back… preventing you from experiencing the surge that you deserve… is something that I believe 95% of people (and businesses) suffer from. I […]

The #1 Sales Killer On Your Site—And How to Get Rid Of It For Good

Back when the iPhone 3G first came out, people had two options: They could buy the black iPhone or the white iPhone. You may think people made their decision based on their color preference, but as you’ll soon find out, it’s not that simple. When people buy products, the reason why they buy is mysterious […]

Why People Bought The White iPhone… When They Wanted The Black One

No matter what you do, you’re in the business of changing behavior. If you’re looking to sell products and services, you’ve got to get your target customers to switch from their trusted brands to your brand. And if you’re looking to improve yourself on a personal level, you’ve got to change your own behavior. Question […]

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