There’s 2 things people really hate: undecisive people and cancelled meetings.

But what the hell are you supposed to do if you like your freedom?

Maybe the best solution of all: gather as much information as you need to make a good decision, say you’ll decide at a specific time, decide at that time and whatever you do, DO NOT change your mind after that.

Just don’t fuck up your relations by not keeping your promises. People won’t believe you anymore, they start losing their trust in you. Initially, when you just meet someone new, they will usually give you a lot of trust. Whenever you do something good, you get some extra. But when you do bad things or fuck things up, your container of trust will get empty real soon.

People’s goodwill, people’s trust in you is one of the most important things in life. Guard it with all your might

Alternatively, they’re brilliant writers who just don’t have a clue on how to promote their blog.

Everything’s set, you’re ready to go and then you realise no-one knows about you or your blog.

Then you go searching for the keywords ‘promoting your blog’ and you get all these bullshit tips like Use Twitter or Participate In Blog Carnivals or Start A Second Blog And Link To Yourself.

Idiots.

I’m sure I can do better.

1) Write with a fierce passion, about something you care deeply about. If you don’t like writing it, people won’t like reading it.

2) If after a few months of dedicated writing your blog still looks like an Indian beach after someone yelled ‘Tsunami’, change your approach.

3) Ask fellow bloggers if you can guestpost and/or share links. And with fellow bloggers, I do not mean the top bloggers of your niche. I mean the bloggers who get slightly more visitors than you.

4) Don’t be a douchebag. Create real value and promote it the right way and you’ll get rich. Trying to scam people into believing that your content is valuable doesn’t work. Believe me.

That’s pretty much everything you need to know. Still easier to get comfortable in front of the tv and watch Lost, isn’t it?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.