Some links may be affiliate links. I may earn money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on this site.
Rob Knowlan is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Handmade Gifts
Well, I got my presents for my daughters made and wrapped. I have an idea for my younger son that I’ll need to work on over the next couple of days. Why do I do this? Do you really need to ask? I love my kids and Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love being able to give my kids a mountain of presents. Half of the fun of Christmas gifts is the process of unwrapping them. The anticipation of what kind of treat lies within is a present in itself.
Share your gifts
Okay, gushing on a bit about how much I like to spoil my kids got me thinking how this applies to information marketing. Anybody can do what I did. I’ll tell you what it was after they’ve opened their presents on Christmas Day, but really anyone could do it. The thing is, would anyone do it? Isn’t it easier to just go to the store and get a present that someone else made? Sure it is, but the heart of gift-giving is you.
So it is with information marketing. Any yahoo can tell you how to lose weight, gain wealth, deepen your relationship, etc. Only you can give your perspective on the matter. You’re giving the gift of you to people who might not resonate with all of the rest of the established experts. Maybe people can’t relate to a cast iron behemoth or a just-so hottie in a crop top. Maybe you’re the Average Joe type that people are waiting for. Maybe people don’t want Learjets and Lamborghinis jammed down their throats. Maybe you’re the one they’re looking to who can just help them catch up on their bills and have a little extra left over for vacations. Maybe people don’t want to bang half of the desperate barflies in their zip code. Maybe they just want you to help them figure out what they’re really looking for so they can screw up the courage and ask the right person to share their life with them.
We all have our unique perspective to bring to our chosen niche. Maybe you’re the Lamborghini guy. Maybe you’re the simple abundance guy. Either way, you’ve got an audience waiting for you. When you establish who you are and what you’re bringing to the table, you’re going to start setting some expectations. Your folks are going to gather around waiting to see what you brought them. Every day can be like Christmas when you deliver your heart in your content. Share your passion and care for your audience. Give them the gift of you. Believe me, they’re waiting.
Some More Rules
Rule #41: Profit is its own reward
Y’think?
Rule #42: Not yet cited in Star Trek episodes, movies or novels
Surprisingly, Rule #42 was never cited in the show or other official channels. Every sci-fi geek knows that 42 is the answer to the question that was posed to the computer known as Deep Thought regarding the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Perhaps they thought it would be too daunting a challenge to assign an appropriate rule to this number. Click here to read an article about how Douglas Adams came to decide on 42 and a vast array of people trying to make sense of it.
Rule #43: Feed your greed, but not enough to choke it
Oddly enough, this reminds me of a classic quote from Mr. Spock in the Original Series.
Stonn, she is yours. After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting.
You’ll have to watch the episode Amok Time to understand the context, but in terms of the Rule there is something to be said for moderation in all things.
People want their happily ever after, but they don’t realize how boring it is once they have it. If you could have everything you ever wanted right now, would you take it? What would you have to look forward to?
It pays to have milestones rather than a gigantic jackpot. Always leave a little room so you can savor the next morsel. Always leave a little room on the horizon for exploration. Always have something to look forward to and enjoy what you have while you have it. That’s gratitude and hope. We need to have a good measure of both.
Rule #44: Never confuse wisdom with luck
This is a big one. In fact, it takes a fair amount of wisdom to recognize how much of your good fortune has been entirely due to luck. Personally, I’m quite aware that serendipity has played a tremendous role in my life. People can’t stand leaving things to chance. They like to control. They like to plan to the Nth Degree. They like to live in the delusion of being in control. That’s why they’re so gobsmacked when it all goes to pieces.
I prefer to roll with it more like a ski slalom. There are some smooth areas and there are some bumps, jumps, trees and moguls. Try as you might, you can’t stay entirely on the smooth and simple. Sometimes you have to jump. Sometimes you have to dodge. Sometimes you just need to drop your tuchus into the snow and come to an untimely halt. Wisdom is the gained skill of knowing which to do when and dealing gracefully with the times when you have absolutely no choice at all.
Rule #45: Expand or die
Do you really want to be a one trick pony? Obviously, you need to do something to get on people’s radar but don’t bury yourself in the part. Expanding your portfolio of skills makes you more marketable and resilient. Expanding your portfolio of investments makes you less subject to market fluctuations. Expanding your offerings makes you more profitable. Expanding your knowledge makes you smarter. Expanding your relationships makes you more relatable. Keep on growing. Keep on producing. Keep on contributing. Keep on keeping on or else you’ll drift away.
Alrighty, then. I started off with pretty much no idea of what I was going to say and now I’ve said it anyway. I hope you found it interesting and helpful. Happy Holidays, everyone.