How To Become Wildly Popular

In Blog, Business and Life

Was It A Dumb Idea To Start This Blog?

Apr 7

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in About This Blog | 6 Comments

There are millions of blogs out there with pretty much the same content as this one. What the hell am I trying to do? Do I want to get rich by blogging? Do I want to earn passive income? Is it the promise of fame and fortune?

You might argue that partly, yes, it is. I do want to get famous. I do want 150000+ people who read my blog via an RSS feed daily. I do want thousands of people following me on Twitter. I am curious what it feels like to get a hit on Digg. I wouldn’t say no to some blogging dollars.

But the truth is: I know this is only possible if you’re a very good writer. If you know how to play the audience. If you are a marketing GOD.

Then why the hell do I do this?

The answer, surprisingly simple, is that I BELIEVE that one day, I will be the most awesome writer in all of humanity. I will know how to fuck with my audiences mind ;)

I believe that it’s the mix of good writing skills, humour and the fresh distillation and combination of old ideas that will make this one of the best blogs ever.

Because of one thing I am sure:

Every thing has been done before. Every word has been said before. But not with MY creative juices mixed in it ;)

Better start believing.

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Arrogance Is What Makes People Want To Kill You

Apr 5

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Becoming a Popular Person | No Comments

This is common sense, but it’s easy to forget when you’re in narcissistic mode (you know, that day of the year when you are awesome, when all of humanity but you is complete crap, when you love yourself to death, when you say to yourself in the mirror God I’m Gorgeous.)

There are four possible ways of behaving towards other people: as if you both suck, as if you are the best and the other guy sucks, as if you are the loser and everyone else is great and as if everyone (including you) is great.

Obviously, the last option is the best. “I Am Great, But Everyone Else Is Too” is the best way to relate to other people.

Recently I met a great guy in Serbia. He was the organiser of a big event, and he had a LOT of responsibilities. He looked very tough. In fact, he looked like the kind of wanker that wouldn’t want to have anything to do with anyone who’s less cool than him. In reality though, he was one of the greatest guys I had ever met. He talked to EVERYONE. He had this weird, unexpected sensitive side, too. He LIKED everyone. He was important, but he made you feel important, too.

These are the kind of people we like.

Try to be one of them.

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Do Not Criticize

Mar 2

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Becoming a Popular Person | No Comments

After spending your whole life around people, interacting with them, you’d think you’d get how and why they behave the way they do, right?

Turns out, most of us still don’t.

When you criticize someone, you will not get through to them. They will NOT change their attitude. They will not even admit that they did something wrong. IF anything, they will start defending themselves, they will start seeking excuses.

You cannot change people’s behaviour by criticizing them.

People DO however respond to praise.

When you praise them and give them a reward when they do well, they WILL change their behaviour.

The key: never criticize for bad behaviour, always praise for good behaviour.

It’s that simple.

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People Think I’m Weird

Nov 20

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Becoming a Popular Person | 1 Comment

And you know what? I fucking LOVE it!

Being an extreme version of myself, bringing out all my quirks…

It’s my best decision yet.

Since I started a blog about personal development, since I publicly speak about every weird thing I did, since I joined Toastmasters and started telling everyone about it, …

People think I’m a weirdo.

But they like me. And they think I’m funny.

Be different. Stand out. Even if that means people might not like you.

if you have the guts to be hated, people will LOVE you.

In a country/environment where people start laughing when I tell them I blog about personal growth, where people ask me ‘what the hell is it and why would anyone need it?’ if I tell them about Toastmasters, where my friends make fun of me because I tell them I will make a full income online, …

They think I’m crazy. And yet they’re intrigued.

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This Might Be The Most Important Lesson You’ll Ever Learn

Nov 16

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Uncategorized | No Comments

Power is NEVER given. Power is taken.

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Social Proof #2

Nov 15

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Becoming a Popular Person | No Comments

Ever thought about this?

If YOU tell me that you’re CEO of a multi million dollar company, I will be WAY less impressed than if SOMEONE ELSE tells me you are a CEO of a multi million dollar company.

HUH? It’s exactly the same information, right?!

Yeah, SOCIAL PROOF at work.

If you tell people about your accomplishments, they see it as bragging and/or lying.

If someone else tells it, people unconsciously think “WOW, why the hell does this guy tell all that about this other guy? This other guy must be seriously high up the ladder!!”

THIS IS HOW THE HUMAN BRAIN WORKS.

So, make sure people are constantly talking about you in a good way.

You’ll get skyrocketed to the top of the social ladder.

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Social Proof #1

Nov 15

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in About Blogging, Growing Your Business, Marketing | No Comments

The instant people come to your website, they form an opinion about your writing. NOT based on your writing, but on how many subscribers you have, on how many comments you get on your posts and on the general layout of your website.

All these things tell people if OTHER people like your website. If other people like it, chances are THEY’LL LIKE IT TOO. Well, at least that’s what’s going on in most people’s minds unconsciously.

So basically, SUCCESS actually creates MORE success.

People who are successful get MORE things done, just because they GOT THINGS DONE IN THE PAST.

It actually makes sense if you think about it.

 

SO, by all means, if you are trying to make your website popular, SHOW OFF your site statistics as much as you can if they’re any good.

SHOW YOUR PROGRESS.

There are people on the Internet who make A LOT of money JUST by TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE.

Just to show you that I’m not lying.

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Get The First Yes

Nov 15

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in About Blogging, Becoming Successful, Growing Your Business | No Comments

Turns out, if you can get one person to say yes, you can get hundreds or thousands to say yes.

What do you want people to say yes to?

- Erica Douglass

The shoe salesman who sold 50 shoes KNOWS that selling 500 is no problem at all anymore.

The blogger with 50 subscribers KNOWS he can easily get 500.

Shy guys, as soon as one girl says ‘yes’, you’ll KNOW the sky’s the limit.

It all comes down to getting that first YES.

Once the shoemaker sells 500 shoes, he KNOWS 5000 is a piece of cake.

As long as he LEARNS FROM HIS MISTAKES.

ASK QUESTIONS.

Listen. Learn. Adapt.

 

There is no sky, guys.

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Popularity Rule #1

Nov 13

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Becoming a Popular Person | No Comments

PEOPLE DON’T LIKE PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE THEM.

This is pretty much the basic rule of popularity.

Make people feel loved and popular. And they will adore you. They will want to spend more time with you, because you give them that special feeling.

Give people value and they’ll come crawling back for more.

There aren’t a lot of people who provide REAL value, so if you can be one of them, that would be absolutely amazing.

Think a moment about all the people who give you that warm, fuzzy feeling.

And pass it on to others :)

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Reciprocity 101

Nov 13

Posted by Thomas Boogaerts in Becoming a Popular Person | 1 Comment

HELP PEOPLE OUT BEFORE THEY ASK YOU.

HELP OTHER PEOPLE FIRST BEFORE ASKING THEM FOR HELP.

ALWAYS ASK THE QUESTION ‘WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU’ INSTEAD OF ‘WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME’.

People tend to like you if you do.

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