Author Archives: Glen Stansberry
Social proof is a powerful trigger, and it’s often overlooked by many. If a restaurant waiting list is hours long, odds are there’s a good reason. Why else would people waste time and stand in line if the food wasn’t great? Continue reading
It’s easy to romanticize the 10% of what we love. It’s easy to forget that the other 90% is the mind-numbing prep work. I think about my friends who are writing books, and all the time they spend writing book proposals, finding agents, shopping their book, editing and rewriting. Continue reading
Or, How I Earned My Ph.D in Disaster Recovery over 7 Years If you’ve ever been to a live show of a famous act, say U2, it seems like they do everything perfectly and effortlessly. It turns out that even bands like U2 make mistakes. They just know how to cover them really well so that you don’t know you’re seeing one. I sing and play guitar in a band for a few hundred people each week at our church. I’ve been doing this for the past seven years or so, and it’s really helped me become comfortable performing in front of larger crowds. Ironically, the performances that have helped me most aren’t the good ones, but rather the times I’ve failed. (You can’t really tell how comfortable you are with performing in front of people until you’ve failed numerous times.) And there are times when no matter how much … Continue reading
I was in a Chinese buffet last week, and found myself humming along with the oriental muzak. In fact, I couldn’t stop. Why was I humming along to music I’ve never heard before? It turns out I had heard these songs before, as they were Chinese takes on American melodies. They covered the likes of Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson, with traditional Chinese musical stylings. (Or at least what I imagine to be a traditional Chinese “style”.) *** Why are musical remakes so well received? Because they’re a perfect blend of familiar and unfamiliar. A new take on an old story. Up-and-coming musicians sometimes get their start by remaking an old classic. Sometimes it fails badly, but breathing life into a classic is can be a great way to get an artist noticed. Recent savvy internet startups have been using this method successfully. Here are a few: Domains: … Continue reading
If you’re a runner, you know that there are certain unwritten rules that you use when running on roads. “Never run on the side of the road where you can’t see the cars or the cars can’t see you.” Sure, there are variations to this rule, but the biggest issue with running on roads with cars is making sure the cars know you’re there. Makes sense, right? A couple weeks ago I took a trip to Arkansas and did some running while I was there. Arkansas is one of the most beautiful states (in my humble opinion). The landscape is hilly and steep, complete with winding roads. It’s really a treat to run on. However, the problem with hilly and steep roads is that oftentimes your view of oncoming traffic is obstructed. In fact, often there were times running where neither side of the road was safe to run on. … Continue reading
After six hours of working in front of a computer, the only thing that really makes me feel better is a run. Yesterday I knew I needed a break but didn’t have much time, so I laced up my running shoes anyway and ran as hard as I could for 15 minutes. Talk about cathartic. While it wasn’t that long of a run, it was exactly what I needed: a quick jolt to my mind, and something to get my heart rate up. After a glass of water and a quick shower, I was back working like I had just started the day. *** I’ve learned to listen to my body (and wife) to make the most of my time and energy levels. In fact, it’s the one reason I’m able to get up in the early morning and start my day excited. I’ve worked both as a freelance consultant … Continue reading
