Different Realities — Which Do You Live In?

11:05 pm

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Years ago, when I first started reading and writing about persuasion, I found myself moving further to the political right. Or, perhaps, further from the current political left.

Learning about the tools and techniques of persuasion, I could see the manipulation of the population and how easily our energy is directed.

Persuasion, at its core, is getting someone to see the benefits of an action or a believe, and to change their behavior ‘for the better’ because of it.

Manipulation, on the other hand, benefits the manipulator but not the manipulated. Rioting, anyone?

When you’re the first to mention an idea, you “win” that mind space. This is the purpose of a Blue Ocean strategy, that you define a new market and you’re the only one serving it.

But when someone already has an idea and you’re hoping to persuade them to see the benefit of its opposite? Much harder.

Continue reading “Different Realities — Which Do You Live In?”

Emerson on your Compensation from the Universe

6am on the nuts
June 26, 2019 AD
Saint Paul, Minn

I just received my copy of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Essays.

"Compensation" and other Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Compensation” and other Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Photo copyright ⓒ 2019 Jeffrey G Thomas 

This collection of Emerson’s writings includes the famous Compensation, which discusses how people who give tend to do better than those who take:

“He is great who confers the most benefits. He is base —and that is Continue reading “Emerson on your Compensation from the Universe”

10 Things I Learned from “The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday

Much of what we think of as “persuasion” is really “motivation.”

The secret to “motivating people” is to find what already motivates them, and to tap into that. Because you’re not likely to change someone’s mind, and…

people aren’t going to work against their own happiness.

"The Obstacle is the Way" by Ryan Holiday
“The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday

A great way to tap into existing motivations is to frame your argument in a way that encompasses the interests of each group. Continue reading “10 Things I Learned from “The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday”