Focus and Misdirection! Five Rules of Magic (and How They Can Improve Your Persuasion Game)

When I was growing up, my Grandpa always had a joke or a magic trick at the ready. My memories of childhood aren’t well defined, quite fuzzy really, but there are stand-outs with Grandpa Damie’s magic.

"dark jack" by Akki annant, Flickr, CC-By-2.0
“dark jack” by Akki annant, Flickr, CC-By-2.0

Throughout his life and beyond, I’ve heard great things about my grandpa. People remembered his generosity and personal touch. He would receive Christmas cards and accolades years after seeing old friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

How did my Grandpa Damie have such an impact on people?

An impact that was remembered long after? Continue reading “Focus and Misdirection! Five Rules of Magic (and How They Can Improve Your Persuasion Game)”

Use This Easy Visual to Help Build Rapport

Here’s a shocker that you may have heard from me beforePeople want to help other people that they like!

"Friends :-)" by @BK, Flickr, CC-By-2.0
Do your friends make you feel good? “Friends :-)” by @BK, Flickr, CC-By-2.0

When people like you, they want to help you. They want to spend time with you. They want to do business with you.

So how do you get people to like you? How do you build that rapport? Continue reading “Use This Easy Visual to Help Build Rapport”

10 Things I Learned from Andrew DeYoung, award-winning author of “The Exo Project” (Persuasion Play Podcast episode 002)

Andrew DeYoung has wanted to be a writer since he started reading Chapter Books in grade school.

And while Andrew’s been a writer for decades, his first published novel has made a splash.

The Exo Project was the winner of the 2017 Minnesota Book Awards for Young Adult Literature! Congratulations Andrew!

exoproject

I am lucky enough to live across the street from Andrew. We spent an evening together drinking whiskey, chatting about his writing, and discussing the need for validation that comes with the creative process.

Check it out! Continue reading “10 Things I Learned from Andrew DeYoung, award-winning author of “The Exo Project” (Persuasion Play Podcast episode 002)”

Creating Your Happiness

You probably already know how easily life flows when you’re happy. Would you be surprised to know that some people choose happiness? You might even know someone who chooses unhappiness. It’s a lot easier. For the people around them, however, their constant complaining is draining.

Image "Put your hands up in the air" by Thomas Leuthard, Flickr, CC-By-2.0
Image “Put your hands up in the air” by Thomas Leuthard, Flickr, CC-By-2.0

Yep, it’s a choice to be happy. It’s not always easy.

We don’t get to choose what happens in the world.

We do get to choose our reactions. As the Tao Te Ching puts it: Continue reading “Creating Your Happiness”

Be a Creator of Beauty (My Life in Advertising: Chapters 14 and 15)

I really like buying things. Things I don’t need, things I do need, things I think I’ll need later. A delayed delivery doesn’t stop this — Kickstarter hasn’t been my wallet’s best friend.

Mind the Gap. It's used to pique your interest and direct your behaviour. Image "Mind the Gap" by Larry Johnson, Flickr, CC-By-2.0
Mind the Gap. It’s used to pique your interest and direct your behaviour. Image “Mind the Gap” by Larry Johnson, Flickr, CC-By-2.0

We’re all victims of this psychological hook that advertisers use: they create a “gap” in your life. The gap could be the beginning of a story, leaving us hanging. The gap could be a heightened interest in a limited offer. Continue reading “Be a Creator of Beauty (My Life in Advertising: Chapters 14 and 15)”