What’s the “Frequency” of Your Speed of TRUST?
In 2006, my good friend Stephen M.R. Covey wrote his international best-seller, Speed of Trust – The One Thing That Changes Everything.
“Trust is common to every individual, relationship, team, family, organization, nation, economy and civilization is the least understood, most neglected and underestimated possibility of our time.”
Stephen also makes this critical observation: “Trust impacts us 24/7, 365 days a year. It affects the quality of every relationship, every communication, every work project, every business venture, every effort in which we are engaged.”
From my own marketing experience … all 349 pages of that remarkable book can be summed up with this Marketing Formula:
[Predictability] x [Frequency] = “Accelerated” Trust
In other words, the more “frequently” you prove your “predictability” … the faster you build your speed Trust. And there’s no better recent example than on the blog (AlexMandossian.com) you’re visiting right now.
Because of my “busy” schedule, I made the egregious mistake of posting only one time between April 10th and April 29th.
How egregious of a mistake was it?
According to my Blog Traffic Manager - Cathy Perkins, my total number of unique visitors dwindled from April’s high of 2,005 visitors a day (on 4/11) to the month’s low of 479 visitors per day (on 4/27).
Do the math. I did … and I quickly discovered how by not posting with “predictable frequency” I lost the Trust of over 75% of my students.
Shame on me.
And so in the spirit of regaining that Trust (perhaps even with you, my reader), I’m making a public declaration right here, right now on this blog post.
Ready?
Okay, here it is: “I intend to publish blog posts twice a week (at least) from this day forward.”
End of story :-)
When you come to think about it, it’s not too difficult to post twice a week on a blog, no matter how busy you are. You have a couple of options that can almost instantly boost the productivity of your weekly blog posting capacity.
Of course, the simplest option is to pre-write several pairs of blog posts a few weeks at a time. Easy. Another option I favor even more is to reach out to students and clients and ask them to submit posts on a “topic of expertise.”
My topic of expertise is the tagline of my header on this blog. Check it out now because it reads: ”Practical Marketing Tips for Information Publishers, Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurial CEOs.”
So … if you’re a “poster child” student of mine from any of my Virtual Book Tour Secrets, Teleseminar Secrets, Stick Strategy Secrets or Traffic Conversion Secrets tele-courses, please notify me (in the “Comments” section below) that you’d like to become a “contibuting Editor” on this blog.
Sound good?
After you do, I’ll have one of my Team Members contact you directly (within a few days) to find out if you qualify.
Key Point: Please do not include your phone number in your comment. If you’re a student in good standing, we’ll find your number in our database.
Above all, remember “Predictability x Frequency = Trust.” That’s also true for bloggers, stay-at-home moms, kids, bosses, clergy, Entrepreneurial CEOs and anyone else you can think of.
I hope my “knee-skinning” experience in between April 10th and 29th (20 days of not posting) has taught you the lesson of why it’s critically important post predictability and frequently.
By doing so. you’ll give your students, prospects, clients or customers more “marketing food” to devour week after week so you will obtain (and maintain) the one thing that changes everything: Trust.
Tags: alex mandossian, blog, book publishing, book tour, info, information marketing, post, stephen covey, trust
Hi Alex:
I do believe the “predictability” is important, but I have questions about the “frequency” part of this discussion.
Following the Agora information to get emails, newsletters and blog posts out as often as possible, we were sending newsletters every week and making daily blog posts. Our traffic and sales didn’t move.
This year we started making occasional posts to the blog (several times a week) and sending the newsletter every two weeks. Surprisingly, we have a big increase in sales AND a lot more subscriber participation and feedback. The only thing we’ve changed is the frequency of the newsletter, making it less instead of more.
I know that I subscribe to several ezines that I really like, but sometimes it seems that I receive them so often that I just don’t have time for them. Sometimes I delete them without even opening them.
Do you have any thoughts about “how much is too much”?
Excellent post- people buy from people they trust; that trust is built by being consistent in your message regular in it delivery. THa tis how true Top of Mind Awareneness works. Great blog, great info (as usual) Alex.
http://www.single-track-agent.blogspot.com
Alex:
Welcome back. I’m often amazed at the lack of new posts when I check the RSS feeds on iGoogle.
Makes it easier to manage time online, though, with a quick delete or unsubscribe.
Please let us know how the uniques change with the more frequent posts.
Love to all.
Hi Alex!
Don’t despair. I have moments when I neglect my blogging duties when client work, coaching and big projects get in the way. Like you, my website is also my blog, so if I don’t update it often (with valuable, useful and timely content)it’s just not as good. I’ve just recently made the commitment to post 2x a week also after much grumbling from my coaching students. By the way, I wouldn’t have coaching students if it weren’t for me taking your Virtual Book Tour course last year. It has done wonders for my bottom line and confidence. Because of what I’ve learned from you and what I’ve tested in my own business, I am now viewed as a Virtual Book Tour and Online Book Promotion expert, so thank you :).
I would be honored to be a Contributing Editor on your blog and look forward to hearing from one of your team members.
All the best,
Tynisha Thompson
http://www.booksavvymedia.com
It would be an honor & privilege to contribute on Alex’s blog! :)
Hi Alex,
I can identify with your comments about losing trust when your blogging patterns are no longer predictable.
During the months of February and March, I did less blogging than normal. As a result, most of the visitors to my blog are new visitors. Reading your post is a reminder that I need to get back on the horse and blog with more predictability and frequency so my readers will learn to trust me again and come back with more regularity.
Thanks for the post,
John Watkis
http://www.wellwrittenwellsaid.com/successfulspeechesblog
What consequence are you going to put in place if you don’t post twice a week as promised?
Alex,
Great Post.
I trust is the glue that holds success together. Without trust you have nothing.
And the most important aspect of trust is self trust. Keeping promises you make to yourself.
Once you can keep those with consistency you’ll gain more trust from others.
Here’s to Your LifetoSuccess,
John Clark
http://www.lifetosuccess.com
http://www.habitbustingsystem.com
Alex,
Thank you for your knowledge; at least I am in good company. Learning from you makes me feel better. I too, am behind in my blogging, but I have not had much new info to write about.
Hi Alex,
Blogs absolutely eat content … don’t they? Posting relevant content regularly is a big task. Harder than it looks.
Reading your blog is always refreshing – relevant ideas. I enjoy your podcast as well ( although that bit where you and Paul raved on about how the Zune was gonna be all that – not on board there mate.)
See you again in Vancouver, really looking forward to it!
Thanks for the reminder about the power and NEED for trust in our everyday actions … :)!! Happy May Day to you.
Alex – you have our compassion! We too are “blog challenged” – wanting to post frequently and getting distracted by all the projects we are committed to.
AND – Please consider us for Guest Editorship
on your blog.
Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski
http://www.bridgingheartandmarketing.com/platformbonus
Alex,
Kudos to you for being as transparent as most people should when they make a mistake. It is a great lesson for all of us. I just wish we’d see that more in the green arena.
I write a blog 3 times a week and find it challenging. I often think it would be easier to skip a week, but I have noticed the same drop off in visitors.
Great blog post!
Colette Chandler
The Green & LOHAS Marketing Expert
http://www.marketing-insider.com
http://www.keyboard-culture.com
Great post Alex… In my own busy schedule it’s easy to spend time doing things for your business you think is helping but then fail to realize a simple post to a blog or something else that’s predictable can do 10 times more!
Mike Hill
Thanks for that reminder!
hi alex.great work.you are really living up to expectation.your formula P+F=TRUST IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.i guess we will take your word for it until you prove untrustworthy.so two postings a week.have a happy weekend.kofi
Hi Alex,
One of the best marketing tactics with regard to keep folks informed and engaged I’ve seen anyone put into action is Clayton Makepeace’s Total Package. He simply puts all of his weekly blogs into a The Week In Review e-mail so that as a second reminder you can catch up on all Clayton’s doings. The strategy forces he or Wendy or any one of his contributors to blog on a regular basis and then if you don’t have time to read any specific blog you can catch up on all of his and his associates in one fell swoop.
Sounds like you’ll be able to use this “Week In Review” strategy once you line up all of your contributors.
Another of very my favorite reads is the Publicity Hound Ezine by Joan Stewart, one of the net’s best PR experts who faithfully publishes her six to seven topic Publicity Hound Ezine every Tuesday. It’s a no-brainer read with all of her topics and doings listed right in the e-mail. Same format every Tuesday so you know what to look for with hyperlinks to the appropriate URLs embedded right in the e-mail. Quick read, lots of great content about everything from marketing plans to PR for book authors.
Okay, I’ve added my professional two cents. Enjoy.
Kudos to
I think it’s safe to say we are all perpetual students forever learning. The more we learn, the more we realize we know nothing.
Wasn’t that something Socrates was quoted for? “I know nothing.”
I used to think that line was a cop out back in high school, but as time goes on, I understand that more and more.
The internet is a big big BIG place. A few weeks in the internet world is a like half a lifetime and people can drop you from their busy schedule.
Having people remember you takes diligent effort, persistence and consistency. But if we’re doing it right, it won’t seem like work.
Thank you Alex,
terry p carter
Great Timing Alex – My blog is hosted on an international website with great exposure – Recently – like you – I procrastinated about posting
and my blog was removed from the front page of this well known and respected web site (fxstreet.com) yesterday!
They asked that I post twice a week – and then they will put it back up on the main page. (Sounds familiar!)
At first I was upset at them – but I quickly recognized that it was my own fault. The fact is it takes time to post – but in the time I have written this….. well you get the idea.
Alex – I would love to see if we can help each other, let me know. Have your staff contact me – or better yet, I would love to talk with you personally.
Jerry Furst
blog: http://1stonforex.fxstreet.com/
website: http://www.investors-education-network.com
PS – What are your thoughts about my blog being posted on someone elses web site?
Alex –
Your post was quite synchronistic since I too had been lax in posting but I get the prize — I was out for nearly 6 weeks!! I too have re-committed to posting 2x/week and am developing a strategy for content as well as timing. Having an inspirational website I am tempted to wait for inspiration to hit before I write . . . but I know the Universe will provide me with all the inspiration and content I need as long as I ask for it — and so it I’m asking now! Thanks Universe! and Thanks Alex!
Hi Alex,
I’ve got to confess, I’m guilty of this as well. I operate a few different blogs and I can definitely tell the difference when I post regularly and when I don’t. I’m renewing my commitment to my subscribers and readers just like you have by promising to stick to my schedule and release new content on a regular basis.
Thanks for “parting the kimono” a little bit and being transparent. It’s a lesson we can all learn from.
Mike Paul
http://www.pikemalltech.com
Full of truths here thank YOU.
Great time for me to take a looksy at what and how I too blog and make similar decisions.
Expect Miracles…
Shane Belceto
HUB – Where We Connect to Change Our World
Hi Alex,
This is one of my favorite books! It is a must read for any business person, and for everyone really.
I would love to help you with a few posts.
Cathy Perkins also reviewed my blog. She gave me great feedback and suggestions that I will implement.
Best regards,
Gail
Hi Alex,
I sometimes fall behind in making posts as well. It is often not intentional but other things just get in the way.
I admire the regularity with which Stephen Pierce does his blogging on DTAlpha TalkBack. He has taken your philosophy with respect to writing with your mouth and not your hand wholeheartedly on board.
I guess though that what is important is that when we do blog that our posts are informative and thought-provoking. And that is certainly what I strive for.
Thank you for sharing your intention – accountability is a powerful tool.
Nickolove
Skyline Coaching Blog
It’s like the Law of Circulation, you have to give in order to get. Blogging is so personal and informal, it really creates a connection with people.
I find that as long as I keep studying and acquiring more information every week, I will always have something to share. By me sharing it, I get to understand it even better.
Alex, thank you for contributing to me, so I can contribe to others.
Tarley Reed
Hi Alex,
I appreciate your candor about posting. I prefer a less frequent schedule because it does feel like a lot of pressure. Still, I think you give us outstanding content always and I would love to be able to give back and make a contribution to your blog. You might remember me from Mega Book last Feb when we talked about my hugely-successful teleseminar launch! Warmly, Christine
Alex,
Trust is important because… it builds relationships. When you trust someone, it is both natural and normal to want a relationship with them. No surprise there or at least it shouldn’t be. However in 40 years of business I would have to say this formula makes no sense to me. I have found the quality and type of contact to be crucial. If that content is too frequent, too full of fluff or lacking in value, no matter how frequent or predictable, no trust, just annoyance.
Is your blog personal, professional or both? Personal blogs can many times be considered out of date in 24 hours. Professional a few days. What works for you and your readers? You found out and are to be commended for that. You made a commitment to post more often. Good stuff!
However my concern becomes this – is this a place to connect with us on a more personal level or to build trust for some other reason? I make this observation as a question in many readers minds I have to deal with frequently. When contact is lost, the nature of the blog already tainted because of lack of contact, questions are raised regarding the reasons. Admit it or not, I have run head long into this only when I finally tracked down a few willing to spill the beans.
It wasn’t so much the lack of contact that bothered them, it was my sudden “rebirth” that left questions. Why? Many acknowledged they trusted me far more than anyone else, my record was beyond reproach, but the lack of contact was seen as a lack of commitment to maintaining a RELATIONSHIP with them.
Yes trust is an important part of any relationship for it to be successful. But isn’t the bottom line building, developing and maintaining our relationships? Life is a relationship. With the bank, the checker in the store, friends, family and ultimately business. Do you see all of them, no matter how irrelevant they may seem, as important?
Several times I have waited in long lines at the store, come up to a frazzled and angry checker ready for another barrage of bitching about poor service. I then proceeded to make a joke of the wait, asked how soon they got a break and I bet it was nice to get away for awhile, etc. The relief in their face was priceless. I left them happy, smiling and laughing. It’s a challenge at times but a welcome one. My relationship with her resulted in my getting out quickly, they were happier when I left than when I came and I felt good about being able to make a difference, no matter how small.
Is it any wonder I’m remembered where I shop? We all like to feel appreciated. Do those around you feel appreciated no matter how small the encounter? It’s amazing how far just a smile and acknowledgment will make a difference in someones day.
For me a blog is a chance to stay in contact. A contact that says you matter to me in a more personal way. You are important to me. There’s a reason why a joke or cartoon will often be the most remembered part of a newsletter. Think about it…
David
Hey Alex,
Trust must be in the air – it was the topic of my session with my business coach last week.
fyi- in case it is helpful, you can setup your tweets to post to your blog for more frequent updates.
I’d love to contribute to personal empowerment content on this blog.
Warm Regards,
Fran
Oh Alex, thank god you are human! The volume of content you pump out can be daunting for us – even those of us who think we’ve got our stuff together ;)
I’d be honored to contribute it will help me stay honest too.
Thanks again for everything
Love n laughter
Shelley
Hi Alex,
Isn’t it interesting that not only your fequency dramatically changed things but so did the number of comments that you received with only a simple request. It was at an average of about 2 and this blog was up to 25 when I wrote in. Thats alomost a 1200% increase from a simple request -nice.
I never noticed that grey button before. Perhaps it went unused because it blends into the site.
James
I certainly believe in the formula and due to my busy schedule have slacked on my blogging and follow up with potential clients. Thanks for the reminder about how important this is in building trust with my students and clients as well.
Annette Pieper
I am just commenting on your blog article, not applying for a contributing poster position, please….
I just wanted to let you know that although the stastistics may speak to the fact that your blog readership has dropped off a bit…., they do not reflect me or MY level of trust for you. I do love reading and listening to ANYTHING by you Alex and I was not one of those statistics….just because I have been busy with other things lately.
Your emails always get my attention and fortunately I was able to attend the Look Before You Leap Virtual Book Tour last night and loved it!
I REALLY TRUST YOU …BIG TIME ALEX :-) Thanks for everything you do, you are SO MY GURU!!
Well, I am not such big fan of “speed as such”, to me, depends on “intrinsic” or “extrinsic” speed. Alex, i am much more interested in consistent and honest, congruent connection, even if it isnt that frequent. if you pressure yourself, then you will burnt out :-), which results in even lesser posting. What i find a good idea, is this “admitting” thing, because i feel, that opens me up. :-).
And it feels more like a equal discussion, feels empowering, actually.
Alex….would love to contribute to your blog. My expertise is how the mind affects our ability to be creative.
Thanks for sharing your insight…..it is much appreciated.
Gwen Fox
To get a routine is the hardest once you start to blog. At the beginning it might easy, fun, and time does not count. Later it is changing. It is like in a relationship depending on the effort you put in to show your love and care for the other, in this case your blog readers.
I have a blog myself and for me it is a little hard to have frequent posts. Most of the times I think the information is not good or I have nothing to say that would be interesting enough for my readers. As a result there are times I do not post for longer. But if you are a blogger this is the road to death. I try to solve my gap in blog posts by inviting others to write on my blog as well, outsource the smart way by offering a win/win solution. This way I add value for my readers by giving different perspectives. Still you have to make sure to post 3 times a week and let the world know that you did.
Alex you hit the spot with this post and I hope you will be able to get the routine.
Anja Shau
Alex,
As a numbers person I learned that numbers don’t lie. What you wrote “April’s high of 2,005 visitors a day (on 4/11) to the month’s low of 479 visitors per day (on 4/27). “ Made me feel as if I’ve been trucked by a lightning, we have lots of them in Florida. In a matter of only 2 weeks time, you lost 76.1% of your visitors, because you didn’t post. I got you LOUD and CLEAR. Thank you!
I had NO clue. If this drastic effect takes place within 2 weeks what happen to all the people who post once every moth or 2 or 5? It’s probably as good as not having any blog at all. WOW. I am guilty of committing this crime too.
Now that I know I am going to post an article and a blog post, telling people about the amount of business they are loosing and don’t even know. Your post, (the source) will be referred and have a click back to you. Check it out on http://www.ArticlesByRacheli.com and http://www.YourMortgageCafe.com.
To your and everyone’s continued success
Racheli Smilovits 954-567-7300
infoi@loans-4-u.com
http://www.loans-4-u.com
Bio http://www.MeetRacheli.com
We will be honored so serve one of your referrals in Florida
Your content no matter how delivered is cogent and engaging. Your predictability comes from your teachings in your various incarnations. Whether you are the Rector at the Teleseminary or the speaker with Paul on Podcasts Secrets, you are very predictable, and your processes transparent,helpful and easily comprehended. On a blog I agree that you have to set a standard of posting , as you do in your critical thinking times or your other programs. More people exposed to your seminary subjects, whatever they are on, with no Polish, or Podcast will come to you regularily to experience the clarity of vision and depth of conviction which makes it almost impossible to not know,like or trust you. The more often I hear you, the better.
I look forward to seeing and hearing you at the Speed Money Seminar in Vancouver on the 7-10th of May. I hope to continue my seminary studies for years to come.
Alex…Timely as many have remarked. Being new to blogging to bring readers to my site, my own commitment was to blog weekly (!). My blogging dwindled to once a month and then I missed my deadline for at least one posting for April. After listening this week to a recording of Suzanne Falter-Barnes from the 2007 International Coach Federation (ICF) Conference, I have resolved to post 3 to 4 times per week – Suzanne’s minimum recommendation. Some postings will be read, others not. However, I expect Google to bring more readers to my site the more I blog. Sharing your experience and your new resolve adds further reinforcement for my resolve.
http://www.maestroquality.com/blog/index.php
Big A in a nice way- one idea is make one post short,sweet and to the point. A success story that inspires us to to not keep Teleseminarsecrets secret anymore. They could be from your Students, Affiliates and JV partners. Share the success we all enjoy from your mentoring, thanks
Hi Alex,
Thank you for this post. It is amazing how you have been building your own popularity in such a short time. All based on the trust you are inspiring.
My wish is to work with you one day and bring goodness to the world.
Marie
http://satvatove.com
Like Alex always says, “Know, like, and trust.” The faster you can build trust the greater your sales.
Thanks for a great interview Alex.
Hi Alex,
Thanx for sharing the results of your procrastination practice. I’m currently pondering ‘what’z the opportunity here?’–about the fact that I’m probably your ‘poster child’ for the longest lapse between blog entries! oh sigh……. six Months………
Now, at your prompting, time to take action–& find that Expertised Person who can help with the steep learning curve of technical glitches on a membership site. Any of you EPs currently reading this? Guess I’m getting ready to ‘leap into action’.
Another key thing is to make sure you reply to the comments in your blog.
I don’t think it’s so much about a specific frequency but about coming across as being authentically concerned with helping your readers rather than helping your marketing.
I’ve recently begun implementing the strategies taught in Teleseminar Secrets and Podcast Secrets. The courses are fantastic.
The material is very thorough but even so I find that along the way there are dozens of little questions to consider, the answers to which are not so obvious. I think this would excellent blog material – sort of like a “Advice from the Battlefield” section. Of course, I’d be happy to contribute :)
I original purchased Podcasts Secrets with my business partner Guru Kaur. I believe its in her name. Thanks!
Alex,
Thanks for the enlightening post.
It never occurred to me before to consider Predictability “Of” Frequency.
Not neccessarily “frequency” being as important as to be able to “predict” the frequency.
I’ll see you in Vancouver, when you get here. ;-)
Cheers,
Mark.
Alex,
What you are talking about is a principle well established in my own spiritual/practical tradition (I am Jewish, and my own business — Our Learning Company — is dedicated to producing, publishing and promoting high quality Jewish teaching for Jews and non-Jews alike), so let me briefly share this millennia-old wisdom with you (and the rest of the readers) in its Jewish incarnation:
There is a model of thought that looks at the world from 10 different attributes | faces | dimensions. The impact of this wisdom model really comes through when we combine these 10 attributes in pairs, and look at the interaction of them as pairs. If you think of it as a mindmap (like the ones I created for your Teleseminar Secrets students), there are 10 branches emanating from the center, and each branch brances out into 10 more pair-combinations.
So, in this case, there is an attribute I will call here “Discipline” and there is another on I will call here “Endurance.” [These English words are very very approximate interpretations of the root Hebrew words in the model, but sufficient enough for this brief discussion.] So the key is the combination of Discipline and Endurance.
It is important to establish a Discipline, but it is only in the following of that Discipline consistently and over long, long periods of time (lifetime?) that the effect is really majestic (that is, it is the Endurance that, when combined with Discipline, produces this amazingly balanced and powerful effect.)
So, to quote one of my teachers: “Effective discipline must be enduring and tenacious.”
The driving questions we need to always ask ourselves are: Is my discipline consistent or only when forced? Do I follow through with discipline?
Warmest regards,
Sergiu Simmel
SSS@OurLearningCompany.com
There are some very good points here.
I tend to believe that posting regularly is important, and so is good content. So forcing a post when there really isn’t much to say is also betraying the reader’s trust.
It’s better to post less and post good content, in my opinion.
I also tend to be of Dr. Dana Myatt’s opinion (1st comment) -I get so much emails that I have to delete a few now and then. I keep the subscription because of the value, and there is such a thing as TOO MUCH.
Alex, If there is one thing I am learning from listening to and reading your information it is persistence in action and trusting. You give good information and that does create trust. You are like that cup of coffee in the morning. Everyone trusts that we will be there to serve them a drink, as people trust that you will be there to feed them good information. If I were to close my business for a few days… I would lose customers. You quit writing and you lose the world’s trust in you! If you have never met Alex in person, you must. You need to be inspired by his energy, his committment to his work and you, and his enthusiasm.
Thanks! Jill Reed
Hi, Alex! I think that your readers might benefit from my 34 years of Public REALations experience that has included even being the PR man for the Original Marlboro Man as the publicist for his 300,000 plus selling You Are What You Wear book which has NEVER been an ebook yet! I also have 25 years in Corporate Sponsorship Marketing, 25 years in Videography, 11 years in TV production and 8 years in Internet Marketing.
Thanks,
Hugh
Wow! Talk about synchronicity. I am building a website this month that involves blog posts as its’ main component. Thank you all for letting me know the minimum number of posts I need to have each week, and the importance of consistency over time. The collective wisdom here is fierce!
Hi Alex -
I hear you on the blogging – let a few days slide and somehow it gets pushed to the back burner indefinitely…Yikes!
– great idea re the contributing editors – I would love to be a part of your blogging team – I am honored to be connected with anything you do!
As always, your honesty is very endearing.
My best to you,
Sherri
You hit the nail on the head with this one, Alex…I have also found that posting to my blogs on a regular schedule is directly related to my visitors.
Thanks for this post, and as much as I would like to be considered, I already have 3 blogs of my own to post to daily so am really doing all the writing I can handle for now.
You gave me a great idea though, I will add a post similar to yours to see if I can also get some help with my blog posts.
Alex,
This Blog entry is Authentically YOU! Bravo! Thanks for sharing your insights so we are able to learn from them.
I have heard you say on a FREE tele seminar call so many helpful insights.
Your sincerity and genuineness comes through with Heart. I appreciate all of these because so many people are doing similar stuff on the net without Heart. You mentioned once that if one is truly struggling with funding then know it is possible to create BIG without going into debt. So many others encourage to get their courses/trainings on credit and so on. You advise to plan and manage wisely and get more when one has created a financial ability to do it. Bravo! Realism with intention to bring a vision for expansion too. I appreciate your kindness in your messages.
Take Good Care
LeAnn
I’m happy to admit I’ve been a student of Alex Mandossian’s for many years.
Right from those very early days when Alex pioneered exit pages, squeeze pages, teleseminars and a more sophisticated online marketing strategy.
We see these things as commonplace now but I can remember when they were huge advances.
Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh
Hit the nail on the head, my head to be exact, being off line for a while and out of line on blogging, when it comes to a question of trust is to learn from what we have done and avoid doing it again.
stan
Hi Alex readers n posters … My Grandmamma used to preach to me …
Does do something good every day then there will not be a day go by that you will not feel good about yourself … I have turned this around in my head to
Do something you absolutely love to do every day So you love doing what you do every day … IF you don’t love doing every day … Change IT …. BUT if you can’t change IT? You sure had better love doing it …. You have one life LIVE IT!!
So, to quote one of my teachers: “Effective discipline must be enduring and tenacious.”
The driving questions we need to always ask ourselves are: Is my discipline consistent or only when forced? Do I follow through with discipline?
All my best to you and your follow throughs
Phillip Skinner
In response to Dr. Dana Myatt, there’s no such thing (in my experience) as too much frequency.
If the frequency is predicated on the predictability (like with ETR – daily), then you’d lose trust if you didn’t provide content each day.
Find the sweetspot with your audience by “Asking” them and you’ll be surprised how your evangelical supporters will want “more, more often.”
In response to Tynisha Thompson, please visit http://www.AlexHelpDesk.com and make a request to become a “Contributing Editor” and we’ll discuss the possibility (as indicated in my email).
Also, thanks for your kind words about VBT. We’re starting it again this year ;-) and if you’re currently not an affiliate, I encourage you to become one at http://www.AlexAffiliateCenter.com
In response to Shelley, please connect with http://www.AlexHelpDesk.com about Contributing Editor for my Blog. Thank you.
In response to Denny Strecker: yours is an interesting post. I won’t go back and forth on this but here’s my response:
The consequence is irrelevant isn’t it? If I make a public declaration, the consequence will be your judgment about “my not following through” with a public commitment.
As one of my readers, the consequence is in your hands, not mine :-)
In response to LeAnn O’Neal: Thank you for noticing and your comment is most appreciated.
In response to David: Your long post gives readers (and me) much to chew on. What I’d like you to think about is revealing which “David” am I responding to. A sir name would be welcomed so I have more context to your content-rich comments.
Thank you.
In response to Pete -Get R Done: Success Stories are exactly what I have in mind as posting fodder during the upcoming months. Thanks for the observation and edification.
Hi Alex -
Thank you for this timely post! I was just thinking about how to break into the habit of posting to my blog more frequently.
You’ve been the catalyst to get me started with blogging. You see, in early 2007 I started a blog (wordpress.com, blogger, etc) but never got past creating a free account and then posting a public entry. There was always some ‘thing’ that got in the way.
Then when I took Teleseminar Secrets in December, you emphasized getting a blog on your own domain. It took me 2 months to find a free template that was acceptable. All along I kept remembering your famous words of encouragement, “sloppy success beats perfected mediocity”. Challenging but doable for someone who suffers from occasional bouts of perfectionism…
I haven’t quite found my blog rhythm, but like you, I plan to post twice a week and look forward to growing my audience.
Thanks again for leading by example. And sparking me to take action!
Marian Hodges MBA
http://www.sparkactionnow.com
[...] predict my behavior and grow to trust me. To learn more about this, check out Alex’s May 1st post where he talks about how predictability and frequency impacts trust and what happened when he [...]
Great Post Alex. As usual, you are being very honest with yourself and acknowledging the reality of your unwanted condition in front of a big audience. It’s always very inspiring to see that.
Regarding your formula [Predictability] x [Frequency] = “Accelerated” Trust, I think there may have been some misunderstanding of the [Frequency] part, based on some of the comments I read (though I could be wrong).
This is how I understood it (note: I did not read Covey’s book, so I may be off).
If predictability is present both in terms of the content AND the frequency (i.e. you deliver the type of content consistently and you do that with the frequency at which you promised to deliver it), then it doesn’t really matter what the frequency is–whether the content is delivered once a month or twice a week.
Of course, if you interact with people who don’t trust you yet or only very little, you may want to have a higher frequency of predictibility-demonstrating communications in the beginning of your relationship with those people, to quickly accelerate the growth of their trust in you, and thus get them to a high level of trust in you more quickly.
But just increasing the frequency of communications would not have that effect, if these communications were not predictable in terms of content and frequency (i.e. if you didn’t deliver what you promised in terms of content, and you kept switching around in terms of frequency of delivery–from once/day to twice/day, even though that is much more frequent than twice/week or once a month)
Did I get your point correctly, Alex?
I actually have another point I want to make, but I’ll reserve that one for another comment to this blog
Here’s my second remark, Alex, based on my own experience of mistrust, which has actually been a major block in my life.
I have discovered in recent years that my lack of trust in someone else is really a by-product of my lack of trust in myself. And thus it is not really up to the other person to do something to increase my trust in them, but it is my own job to get rid of my lack of trust in myself.
I have realized that I am the one creating all my problems in the sense that I am the one reacting negatively to what’s happening inside and outside of me.
I found that the fastest way to create the life that I really want is to confront what I habitually FEEL about my problems, bad situations, and crises–i.e. my emotional reaction to my life’s inner and outer circumstances.
To confront the reality of my life, I ask myself certain simple but powerful questions, which allow me to make an inventory of my unwanted conditions, of the negative emotions about them, and of all the costs (in terms of money, time, energy and life) associated with entertaining those bad feelings (including feelings of mistrust, anger, resentment, etc.)
I first ask myself: “What is most unwanted in my life right now?”
Then I ask: “how do I feel about this unwanted condition?”
Once I confront the emotion by getting present to it–whatever it may be, as long as it is some bad-feeling emotion–I then ask myself “Do I like to feel this way?”
If the answer is no, I then ask “What has it been costing me, and what is it going to continue costing me to feel this way?”
This is where being honest with myself is even more needed. I have to really ask myself the nitty-gritty questions and really start being brutally honest about how costly it has been so far to react in this bad-feeling way.
But this honesty always pays off in the sense that I will quickly become very clear that it simply no longer makes sense to spend all these resources and pay this high price–whatever the benefit or payoff of feeling bad in this way may have been so far (including that it allowed me to be right, to complain and blame, and generally to justify why things haven’t been the way I say I want them to be).
Then, once I am clear that emotionally reacting in this way simply no longer makes sense, I ask myself a few more simple questions and depending on my answers to those questions, I will usually either experience total permanent unconditional freedom from that old way of being (that negative emotional reaction), or I will know that I am the one choosing to stick with being a poor victim of my life’s inner and outer circumstances. Which then leaves me at peace, too, because I KNOW DEEP WITHIN that it’s all my choice–always.
It’s really cool when I go through the process completely. And what is cool, too, is that with my simple yet confrontational questions, I have been able to assist hundreds of other people in confronting themselves and creating permanent unconditonal freedom from often-lifelong ways of being, which clearly didn’t serve them any longer, but somehow kept sticking with them.
I feel very blessed for having this opportunity in my life.
So this is another angle one could take on this whole issue of trust. The neat thing is that once you are free from negative feelings, you really don’t need to increase your trust in someone else, because no matter what they do or don’t do, you’ll always feel at peace within yourself. In that state, life spontaneously unfolds in a way which is always exactly what you want it to be (because you no longer need the negative situations which used to trigger mistrust).
So if you really want to make your life simpler, Alex, you may want to first create freedom from whatever bad feelings you felt when you realized that the number of visitors to your blog had decreased, and you may also want to encourage your readers to check out my simple yet powerful Unconditional Freedom Process so they can quickly get rid of their own negative emotions they might have been entertaining about you and your predictability.
And if this way of looking at things jives with you and your readers, I’d be happy to contribute further thoughts to your blog as a contributing editor.
Hi Alex,
I understand the stats. I just happen to love the way you do your thing, if you will, I simply do not mind when you are not perfect. I think the quality of your content, the way you give, what you give is so great. I have zero complaints and total loyalty.
Success to you beyond your wildest dreams!,
W
For We Are One!
Alex…..we met this weekend at Jim’s Boot Camp…….and I first saw you at the Mega Book Event in NY last year…….we shook hands outside and I did say we met at the Mega event and I do not think that I told you my name……I am not sure why…..I am rarely tongue tied…..I apologize for not saying my name……I love you work and I have just started doing tele seminars……I look forward to starting work with you….I just signed up with Tom Antion and you and Jim are next on my list……
I do a blog and I too have not posted much recently….thanks for pointing out how important it is……..I commit to do the same……
Regards, Steve