The Inner Game

[DeanRichards]

The first time I went through The 30DC, I completely missed the deeper levels of the training. I was so focused on the surface level of what was going on, it never even occurred to me that there was a deeper message.

For example... today's message was about Ustream and getting connected. I watched the video and I went through the recommended steps and that was that.

Then I turned my hat around and watched again. This time I didn't listen to what was being said, I listened to how it was being said. I listened to the way Ed talks. He talks to me. He's not talking to an "audience," he's talking to me.

He says things like "I want to show you some things that will make your experience better." This is personal. It's me and Ed and he wants to help me.

This is a HUGE lesson.

This is exactly how I need to talk to my market. I can't talk to them in an impersonal way. I can't stand back and blah blah about "product features and benefits." I can't be some anonymous, faceless, robot spitting out dry text. I need to be a friend. I need to talk to my visitors the same way Ed talks to me... like a friend.

All I have to do is listen and watch and all my human instincts tell me that Ed is sincerely excited about the great stuff he's showing me and he sincerely wants me to be successful at this. That is exactly the way I need to talk to the people who come to my website and who watch my videos, because I feel the same exact way! I don't want to "sell" them anything. I just want to be a friend who sincerely believes that he has something that will help them have better lives.

Another message I got was that video is a very powerful way to talk to people. I trust Ed because I can watch his face when he talks to me and I can judge for myself if he's trying to bullshit me. I can listen to the tone of his voice and tell if it matches his body language and if the words he's using are really his words.

So yeah, today's training was about how to sign up for Ustream. But it was also about how to talk to your market and it was about the power of video and how you'll be a fool if you don't take advantage of it. If you're not thinking about the way that you're going to talk to your market and if you're not asking yourself how you're going to be able to use Ustream or other video applications in your business, then maybe you should.

I'm sure there will be modules coming up about using video and I'm not really talking about that per se.

What I'm trying to say that every module will be like today's module. There will be "the message" and there will be the inner game.

[Caro :-)]

Fantastic insight Dean! I couldn't agree with you more

How Ed communicates with us is a reflection of how we need to communicate to our prospective customers (and current customers for those with businesses already).

That does not mean we mimic his specific style - it's not about being an 'Ed clone' (as adorable as he is!). It's about being real. About our letting ourselves be ourselves (our well behaved selves) with our audience - being authentic, being real based on our own unique style. Rather than putting on an image or holding back and staying 'distant' - you can still keep your privacy etc and still be real.

It is about Giving. Offering Value. As opposed to looking to get - looking to get a sale. Looking to get a lead. It's about building a relationship by offering Value with no obligation for you to take it any further.

There are lots of great business lessons, as you say Dean, and life lessons, on top of the topic being taught.

Best

Caro :-)

[Kathy]

Hi

I fully agree, I always feel as if Ed is really genuinely trying to help me. The same I can say of Caro who again comes over ever helpful and sincere. Anyone who did last years 30DC will remember Anthony whose teaching methods you could not help but follow & understand.

Thanks to all the Challenge Team you do a great job and have helped me tremendously over the last few years.

Kathy

[Luke Miller]

Thanks Dean. That is a great tip to open yourself to receiving much more then what is spoken or typed. I think there is just as much if not more to be learned by the way someone does something that just what they tell you and show you. Watch what is going on below the surface. Could this be called "meta-teaching" and "meta-learning?"

As far as what you said about speaking to the people, in Seth Godin's recent book, Linchpin, he talks about giving yourself to your followers. As Caro said, "being real based on our own unique style."

After reading this and hearing Ed talk about it as well, I made a massive shift in my mindset as far as approaching online business. I figured I will give them me, as I am. If my message resonates with someone they will keep an eye on me. If it doesn't they won't. But thats it okay. That way I don't have to be someone I am not. If I pass wind when making a video a true follower will have probably expected that because the real me attracted that follower.

BTW, I don't necessarily recommend passing wind whilst shooting video unless that's what your video is about

[ke6hts]

The first time I went through The 30DC, I completely missed the deeper levels of the training. I was so focused on the surface level of what was going on, it never even occurred to me that there was a deeper message.

I couldn't agree with you more! The first challenge showed me something was going on even if I didn't know what . The second challenge coupled with other IM information (including the Immediate Edge) started to teach me understanding. The whole 30DC team has been teaching me not only by what they say, but how they say it and what they are doing.

I think it takes a bit of experience to actually appreciate what is being offered with the 30DC and Challenge.

Marvin

[Gary]

That was a great insight Dean and I appreciate you sharing that.

There is no doubting Ed's appeal, charm, enthusiasm and overall 'awesomeness' but I liked what you were saying about really learning from him and his methods/mannerisms and letting him personally teach us.

Caro was right about not trying to become clones of him and presenting our marketing by 'keeping it real'.

I have nothing but admiration for Ed and ALL of the Challenge team. You all do an amazing job and the genuine desire to help everybody get as much from this experience as possible is inspirational.

Thank you

Gary

[jazz]

Ed and the entire 30DC team totally rock! The amount of FREE information and training you all have provided over the years is nothing short of phenomenal. You have created not only an annual event, but a resource for so many people who would not otherwise be able to succeed - let alone get started - online.

I'm positive that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people out there that you'll never know you helped because they didn't join on the forum or a team. Gary expressed it well, you all do an amazing job that is truly inspirational.

Thank you Ed and the Challenge Team for all that you do.

jazz

[SingleHanded]

Hi Guys'

Just thought I'd share with you a couple of videos that I thought might be inspiring or help you with your inner game this year.
The first one is by Jonathan Fields - Turning Fear Into Fuel
And the second is by Steven Jobs and his - 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Tim

[kaz101]

Yeah I'm still learning that I need to be me when I write my articles for my websites and do what feels right to me too. I hated a sales page that I have that was created in the 'usual' style and will re-create it again after the challenge.

After being on Eds mentoring call a few weeks ago (the one that went out to all of us :-) ) and I took up my own challenge of writing a personal blog post and an article for my website every day for a year and I'm realising that it's helping me find my own voice (and not being afraid to use it either :-) ).

Thanks to the entire challenge team - we learn sooooo much more than you teach!

[Annie Binns]

Dean:

Brilliant observation - and one that we will see again and again throughout the challenge from everyone on the TC10 team. They have taught me how to explain things to my customers and I've picked up a fun amount of Aussie slang along the way as well. I grew so fond of them over the years that I shelled out my pin money to see them all in San Diego this year and guess what? Everyone is exactly the same in person (okay, they're shorter except Caro - she's taller).

I've found my approach has changed to be more patient and less "salesy" - so far the result isn't more customers - it's even better. It's more customers that I want to work with. I give credit to the Challenge Team for giving me both the knowledge and the approach!